Chapter 182: The Warmth Between Worlds

The elevator to Cyrus’s penthouse hummed quietly as they ascended, the only sound breaking the comfortable silence between them.

Kane leaned against the mirrored wall, the dragon egg’s case clutched protectively against his chest, his shoulders finally releasing tension he hadn’t realized he’d been carrying. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

"She’s going to be okay," he said, more to himself than to Cyrus.

Cyrus watched Kane’s reflection, noting how his fox ears had emerged sometime during the medical crisis and remained visible, twitching occasionally with residual anxiety.

"More than okay."

Kane’s grip on the case loosened slightly. "I was so scared we’d lost her. When that monitor flatlined..."

"But we didn’t." Cyrus moved closer, his crimson eyes gentle.

The elevator chimed their arrival. Kane stepped into the penthouse, immediately heading toward the couch.

"Now we just need to figure out our other problem," he said, setting the case down carefully and opening it.

The obsidian egg sat nestled in its protective foam, its surface dark and still.

"Hello again, little one," Kane whispered softly.

Kane lifted the egg from its case and tossed it gently upward, catching it like a basketball.

"Kane." Cyrus’s voice carried a sharp note of warning. "You’re going to give our son a concussion."

Kane nearly fumbled the catch, his fox ears perking straight up.

"Wait—son? How do you know it’s a boy?"

Cyrus moved to the kitchen, his tone carefully casual as he opened the refrigerator.

"The egg spoke to me while you were sleeping. He asked me to help him hatch."

"That’s totally unfair!" Kane clutched the egg closer, his tails bristling with indignation.

"I’ve been bonding with him all day, talking to him, keeping him warm, and he chooses to have his first conversation with you while I’m unconscious?"

Cyrus pulled out a bottle of water, hiding his slight smile.

"Perhaps he sensed I needed more convincing about his existence."

Kane held the egg up to eye level, his voice taking on a mock-stern tone.

"Listen here, little dragon. I’m the one who saved you from that creepy laboratory and fought to keep you safe. The least you could do is say hello to your other dad."

Kane held the egg closer to his face, studying its dark surface intently. "Come on, little guy. Say something. Anything."

The egg remained stubbornly silent.

Cyrus’s lips twitched. "Perhaps you should try being less demanding."

Kane pouted, holding the egg at arm’s length like he was scolding a misbehaving child.

"You’re being very rude to your fox dad right now."

Cyrus set his water bottle on the counter, his expression thoughtful.

"It’s a dragon thing," he said finally. "We tend to speak first to whichever parent carries the stronger flame signature."

"So basically, you’re the alpha dragon and I’m chopped liver?"

"Hardly." Cyrus moved to the couch, sitting beside Kane.

"But I’ve been considering something. The traditional Fire of Creation isn’t our only option for hatching."

Kane’s ears perked forward with interest.

"What do you mean?"

"The shard essences," Cyrus continued, his crimson eyes focusing on the egg. "Look what they did for Rina—stabilized her fragmented spirit, made her whole. And your transformation after Elias’s injection..."

Kane’s grip on the egg tightened protectively.

"You think the essences could help him hatch safely?"

"It’s possible. The synthetic compounds seem to enhance and stabilize spirit energy rather than requiring the destructive cycle of traditional dragon fire." Cyrus paused.

"That was likely what Elias was experimenting with."

Kane held the egg closer to his chest.

"So we could actually do this? Without anyone dying?"

"There’s a chance," Cyrus said carefully, his fingers brushing against the egg’s surface.

"But we’d need more of the shard essences. What we used for Rina was barely enough for one stabilization."

Kane shifted the egg to one arm, running his free hand through his hair.

"At least there’s something good that came from Elias’s sick experiments."

The thought sobered him, his fox ears drooping slightly. The memory of those tortured spirits in their glass cells flashed through his mind.

"Speaking of Elias," Kane continued, his voice hardening.

"I should probably head to the BSA tomorrow to follow up on my work. He’s still out there somewhere."

Cyrus’s jaw tightened. "The facility collapsed, but that doesn’t mean he was inside when it happened."

"Exactly." Kane’s tails swished restlessly behind him.

"Plus I’ve got that data I downloaded from his computers. The Bureau’s going to want to see everything."

The egg pulsed faintly against Kane’s chest, as if responding to their tension.

Kane looked down at it, his voice softening. "Don’t worry, little one. We won’t let anything happen to you."

Cyrus watched Kane cradle the egg protectively, something warm and familiar stirring in his chest.

The fierce determination in Kane’s amber eyes reminded him of his own possessive instincts—the way he’d tear apart anyone who threatened what was his.

"Would you be safe going to the BSA alone?" Cyrus asked, his voice carefully neutral, despite his protective growl wanting to surface. "Would you like me to accompany you?"

Kane’s fox ears flattened against his head, his eyes widening in panic.

"No! I mean—" Kane caught himself, clearing his throat. "Remember what happened last time you showed up at headquarters? Commander Qi practically had an aneurysm. And the time before that, you intimidated half the lobby just by existing."

Cyrus’s lips twitched at the memory of Ginsei backing away from his dragon aura.

"I was being perfectly civil."

Kane shifted the egg to one arm, his expression hopeful.

"But maybe you could drop me off and pick me up? Not really used to taking the public transport now that you spoiled me."

"I think I can manage that." Cyrus reached out to stroke one of Kane’s ears, enjoying how it twitched under his touch.

"Though there’s one important matter—someone needs to babysit our son tomorrow." Kane’s protective instincts flared immediately.

"I can’t leave him alone! What if he gets cold? What if he tries to hatch while we’re gone?"

"Kane." Cyrus’s voice carried gentle amusement. "There’s not much to babysitting an egg. He’ll be perfectly safe in his case."

"But—"

"I’ll take care of him," Cyrus promised.

Kane leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to Cyrus’s lips, the egg carefully balanced between them.

"Thank you,"

Standing, Kane headed toward the kitchen, his tails swishing contentedly.

"Now, what do you want for dinner? And don’t say me."

"Pity. I was going to suggest takeout."