Page 31 of Tempest Awakening

"Always the man of few words," Zara teased gently. "But seriously, I've seen you in action. You've got as good a shot as any of us at bonding with a dragon."

Her words barely registered. It wasn't about having a "shot"—it was about necessity. Becoming a Dragon Rider wasn't a choice for me; it was the only path forward.

"It's not just about physical prowess," Kane interjected. "The bond between dragon and rider is as much mental as it is physical. You need to be prepared for anything."

I nodded in agreement, thinking about the hours I'd spent not just training my body, but also studying dragon lore and meditation techniques. Every spare moment was devoted to thisgoal. Sleep, socializing, relaxation—all were secondary to my mission.

"Well, whatever happens," Finn said, a hint of nervousness in his voice, "I just hope I don't embarrass myself in front of the dragons. Can you imagine being rejected by every single one?"

The group fell silent for a moment, each of us contemplating that possibility. The thought of coming this far only to fail at the final hurdle was almost too much to bear.

"We've all worked hard to get here," I found myself saying, my words hanging in the air. A rare silence followed as the others turned, their expressions registering surprise at my contribution. "All we can do is give it our best and hope it's enough."

But as we approached the grand doors of the Library, I silently amended that thought. Hoping wouldn't be enough. Iwouldsucceed.

For Kali, I would become a Dragon Rider, no matter the cost. And nothing would distract me from that goal.

???

The moment we stepped into the Library's grand foyer, a commotion near the check-out desk caught my attention. My enhanced hearing picked up the sneering tone of a female voice, followed by a softer, trembling response. The scent of fear permeated the air, causing my muscles to tense instinctively.

I should keep walking. Focus on my training. On becoming a Dragon Rider. On securing Kali's future.

But then I heard it—a choked sob, quickly stifled. My feet were moving before I could stop myself.

Damn it.I knew better than to get involved. But the sound of that sob, the fear in the air—it brought back too many memories. Of Kali, trembling in my arms as we huddled in a cage. Of the weak being preyed upon by the strong, simply because they could.

I can't stand bullies.The thought pulsed through me, hot and fierce.Not after everything I've seen. Everything I've been through.

As I rounded a towering bookshelf, I saw them. Two Fae—probably applicants, judging by their attire—looming over a smaller figure. Their target was pressed against the wall, clutching a stack of books to her chest like a shield.

"Stupid human," one of the Fae spat. "You don't belong here. Go back to your pathetic little life and leave the real magic to us."

I felt a growl building in my chest. Memories of my time in the fighting pits flashed through my mind—the helplessness, the fear. No. Not again. Not if I could stop it.

"Is there a problem here?" My deep voice cut through the tension, causing all three to whirl towards me.

The Fae bullies exchanged a glance, their initial surprise quickly morphing into sneers.

"This doesn't concern you, stone-face," the taller one said, puffing out his chest. "Why don't you lumber back to whatever rock you crawled out from under?"

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to show them exactly what this 'stone-face' could do. But I couldn't risk my place in theprogram. Not for this. Not even to wipe those smug grins off their faces.

"I'm making it my concern," I said, my voice low and dangerous. I let a hint of my stone-like skin ripple across my forearms, a subtle reminder of what I was capable of. "Back off. Now."

The shorter Fae faltered, but his friend stood his ground. "Or what? You'll turn us into garden statues? Please. We're not scared of some overgrown pebble."

I took a step forward, using every inch of my height to loom over them. "You should be."

For a moment, tension crackled in the air. I could see the conflict in their eyes—the desire to save face warring with their growing realization of just how outmatched they were.

Finally, the taller one spat on the ground at my feet. "Whatever. She's not worth the trouble anyway."

As they skulked away, tossing venomous glares over their shoulders, I turned my attention to their victim. She was still pressed against the wall, her face hidden behind a curtain of wavy brown hair with... purple highlights?

"Are you alright?" I asked, forcing my voice to soften.

She nodded, slowly lowering the books from her chest. "Thank you," she whispered. "I—"

---