Page 29 of Tempest Rising

When he finally spoke, it was as though his clipped tone shattered the heavy silence. “Tess.” His voice was cool, tinged with irritation.

I raised an eyebrow, my emotions still running high. “Can I help you?”

He stepped further into the room. Everything about him screamed calculated, from the way he held himself to the careful distance he kept between us.

“You skipped lunch,” he stated, his tone making it sound like I’d committed some kind of grave offense.

I stared at him, chopsticks still in hand, feeling a swell of irritation rise in my chest.Skipped lunch?Was he serious? Out of all the things he could be upset about, this was what he chose to focus on?

“Then what is this?” I muttered, stabbing another piece of rice just to give my hands something to do.

Sure, he was hot, in that sharp, painfully sculpted way High Fae seemed to come pre-packaged with—like someone had wished for an aloof, condescending statue to be brought to life. And he was obviously experienced, a strategist who probably out-thought most rooms before even entering them. Plus, he had that whole Supe edge, which added to the allure.

But right now? Right now, I wasn’t in the mood for anyone, no matter how dazzling, to tell me what to do.

His lips pressed into a thin line. “I’m just saying, you have a lot on your plate—more than most applicants. You can’t afford to neglect your health.”

“I think I’ll survive,” I said, my voice coming out sharper than intended.

He didn’t flinch, but his gaze narrowed. “You’re not invincible, Tess. You’re human. You have limits—”

“And I know my own limits,” I snapped, the chopsticks clattering onto the desk. “I don’t need you reminding me every five seconds.”

Kane’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t back down. “Since I’m here, why don’t we start our meeting early while you eat?” His voice had a cool, clinical edge.

I gave him a sharp look. “Fine,” I muttered, grabbing a piece of chicken with my chopsticks. I lifted it to my mouth in what felt like a deliberate gesture of defiance, as if eating this single bite would somehow prove my point. “Go ahead.”

Kane didn’t sit immediately. Instead, he watched me for a moment longer, like he was weighing something in his mind. Then, with a flick of his hand, he pulled out a chair and settled into it across from me, his posture still rigid as ever.

“How do you plan to continue the oral history project now that you’re a Dragon Rider applicant?” he asked, his voice smooth.

I paused, chopsticks halfway to my mouth, before setting my food down. “I’ve already worked it out with Moriyana,” I replied. “She’s helped adjust my schedule so I can keep up with theproject, even with the new responsibilities.” I smiled faintly, though I wasn’t sure if he’d notice or care.

Kane gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable. The silence that followed felt heavy, stretching just long enough to push me into speaking again, trying to close the gap. “Actually,” I added, leaning forward slightly, “it’s a huge relief. I didn’t want to abandon something I’ve worked so hard on.”

“Oh.” For the first time, his eyes flicked away briefly, as if processing the information.

I blinked, the memory hitting me like a spark reigniting. “Wait, I almost forgot!” I straightened. “I’ve got a meeting set with Garanth Kreel.”

I was glad I had something positive to focus on between all the drama and chaos these past few days. Finally, a small victory.

His eyes widened, obviously shocked. “You... already booked a meeting with him?”

I nodded, the corners of my mouth lifting into a small, proud smile. “Yep. He agreed to meet.”

Kane didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing in thought, his fingers drumming once on the edge of the desk before going still. His reaction wasn’t what I expected. He should’ve been impressed. Hell, maybe even a little proud. But instead, I could see the wheels turning in his mind, calculating.

Then, just as quickly, his expression shifted into something colder. “You’ll need to cancel it.”

It took a moment for his words to sink in, and when they did, I felt my stomach drop. “What?”

“You heard me,” Kane said, leaning forward, his voice steady but firm. “Cancel the meeting.”

Cancel the meeting? After everything I’d put into arranging it? After all my careful planning? My newfound sense of accomplishment deflated like a balloon. “Why the hell would I do that?”

The chopsticks trembled in my hand, the small piece of chicken still skewered between them now hovering in mid-air, forgotten. A sharp pulse of anger shot through me, tightening my chest.

Kane’s eyes locked onto mine, cold and calculating. “Because you’re a Dragon Rider applicant now. Your focus needs to be on your training. You won’t have time to—”

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