Page 34 of Tempest Awakening

Mason's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "A lot has happened," he said, his voice low. "Some good, some... not so good."

I waited, hoping he'd elaborate, but he remained silent, his eyes fixed on the shelves. The scar on his face seemed more pronounced in the library's dim light, and I found myself wondering about its origin. But something in his demeanor warned me not to pry.

"What about you?" he asked, his voice softer now. "How'd you end up here?"

Grateful for the shift in focus, I launched into the story of how I'd stumbled upon the Dragonne Library. As I spoke, I noticed Mason relaxing slightly, his shoulders losing some of their tension.

"...and then Moriyana offered me the job," I finished, still a bit awe-struck by the memory. "I couldn't believe it."

Mason nodded, a small smile playing at his lips. "You always did love books and magic," he said. "Even if you didn't know it was real back then."

His casual reference to our shared past made my heart flutter. It also reminded me of all the questions I had about his supernatural nature.

"Speaking of things I didn't know were real," I said carefully, "I can't help but wonder... when did you first realize you were different? That you could... shift?"

Mason's expression grew distant, and for a moment, I worried I'd overstepped. But then he spoke, his voice quiet. "I was born this way. My first full shift was when I was five. I remember being terrified."

"Oh, Mason," I breathed, imagining a scared little boy suddenly turning to stone. The image tugged at my heart.

He shrugged, clearly uncomfortable with the topic. "It's just part of who I am. Always has been."

We lapsed into silence as we continued our search. Despite the years and secrets between us, there was a comfort in Mason's presence that I hadn't felt in a long time.

"Found something," Mason said, reaching up to pull a hefty tome from a high shelf.

As he stretched, his shirt rode up slightly, revealing a glimpse of toned muscle and... was that another scar? I quickly averted my eyes, heat rising to my cheeks.

I tried to focus on our surroundings instead. "This looks promising," I said, perhaps a bit too quickly, turning my attention to the book Mason held. "'The Veiled Conflicts: A Comprehensive Study of Supernatural Wars.'"

Mason nodded, flipping through the pages. "This should help with the timeline."

As we pored over the book together, I found myself hyper-aware of his proximity. His scent, a mix of stone and something wild, filled my senses. It was distracting in the best possible way.

My mind whirled with conflicting emotions. This was Mason, my childhood best friend, the boy I'd shared countless adventures with. But he was also a gargoyle-shifter, a being out of myth and legend. Part of me thrilled at the discovery, eager to learn more about this hidden world I'd stumbled into. Another part felt small and overwhelmingly human, unsure of my place in this new reality.

"So," I ventured, partly to distract myself from these confusing feelings, "becoming a Dragon Rider. That's quite a career choice. Is that why you're here?"

Mason's eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something intense in their depths. "It's important," he said simply. "For my future. And for my sister's."

"Sister?" I echoed, surprised. "I didn't know you had a sister."

His expression softened slightly. "Kali. She's fifteen. Smart kid. Too smart for her own good sometimes."

I did some quick mental math. Kali must have been born long after Mason moved away. "She's lucky to have you looking out for her," I said softly.

Mason's gaze grew distant. "I'm all she has," he murmured, almost to himself.

The weight behind those words hung in the air between us. Clearly, there was more to the story, but I sensed now wasn't the time to push. Instead, I gently steered the conversation in a different direction.

"It's funny," I said, smiling slightly, "You remember my little sister, Maddie? She used to follow us around everywhere."

A hint of his old grin appeared. "Hard to forget someone who was always three steps behind us, trying to keep up. How is she doing?"

I laughed softly, memories of my little sister's determined face as she chased after us flooding back. "She's... doing well. Very successful. Married to a doctor, living the high life in Sacramento."

Something in my tone must have given me away because Mason's brow furrowed slightly. "But?" he prompted gently.

I sighed, fiddling with the corner of a page. "But things are different now. We were close when we were younger, you know? Even after you left, we stuck together. But then..."

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