Page 61 of Tempest Rising

With a graceful sweep of his wings, Thalon touched down, far enough from the flames to give us a moment to gather ourselves. Mason's hands steadied me as I slid from Thalon's back, my boots hitting the scorched earth with a soft thud. The acrid smoke immediately assaulted my senses, making my eyes water and throat burn as we faced the wall of flames.

Applicants and instructors scrambled, their shouts barely audible over the roar of destruction.

Theron’s voice cut through the din, sharp and commanding. “If this fire spreads toward the training grounds, it’s not just the Library at risk. Drakehaven’s close—too close. We can’t let it get that far.”

I glanced at the towering inferno, my chest tightening. I wondered if the library would be okay. Not to mention,Drakehaven, the small but bustling town just beyond the forest, was a tinderbox waiting to ignite.

Kane, standing a few feet away, nodded grimly. “The Library will hold,” he said, his voice cutting through the chaos. “But the other structures? Not so much.”

I swallowed hard, gripping the straps of my pack tighter. “Then let’s make sure it doesn’t come to that.”

Theron’s emerald eyes snapped to mine, his expression unreadable but intense. “Containment duty. Move now, and try to keep up. Get anything flammable out of the way.”

I nodded and jogged after him, my boots crunching against scorched earth as I followed his lead. Mason was already ahead, his broad frame a reassuring presence as he hefted a massive fallen branch out of the way with ease.

Selena strode past, her silvery hair catching the strange orange glow of the firelight. She didn’t miss the opportunity to let her disdain drip from her words. “Oh, great. The librarian on containment duty. Bold choice, Theron.”

Her smirk was infuriating, but Theron didn’t give her a chance to continue. His sharp command snapped us all back to focus. “Enough! Mason, reinforce the firebreak. Whittaker, you’re with me. And Selena, unless you want to get toasted, I suggest you direct your energy at something useful.”

Selena huffed but moved off to assist another group, leaving me to fall in step with Theron.

I swallowed hard, the weight of being the only human among supernatural elites settling heavily on my shoulders. This was what it meant to be a Dragon Rider—stepping up even when the odds felt insurmountable. Dragon Riders weren’t just warriors;they were first responders, leaders, protectors. If I wanted to stand among them, I had to prove I could handle more than just books and research. I had to be ready for anything.

The heat was overwhelming, licking at my skin even from a distance. Mason was already ahead, using his immense strength to drag large debris out of the fire’s path, his movements efficient but strained as he worked to build a firebreak. He tore up thick bushes and tree limbs, clearing a wide strip of land to deprive the fire of fuel. The idea was simple: without anything left to burn, the flames would slow and, hopefully, stop before consuming everything in their path.

Above us, sleek, sinuous forms cut through the smoke-filled sky. Water dragons and their riders soared in coordinated patterns, their shimmering scales reflecting the fire’s glow like living sapphires. Jets of pressurized water shot from their mouths, dousing the advancing flames in bursts of steam. The riders leaned forward, guiding their dragons with firm but fluid motions, their teamwork seamless.

I grabbed a nearby shovel, my muscles already protesting as I started digging into the dry earth to create a barrier. Around me, chaos reigned, each applicant throwing themselves into the effort with desperate determination. A shifter worked beside me, his powerful arms driving his shovel into the ground with a speed and efficiency that made my own efforts feel sluggish in comparison.

Raze, meanwhile, was a blur of motion, his shirt discarded as he hurled rocks and debris into the growing firebreak with a ferocity that bordered on reckless. "Faster, people!" he bellowed, his amber eyes flashing as he shot a frustrated glance at the creeping inferno. "If this thing gets any closer, we’re done!"

A sudden crack above us made me freeze. My eyes darted upward, where a massive, flaming branch teetered precariously on the edge of a burning tree. The heat had weakened it, and it was seconds away from crashing down—right onto Mason and a group of applicants working nearby.

“Look out!” I shouted, my voice nearly lost in the roar of the fire. The branch was already falling.

"Tess. Golden Shield."Thalon’s voice sliced through my panic—calm, urgent.

“I—” My body locked up, fear choking the words.

"Trust me."

The world slowed. My pulse thundered. I raised my hands on instinct. “Golden Shield,” I whispered.

Heat flared inside me, expanding—igniting. A shimmering golden barrier burst forth, doming over Mason and the others just as the branch crashed down. Sparks and ash erupted, but the shield held.

Mason looked up, wide-eyed. Around us, the applicants stood frozen. Even Theron’s emerald gaze flicked to me, sharp with something unreadable.

The shield flickered, trembling under the strain of the flames, and I felt my knees weaken, the energy draining from me faster than I expected.“Hold it steady,”Thalon urged, his voice a lifeline in my mind.“You’re stronger than you think. Don’t let go.”

I gritted my teeth, focusing on the warmth in my chest, on the connection I could feel to Thalon. The shield stabilized, glowing brighter as I pushed it outward, creating a safe zone around us.The flames hissed angrily, retreating as if they recognized a force they couldn’t overcome.

Theron’s voice broke through the stunned silence. “Good. Now focus—we need to get those people out.”

I nodded, too drained for words, and took a shaky step forward. The shield expanded, forming a protective barrier over the trapped applicants. Mason was already at my side, his broad frame a steady presence as he began clearing debris again. He didn’t say anything, but the quiet nod he gave me spoke volumes.

“Was that human using magic?” one of the applicants whispered.

I froze for half a second, realization hitting me. None of the applicants had actually seen me use magic before. I’d been practicing in secret, testing my limits when I was alone—but this was the first time I had done it openly.

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