Page 57 of Tempest Awakening

I swallowed hard. The man who seemed to despise me would now be my primary instructor. This was going to be... challenging, to say the least.

Chapter 20

Tess

As Theron's words hung in the air, thick with tension, Moriyana's voice resonated in all our minds. “Thank you, Instructor Blackwell. Now, I believe Tess and Thalon need some time to adjust to their new bond.”

I felt a wave of relief wash over me at her words, grateful for the reprieve from Theron's burning gaze. The Grand Luminary's ruby scales shimmered as she turned her attention to the gathered instructors.

“You are all dismissed. We will reconvene Monday morning to discuss the logistics of Tess's training.”

As the instructors began to disperse, I caught sight of Mason's worried expression. He hesitated, taking a step towards me before Master Burke's stern look made him pause.

"Tess?" Mason's deep voice was laced with concern. "Are you sure you're okay with all this?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but found myself unsure of what to say. Was I okay? Everything had happened so fast, and the weight of it all was only now starting to sink in.

“Tell him you're fine,”Thalon's voice echoed in my mind, confident and reassuring. “We have each other now.”

Drawing strength from Thalon's presence, I managed a small smile. "I'm okay, Mason. Really. It's a lot to take in, but... I think this is where I'm meant to be."

Mason didn't look entirely convinced, but he nodded slowly. "If you need anything, I'm here."

As he turned to leave, I felt a sudden surge of emotion. Before I could overthink it, I rushed forward, throwing my arms around Mason's broad chest.

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice muffled against his shirt. "For everything."

For a moment, Mason seemed stunned, but then his arms wrapped around me, enveloping me in a warm, secure embrace. He held me tightly, as if afraid to let go, and I found myself melting into his touch.

I became acutely aware of Mason's strength, the solidness of his body against mine. His scent—a mix of stone and something wild—filled my senses. It was both arousing and deeply comforting. I breathed deeply, wanting more.

"Ahem," Kane's cool voice cut through the moment. "We should go, Mason. They need some time alone."

Mason's arms tightened briefly before he reluctantly released me. His eyes, when they met mine, were filled with an intensity that made my breath catch.

"Be careful," he said softly, his hand lingering on my arm for a moment before he stepped back.

As Mason and Kane walked away, I felt a confusing mix of emotions inside me. But before I could dwell on it, Thalon's voice filled my mind again, this time with a hint of mischief.

“So, little one, ready for your first flight?”

I blinked, pulled back to the present moment. "Flight? But... isn't that against the rules for applicants?"

Thalon chuckled. “Rules are meant to be bent occasionally, especially when there's so much to explore.”

I glanced at Moriyana, expecting her to object, but the ancient dragon merely watched us with what seemed like amusement in her eyes.

“Go,”she said simply. “Bond. Learn. You’ll be busy soon enough.”

With a powerful beat of her wings, Moriyana took to the sky, her ruby scales glinting in the sunlight as she soared towards the Library. The gust from her departure whipped my hair around my face, and I turned back to Thalon, my heart pounding.

For the first time, I really looked at him—I mean, really looked. Thalon was massive, his body easily the size of a city bus. His scales shimmered in the sunlight, shifting between the deepest obsidian and the most radiant gold I'd ever seen. It was like watching the play of light on the surface of a black opal, mesmerizing and ever-changing.

His eyes, when they met mine, were swirling pools of molten lava one moment and soothing amber the next. The intelligence in that gaze was unmistakable, as was the hint of mischief.

“Well, little one?”Thalon's voice in my mind was tinged with amusement. “Are you going to stand there all day, or shall we fly?”

I swallowed hard, suddenly realizing the logistics of what I was about to do. "I, uh... where exactly am I supposed to sit?"

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