Page 60 of Tempest Rising

“Nowthat’san entrance,” I murmured under my breath.

Thalon’s voice swept through my mind, his tone curious and amused. “Showing off keeps things interesting, does it not?”

Before I could reply, another dragon landed beside him, bringing a searing wave of heat. Yrden, Theron’s dragon. Rust-colored scales shimmered, and the very air around him seemed to smolder. Theron, seated high on Yrden’s broad shoulders, dismounted with practiced efficiency, landing with a grunt and tossing a bundle of foil-wrapped packages toward Mason.

“Eat now,” Theron said curtly. His green eyes flicked over the group like a commander assessing his soldiers. “You’ll need the fuel.”

I guess we weren’t bothering bothering with pleasantries.

As Mason caught the bundle mid-air and began divvying the packages, my curiosity got the better of me.

“And where exactlyarewe going? What’s going on?” I asked, hesitating only briefly before peeling open my packet, finding a steaming breakfast sandwich.

Theron didn’t bother looking at me. “The Guild’s lands. A fire started in the northeastern reaches. It’s closing in. Fast.” His voice was clipped, devoid of comfort, but the lingering pause between his words said plenty. Whatever this was, it wasn’t natural.

“The trees are dense in this region,” Mason said from beside me, his deep, gruff voice a rumble of quiet concern. “If it spreads...”

“It alreadyis.Faster than it should,” Theron interrupted. “We need help—from all the applicants. Riders have been sent to gather everyone back to the guild. The survival challenge is over. This emergency takes precedence.”

Raze crossed his arms. “And how exactly are we getting back?”

Theron gave him a sharp look. “We’re flying.”

Thalon nudged me gently with his massive claw, drawing my attention back to him. “Mason’s with us,”he rumbled, his golden-amber gaze steady as he offered his claw as a step toward his great, winged back.

I motioned to Mason, and he stepped forward.

“I guess you two are with me,” Theron muttered, indicating Kane and Raze should join him.

When Mason reached me, he didn’t hesitate. His strong hands rested firmly at my waist as I climbed onto Thalon’s back, steadying me as the dragon’s heat pulsed beneath my palms.

The sensation sparked a flicker of warmth low in my belly—a surprising comfort amidst the rising tension.

“Comfortable?” Mason’s voice was low in my ear, a gruff tease that made my heart stutter.

“No,” I shot back with a huff, trying to deflect the flush blooming across my cheeks. “This guy wasn’t exactly built for humans, you know.”

He chuckled, the deep sound rolling through me as steady as the earth beneath Thalon’s talons. Moments later, with Mason settled behind me, his hands bracketing my sides protectively, Thalon’s body coiled like a spring.

The next heartbeat was a blur of motion. Thalon launched into the air with a powerful surge of his wings, the ground falling away so fast my breath caught in my chest. Mason’s arm brushed my side—not holding me in place, but reassuringly close in case I faltered.

Theron and Yrden were right behind us, their ascent as smooth and deadly as a predator closing in. I glanced over my shoulder to see Raze and Kane, their usual bickering an unintelligible buzz in the rush of wind.

“Play nice, you two,” Theron barked. “Or I’ll drop you both into the fire and let nature sort it out.”

“That’s the spirit, Teach,” Raze called back, his grin widening. “Always inspiring the troops.”

Despite myself, I let out a shaky laugh. The tension eased, if only for a moment.

But as we climbed higher, the sense of unease returned tenfold. The fire spread below us like a living, breathing creature, its black smoke snaking across the landscape with unnatural speed.

"This is no ordinary fire,"Thalon remarked.

I swallowed hard. “A fire this big is bound to feel unnatural,” I muttered under my breath, though I couldn’t shake the unease. Thalon rarely sounded rattled, and the tension in his words was like a warning bell ringing in my head.

The air was a suffocating haze of smoke and heat as we descended toward the chaos below. What had been a crisp, clear sky was now a bruised smear of orange and gray, the acrid scent of burning wood stinging my throat.

Thalon's massive wings beat against the smoke-filled air as he angled downward, his powerful form cutting through the haze with practiced precision. The heat from the inferno below radiated upward, making the descent feel like plunging into an open furnace. As we neared the ground, his powerful muscles tensed beneath me, preparing for landing.

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