Egg Heavy: Silver, #1

By Corinth Panther

Kor isn't an Alpha nor is he an Omega. He's a Dragon and he has a problem.

The man he thought he was in love with just died. He's ready to join him, ready to throw everything away. Instead fate throws a curve ball at him.

Can he do this? Can he be the man he needs to be?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Corinth Panther
• Release date: Apr 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223523901

Book preview

To my wonderful cover artist Brittany for her timely and quick, yet wonderful work.

My husband for all his support.

For my friends for understanding my long absences and often times odd rambles

And anyone reading this, know I am grateful

Prologue

Kor. The voice was soft, it took far too much to breath. What had once been easy was now painful.

What? Kor knelt, his silver hair catching the moonlight just right.

The man smiled. He didn’t have to be told to know what Kor was. Why didn’t anyone else noticed the odd silver eye and hair, the way this man could enter a room, leaving even their bold leader quaking. Yet if the gang ever found out about him they’d see Kor dead faster than they’d kill him. Make me a promise?

Kor blinked. Like what? Sean was clearly getting better. He had more strength the last couple of days. Soon he’d be up and moving, they’d leave then. Kor didn’t care if they lived on the street for a year they’ve pack it in and leave this place, leave the gang, leave it all behind.

If anything happens to me. He began when is dragon began to protest Sean touched his lips stilling him. I said if, not that it will. His man needed to believe he was going to make it.

Fine, if.

A warm smile crossed the others lips. Find someone, to love again. He reached up glad when Kor lowered himself enough to be kissed. You’re too amazing to move through this world alone.

Kor snorted. Ha, you’re the amazing one. Without you I’d be nothing.

Eye of the beholder I guess. He smiled somehow managing not to cough. Any chance we still have some water?

Sure do. Kor rose finding it.

Sean took a slow breath. He wasn’t long for this world. If he’d allowed Kor to rush him to the hospital he’d be fine now, but there were some things Kor didn’t know, some things no one did. His eyes drifted to the small alcove which was meant as a kitchen. Forgive me for never telling you the truth, for never opening up about my family, what happened to me, any of it. Not that the Dragon had room to talk. Maybe he should have written a letter but after the stabbing there was no time and he never thought he’d need to. Wish there was time now. Still maybe it was better Kor didn’t know why he didn’t want a hospital, didn’t learn Sean had never been long for this world. The stabbing only made it quicker.

Kor came back with the bottle already open. Want some help?

Sure, any reason to have your hands on me. He snickered weakly sitting up. Love ya. He whispered taking a drink.

Love you too. Kor smiled pleased to see his man on the mend.

I

The shack was a mess, but then, so was he. His lover was dead. It was all his fault, if he’d just been that little bit more skilled, didn’t listened to Sean and took him to the hospital like his gut said to, he’d still be alive. Kor touched his face and sighed. The scars were still there, both the one marking him part of a gang, which he wanted to remove and the one Sean had given him, to say they were together. He could shifted into his true form without losing either no matter how much he wished to be rid of one.

He’d hold both until he died, which wouldn’t be long now. He was too thin. Even for a Dragon, he was limited on how long he could go without food. Kor ran from his problems, always had. It was how he’d ended up here. He’d run away from his mother because he couldn’t stand the way she stole power. When he’d learned his father was the same way he had taken off again. He’d come here looking to start over and instead ended up in the gang, another group who stole. The only bright spot had been Sean.

He took in air as he looked in the broken mirror. Everything in the place was broken, or at least pulled from someone else’s trash. As long as it didn’t smell they used it. He felt as fractured as the mirror looked. He ran a hand over his jaw, noting the handsome features, like his silver hair, and eyes. He could pass as an Elf, including the lack of need to shave, one of the many advantages of being a Dragon. His kind were sexless in their true form. It was only when he shifted into a humanoid form that he took on a sex. He could change his sex at will, shifting from male to female without much thought. He’d been both, but he preferred male. His kind were the only true transgender, as when they switched everything functioned.

He swallowed, thinking about his parents again. His mother, as the genetic material stuck to her tail. She had a life mate, who wasn’t his father, and two wrymlings with him. Orn was the oldest, followed by himself, a product of his mother’s ambitions, then Shar, another half sibling to him. He liked his older brother but Shar he couldn’t stand. She was too much like his mother for his tastes. When he’d opted to leave he’d tried to get the older one to go with him. He wondered sometimes how Orn was doing these days.

Kor slammed his fist into the mirror. He couldn’t break it any more than it already was, yet the simple act of hitting something felt good. Sean, he whispered, sliding to his knees. He turned to press his back to the small pole that held the sink up, only to lower his head. He hadn’t mourned the man, not like he should have. Maybe he should have linked with him. Maybe he should have told Sean the full truth of what he was, but it was too late now. His life was near its end, and soon he would join the man he loved. He’d promised Sean to love again but now he couldn’t keep that promise, he missed his man too much to want to try.

Slowly, his eyes drifted closed. He was tired, maybe because he hadn’t eaten, maybe because he no longer cared. It didn’t matter. Sleep, a lasting sleep, the sort he’d never wake from again, was all he cared about now.

It was dark when Kor was forced to his feet. He’d heard the soft knock but refused at first to get up. When the banging increased he forced himself to rise. He groaned, feeling his stomach rebel. He hadn’t eaten anything in nearly three weeks, so why was he feeling ill. His kind could go far longer without food. Before he could finish the thought, he was dry heaving into the sink. Finally, when his stomach settled, he stood up, washing his mouth out of the foul taste left behind then went to the door, where who ever wanted in was still pounded.

What? He barked not really caring who was on the other side of the door. His nose told him male and another like him. What the hell was a Dragon doing in this shitty part of town?

You look like shit man, the gold haired male said having to look up at Kor when the door opened. He pushed his way into the small hovel. Damn. There was nothing to see besides two sleeping bags and an array of trash, including pizza and take-out boxes littering the floor, along with a pile of clothes that looked to have been pulled from a dumpster. By the smell they very well might have been. Beyond that, a small room, which might pass for a bathroom in days gone by, and a counter with a hot plate on it rounded the home out. Shack really would have been a good term for the place.

Kor growled. He hadn’t seen Greft in years. Not since he’d first arrived on this continent. The last person he wanted to see was the gold he’d called friend before leaving home for good. Greft had left first. Maybe his friend’s departure was the reason he’d been able to open his wings and leave for good. What do you want, and how did you find me?

Greft grinned spinning to look at the silver. I read the news. He held out his hand. You want it?

No. Golds could pass their luck to others, but it had to be given freely. Kor shook his head. He didn’t want his friend’s luck. Each Dragon had a different Gift of the Gods. Silvers, like himself, could link their minds to one other person. Bronzes could share an emotional link with three other people which could only be passed through an intimate act like sex or childbirth. Before Sean, he would have taken the offer, but not now. I’m done with life.

Kor. Greft sighed You knew him didn’t you? I mean, the guy they killed. Kor, it was a hate crime, nothing else. You don’t need to beat yourself up.

The silver Dragon snapped. I know what it was. I was there. I was right fucking there and couldn’t stop them! Kor wanted to hit something, instead his stomach rolled and he bent over, choking on the bio which tried to rise.

Greft was there, hand on his back, rubbing small circles. When was the last time you ate?

A few weeks. Kor coughed once then rose. Second time that’s happened today. He admitted softly wiping his mouth, though there was nothing to clean off.

It could be your body’s way of saying fuck you. Greft shrugged.

Kor growled back. Why are you here? He waved at one of the few clear places on the floor. The two sleeping bags were close at hand. One was Kor’s, the other; no one would ever touch again.

The small shack offered little in the way of comforts, even the bathroom was little more than a sink and a pot to take a piss in. Not that they’d stayed there often. The heating plate hadn’t seen much action, mostly when one of them wanted to boil water. Most of the time, he and Sean had been out running things for the gang. Kor had only remained on the wrong side of the law for Sean. They had been looking to get out, both of them. If Kor had acted sooner, knew of the gangs hate for people who were different, he could have got them out. Of course, Sean wanted to stay until they had the money to start over, somewhere else. Kor berated himself again, if only he’d told Sean the truth, they could have taken what they had and flown, on his back, anywhere they wanted.

Greft looked at the floor, it looked as dirty as a swamp. He opted to lean against the cleanest wall. I said I read the papers. Man killed for loving another male. Then the fire at the local bar? You have a hell of a temper, Kor.

And you knew it was me how?

Dragon fire is easy enough to identify, it’s always hot. Now maybe if they’d found an accelerate, I might not have put the pieces together. This is the rough area you came to, you have a temper and you can shift enough to use your fire without changing forms completely. It all fit. I talked to a few people I know in law enforcement. They suspected a Dragon, but they couldn’t be sure, couldn’t find any sign one had been through here, or why they might hit such a place. What I want to know is if you knew what that bar was used for and if that’s the reason you torched it?

Kor inclined his head. Yeah I knew. That’s how I got picked up. Didn’t know it at the time. He shrugged, leaning back on his hands to look up at the other Dragon. They’ll never hurt anyone again.

True, you got most of them alright. A few might have gotten out but they’ll need time to rebuild and money. With the bar gone they’ll be hard pressed on both fronts. So what are you going to do now?

Lie down and die. Kor admitted. Right there, he pointed at the blood streaks marring the more worn sleeping bag, right where he died. Slowly he looked up. I loved him Greft, and you know the way my kind is.

Greft did. Silvers often parishes with their life mate. Did you link? A shack of the head. Did you want to? A lift of the shoulders. So he loved him enough to give up on life but not enough to make the mental link? Why not?

Kor sagged. He had no idea what I was. I thought...I planned to tell him once we were free of the gang. Never happened.

Kor... No it hadn’t and now he’d never have a chance to make it right. I’m really sorry. Not sure what else I can say. If you happen to change your mind you know where to find me. He moved forward and dropped a wad of crumpled bills before Kor. There’s nearly three hundred dollars. To get to me if you want to. If not, I’ll come back and get it when you revert. Greft walked to the door and was gone.

The silver Dragon looked at what his friend dropped before him. Won’t need it. But the thought was nice, Greft cared and understood. If he wanted to keep trying this would help. Slowly