Page 43 of Tempest Awakening

She laughed, clearly enjoying my embarrassment. "Why not? You've got a handsome fae, a brooding gargoyle... all you need now is a dragon shifter and you've got yourself the start of a best-selling paranormal romance series."

My eyes widened. "Wait, dragon shifters actually exist?"

Pippa chuckled, shaking her head. "No, they don’t. But wouldn't it be great if they did? Imagine the possibilities!"

I groaned, burying my face in my hands again. "You're impossible."

"I prefer to think of myself as imaginative," Pippa said with a wink. "But in all seriousness, Tess, don't let your family's words hold you back. You're smart, kind, and clearly more interesting than they gave you credit for. Is it really so hard to believe that you might have caught someone's eye?"

I peeked at her through my fingers. "I... I don't know. Maybe?"

"Well, that's a start," Pippa said, satisfied.

Her expression suddenly turned more serious. "Now, speaking of rumors, there's something else I've been hearing that I'm a bit concerned about."

I lowered my hands, curious about her change in tone. "Oh? What's that?"

She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I've heard some whispers about certain library staff and even some of the applicants giving you a hard time. Bullying you because you’re human?"

Chapter 15

Tess

My stomach dropped. I'd hoped those incidents weren't common knowledge. "Oh, that," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "It's nothing, really. Just a few... misunderstandings."

Pippa's eyes narrowed. "Tess, bullying isn't a misunderstanding. Is someone making you feel unwelcome here because you're human?"

I sighed, pushing my half-eaten pancakes around on my plate. "It's not everyone. Most people have been wonderful. It's just... there are a few who seem to think humans don't belong at the Library."

As I said this, a memory from earlier in the week surfaced. I had been cataloging a new shipment of texts when Aurelia swept into the room, her emerald eyes glinting with disdain.

"Oh, dear," she had said, her voice dripping with false concern. "I'm afraid you've made quite a mess of things here."

Before I could respond, she had waved her hand, and the carefully organized piles of books I'd spent hours arranging suddenly shuffled themselves into complete disarray.

"These are delicate magical texts," Aurelia had sniffed. "They require a... special touch. Perhaps you'd be better suited to simpler tasks? I hear the Drakehaven public library is always looking for help shelving children's books."

The memory stung, and I felt my cheeks flush. And when I thought of how some of the applicants treated me—

"That's completely unacceptable," Pippa's voice brought me back to the present. "Have you reported this to anyone?"

I shook my head. "I don't want to make waves. I'm still new here, and I don't want to be seen as a troublemaker."

Pippa reached out and took my hand. "Tess, standing up for yourself doesn't make you a troublemaker. You have every right to be here and to feel safe and respected in your workplace."

"I know," I said softly. "It's just... complicated. I'm trying to handle it on my own."

"And how's that working out for you?" Pippa asked, her eyebrow raised.

I couldn't meet her eyes. "Not great," I admitted.

Pippa squeezed my hand. "Look, I know it's not easy being the newcomer, especially when you're different. But you don't have to face this alone. Have you talked to Moriyana about this?"

The thought made me squirm uncomfortably. "No, I... I don't want her to think I can't handle myself."

"Oh, honey," Pippa said, her voice softening. "Asking for help doesn't make you weak. It makes you smart. She'd want to know if someone was treating you badly."

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I'll think about it," I promised.

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