Page 35 of Tempest Awakening

I trailed off, unsure how to explain the complex dynamics of my family without sounding bitter. Mason waited patiently, his presence oddly comforting.

"When we hit our teens, things changed," I finally continued. "Our mom, she... well, she started treating Maddie differently. Perfect Maddie, the golden child who could do no wrong. And I became..."

"The scapegoat," Mason finished quietly, understanding dawning in his eyes.

I nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah. It's not Maddie's fault, not really. But it drove a wedge between us. Now we're more like polite acquaintances than sisters."

Mason's hand moved as if to reach for mine, but he stopped himself, letting it rest on the book instead. "I'm sorry, Tess. That must have been hard."

His simple words, filled with genuine empathy, nearly undid me. I blinked back the threat of tears, offering a wobbly smile. "It is what it is. At least I'm forging my own path now, right?"

Mason nodded, his eyes holding mine. "You always were the brave one," he said softly.

For a moment, we just looked at each other, years of shared history and new understanding passing between us. The air seemed to crackle with unspoken emotions.

Clearing his throat, Mason turned back to the book. "So, uh, this Ancient War," he said, his voice a bit gruffer than before. "Looks like it had some pretty major consequences for human-supe relations."

As we worked side by side, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was seeing only the surface of the man Mason had become. There were depths to him now, hidden currents I couldn't quite fathom.

"What about you?" Mason asked suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen between us. "How are you finding your new job here?"

I smiled, running my hand along the smooth wood of a nearby shelf. "It's incredible," I admitted. "Every day I discover something new. Right now, I'm working on an Oral History Project with Kane, documenting first-hand accounts of supernatural events."

Mason's eyebrows rose. "Kane? As in Kane Ellesar?"

I nodded, a slight frown creasing my brow. "Yeah, though he hasn't been particularly... friendly. More like grudgingly tolerant of my presence."

Something flashed in Mason's eyes, a hint of anger that surprised me with its intensity. "That's not right," he said, his voice low and tight. "You're doing important work. He should treat you with respect."

"It's okay," I said, touched by his protectiveness but also a bit bemused. "I can handle a grumpy fae."

Mason didn't look convinced, but he let it drop. As we turned back to our research, I couldn't help but wonder at thecomplexities of the man beside me. My old friend, yet in so many ways a stranger. Human, yet not.

I wanted to know this new Mason, scars and all.

"There you are, Mason."

The sharp voice cut through our bubble of companionship. I looked up to find Kane standing at the end of the aisle, his piercing blue-violet eyes sweeping over the scene before him. His jaw was clenched, a muscle ticking in his cheek.

"I've been looking for you," Kane continued, his gaze flicking between Mason and me. "We're supposed to be working on the assignment together, remember?"

Mason straightened, his expression neutral. "I needed some additional resources. Ms. Whittaker was kind enough to assist."

Kane's eyes narrowed slightly. "I see." His gaze turned to me. "Thank you for your help, Ms. Whittaker. I'm sure you have other duties to attend to."

I bristled at the dismissal in his tone. "Actually, assisting students with research is part of my job, Mr. Ellesar. I'm happy to help both of you if you'd like."

For a moment, tension crackled in the air. Kane's eyes bored into mine, and I forced myself to meet his gaze steadily. Finally, he gave a curt nod.

"That won't be necessary," he said. "Mason, shall we?"

Chapter 13

Kane

The clash of steel echoed through the training yard as Mason's blade met mine with brutal force. Around us, other Dragon Rider applicants paired off, their own weapons ringing out in a cacophony of metal on metal. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and determination.

Even after years of rigorous training, I still marveled at Mason's raw power. With shoulders that dwarfed most applicants, he was a force of nature. Several of the other trainees had paused their own sparring to watch us, awed by the intensity of our match.

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