Page 39 of Tempest Rising

"Half mile, maybe less," Raze replied, already moving in that direction with predatory grace. "The scent's strong enough that they should be ripe."

"This is going surprisingly well," I commented as we fell into formation again, following Raze's lead. "Almost suspiciously well."

Mason grunted in agreement. "Which means we should stay alert. The Guild's tests are never this straightforward."

The way he said it sent a shiver down my spine, despite the warmth of the afternoon sun. He was right—things were going too smoothly. But for now, the promise of fresh blackberries and a water source was too good to pass up.

We continued our trek uphill, the terrain growing steeper with each step. Walking beside Kane was like being next to a live wire—his energy so focused, so intense. There was something magnetic about him, the way he seemed to know exactly wherewe were headed, his mind always two steps ahead. His rare smirks felt like small victories, and I found myself craving more of them, despite the guarded nature I saw in his eyes. What was it like to carry the weight of so much responsibility, to be so controlled all the time? And why did I want to be the one to make him lose that control, just for a moment?

As we crested a small rise, the scent of ripe berries grew stronger. Through a break in the trees, I spotted the dark clusters dotting thick brambles that bordered a clear, bubbling stream.

Kane crouched by the water’s edge, dipping his fingers into the stream. His eyes gleamed with focused concentration, the faintest shimmer of magic curling around his fingertips. "I can purify the water," he said, his voice low but certain. "Minimal spell. Shouldn't be an issue."

Mason gave a curt nod. "Necessary for survival. We can't afford to risk bad water out here."

Kane's hands moved with fluid precision, his fingers tracing a pattern in the air. The water shimmered briefly, then stilled. Mason pulled the water bottles out of the bag and headed toward the stream to fill them up.

"Done," Kane said, standing up and brushing his hands off on his pants. His eyes flicked toward the blackberry bushes. "While we're stopped, gather what you can. Berries won’t hold long, but they'll keep us going."

"Those are some beautiful berries," I said, already moving toward the bushes. The fruit hung in heavy clusters, perfectly ripe and glistening in the dappled sunlight.

Raze's eyes lit up as he surveyed the area. His nostrils flared again, and a predatory grin spread across his face. "I smellrabbit. Fresh meat would do us good." Without ceremony, he began stripping off his clothes.

"Really?" Kane arched an eyebrow.

I turned my gaze away quickly, feeling heat rise to my cheeks as Raze tossed his shirt aside. "You know, you could give a girl a little warning before you start peeling off layers," I teased, trying to sound casual even as my voice wavered slightly. My life had been a whirlwind of supernatural surprises lately, but public nudity still took some getting used to.

Raze’s grin widened, utterly shameless. "What? You want me to ruin perfectly good clothes?" He winked, his tone dripping with playful arrogance. "You’ll get used to it. Just part of the package when you hang out with supes."

I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms as I fought back a smirk. "Oh, I’m sure I will. It’s not like I don’t already have enough to adjust to."

A low chuckle escaped him as he kicked off his boots. "Be right back with dinner!" In one fluid motion, he shifted into a massive black wolf, his clothes left in a careless heap on the ground. The transformation was seamless, and before I could blink, he bounded into the underbrush with a burst of speed, a dark blur against the fading light.

I couldn’t help but smile despite myself, watching him disappear into the trees. His wolf form was breathtaking—powerful, primal, and unapologetically wild. It was a stark reminder of the untamed nature that lingered just beneath the surface of his human exterior.

We settled into gathering berries, working in comfortable silence. The fruit was sweet and perfectly ripe, juice staining our fingers purple. Twenty minutes later, Raze trotted back intoview, two plump rabbits hanging from his jaws. He dropped them proudly before shifting back and pulling on his clothes.

"Double dinner," he announced with a grin, tossing the rabbits onto the ground near our pile of berries.

"Show-off," Kane muttered, but there was a faint hint of approval in his eyes. "We’ll cook them tonight. No point in carrying extra weight while they’re raw."

"We should eat the berries now," Mason suggested, his deep voice cutting through the conversation. "They'll just get crushed if we try to carry them."

We sat down in a loose circle, sharing the pile of berries between us. The mood lightened slightly. Raze stretched lazily, his long limbs sprawled out on the grass, while Mason leaned back against a tree.

A distant rumble drew our attention skyward. Dark clouds were building over the mountains to the west, their edges tinged with an ominous green.

"That's not good," Mason muttered, his expression darkening as another roll of thunder echoed through the valley.

Kane's eyes narrowed as he studied the approaching storm. "Those clouds... they're moving too fast to be natural."

A cold wind whipped through the clearing, carrying with it the sharp tang of ozone and something else—something that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

"We need to move," Kane said urgently, just as a flash of lightning illuminated the darkness within those clouds. For a split second, I could have sworn I saw something moving inside them—something massive and serpentine.

And it was heading straight for us.

Chapter 16

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