Page 14 of Tempest Blazing (The Dragonne Library #3)

Tess

The morning air carried the scent of dragon fire and nervous sweat as I made my way to the training grounds. Friday meant Dragon Compatibility trials—the final assessment before next week's Dragon Rider trials.

My mind churned with worry—the nagging suspicion that something about these trials felt off, like a discordant note in an otherwise familiar melody. I shoved it down ruthlessly. One concern at a time. I couldn't afford to let any fractures split my focus.

I spotted Mason's familiar silhouette near the edge of the gathering crowd and gravitated toward him like a magnet. The moment I drew close, my racing pulse began to slow, the anxious chatter in my head quieting to a whisper.

"Hey," I said softly, bumping his shoulder with mine.

He turned, and those dark eyes immediately softened when they met mine. "Morning, sweetheart." His voice was still rough with sleep, and something warm unfurled in my chest at the endearment.

I was about to respond when I caught sight of Kane standing apart from the group, his white hair catching the early sunlight.

My breath hitched. We hadn't really talked since.

.. since he'd kissed me in the library three days ago.

Since he'd looked at me like I was everything he'd ever wanted, then walked away like I was nothing at all.

"I'll be right back," I murmured to Mason, who followed my gaze and nodded with understanding.

I walked toward Kane, each step a conscious decision despite the knot of dread forming in my stomach. I didn't need this confrontation, but I couldn't leave things unresolved. I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw was set just a little too tight.

"Kane?" I kept my voice soft, non-threatening.

His head snapped up, and for just a second, I saw something raw flash across his features before the walls slammed back into place. "Tess."

The way he said my name—like it was a burden—made my chest tighten. "I was wondering if we could talk? About the other day—"

"There's nothing to discuss." His voice was arctic, and I actually took a step back from the force of it. "It was a mistake. One that won't be repeated."

I pressed my lips together to keep them from trembling, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. A mistake. That kiss that had felt like coming home, like finding a piece of myself I didn't know was missing—he was calling it a mistake.

"Kane, I don't understand. What happened? Did I do something wrong?"

His laugh was bitter, humorless. "You're human, Tess. That's what's wrong." He turned away, effectively ending the conversation.

The rational part of my brain knew this was probably Kane's defense mechanism kicking in—he'd let himself be vulnerable, and now he was retreating behind his walls. But his rejection felt like one burden too many.

Human. That's what's wrong.

The words echoed in my head as I walked back to Mason, who took one look at my face and frowned.

"What did he say?" Mason's voice carried a dangerous edge.

"Nothing important." I forced a smile that felt like glass. "Just... nothing."

Before Mason could press further, Theron's voice boomed across the training grounds. "Applicants! Form ranks. Today we begin Flight Synchronization trials."

My stomach dropped. Flight Synchronization was notoriously dangerous. And with my focus already scattered, this was the worst possible timing.

"Due to the number of applicants versus available dragons," Theron continued, "you'll be working in rotation. First group, step forward."

I stepped forward with the crowd, my name called among the first batch. Across the field, Thalon lifted his massive head, those amber eyes finding mine immediately. Even from this distance, I could feel the warmth of our bond, the steady presence that had become as familiar as breathing.

" Ready, little one? "

" I'm fine, " I lied, gripping the saddle horn as we climbed higher.

" You are many things, little one, but fine is not one of them. What troubles you? "

Below us, the training ground spread out like a map.

I could see the other applicants waiting their turns, could pick out Mason's broad shoulders and Kane's distinctive white hair.

Draven stood slightly apart, as always, but I caught him looking up at us with an expression I couldn't read from this height.

" It's complicated, " I finally admitted.

"Everything is complicated lately," There was understanding in Thalon's mental tone. " But right now, we have more pressing concerns. The synchronization exercise requires your full attention, or we both end up as dragon pancakes. "

Despite everything, I snorted with laughter. " Did you just say dragon pancakes? "

" I've been spending too much time around humans. Your colloquialisms are rubbing off on me. "

The familiar banter helped center me, and I forced myself to focus on the task at hand.

Flight Synchronization wasn't just about staying on the dragon's back—it was about moving as one entity, matching every shift of muscle and wing beat with perfect physical harmony.

It required feeling Thalon's body beneath me, anticipating his movements before he made them, and adjusting my balance and position to complement his flight rather than hinder it.

"Begin the sequence," Theron's voice echoed across the training ground through a magical amplification spell.

Thalon and I moved as one, my body instinctively shifting with his as we dove toward the ground before pulling up at the last second in a spiraling climb.

I pressed myself lower against his neck during the dive, then adjusted my weight distribution as his powerful muscles bunched beneath me for the climb.

The world blurred past us as we executed a series of complex turns and rolls, each movement requiring me to shift my balance in perfect time with his motions, my legs gripping his sides as we rolled, my hands steady on the saddle horn as we banked sharp left then right.

But even as my body moved in sync with Thalon's, my concentration splintered. The weight of everything that had happened overwhelmed my mind.

" Tess! " Thalon's mental shout slammed into my consciousness just as my body went rigid with distraction.

We were in the middle of a complex barrel roll, and my sudden tension had thrown off our physical rhythm.

Instead of flowing with his movement, I'd locked up, creating drag and resistance that sent us into an uncontrolled spin.

My scream died in my throat as the world spun, the ground a dizzying blur below. For a heartbeat, I was certain we were going down. The world tilted sickeningly as Thalon fought to compensate, his wings beating frantically to regain control.

My heart hammered against my ribs as we stabilized, the ground rushing past dangerously close. If Thalon hadn't caught my mistake...

" That could have killed us both, " he said, his mental voice tight with concern and barely controlled fear. " Whatever is troubling you, little one, you must set it aside. Now. "

I gritted my teeth and pushed everything else away—the stress, Kane's rejection, all of it. We completed the sequence flawlessly, landing with barely a bump on the designated platform.

" Better, " Thalon said with approval. " Though your heart is still heavy. "

" Everything feels heavy right now, " I admitted, my hands shaking as I slid down from his back. The near-fall had left me rattled, the taste of terror still sharp on my tongue.

"Excellent work, Whittaker," Theron called out, but his voice seemed to come from very far away.

I stood there for a moment, Thalon's warm presence at my back, trying to process what had just happened.

We'd almost died. Because I couldn't keep my focus where it belonged.

Because I'd let Kane's words, that strange wrongness in the air, all of it fracture my concentration at the worst possible moment.

The fear was still there, cold and sharp in my chest. If Thalon hadn't compensated for my mistake...

I pressed my forehead against his neck, breathing in his familiar scent of smoke and starlight. "Thank you," I whispered. "For saving us both."

The weight of what could have happened settled heavily on my shoulders. I had to do better—had to find a way to keep my focus locked where it belonged, no matter what chaos swirled around us. I couldn't bear the thought of my mistakes putting anyone else at risk.