Page 4 of Tempest Rising

Kane sighed like it was obvious. “The Omnium is the governing council of all supernatural beings operating within human jurisdictions. They make sure Supes and humans don’t tear each other apart over… misunderstandings.”

“Right,” Tess said, nodding slowly, still studying Lucien like she was piecing together a puzzle.

I grunted. “Doesn’t feel like a coincidence, them being here today.”

“It’s not,” Kane replied. His arms were crossed now, his stance calculated but relaxed, like he already had a dozen contingencies planned out in his head. “They’re here to observe her.”

She blinked, whipping her head toward him. “Me?”

Kane gave a curt nod. “Yes, you. Who else?” A wry smirk tugged at his lips, though the humor never quite reached his eyes. His voice was low. “See over there? That’s Garrick Burke.”

I followed his gaze toward the far side of the field where a tall, imposing figure stood, radiating controlled authority. The griffin-shifter was legendary—Master of the Wing, a man whose battlefield prowess was the stuff of stories whispered among recruits. Even from a distance, his hawkish eyes missed nothing.

There was another woman standing with them. She had crimson hair and a captivating elegance.

Kane’s brows furrowed slightly, his cold exterior flickering as if he were trying to place her. “I... feel like I've met her before,” he said, almost to himself.

Tess glanced toward the figure with a smile of recognition. “That’s Akira,” she said, her voice warm and light. “She’s the library’s liaison to the Far East.”

"That's right. The kitsune," Kane murmured. He straightened up. "I'm surprised they didn't come earlier. Everyone wants to get a look at the first human bonded with a dragon, apparently.”

“They’re sizing her up,” I growled, my fists clenched so tightly that the sharp edges of my nails bit into my palms. I stepped unconsciously closer to Tess. “She’s a threat. To their balance. To their traditions. Not everyone’s as invested as Thalon is in breaking molds.”

My gargoyle side stirred, the tethered presence always there, always watching.Protect her. Keep her close. Let them know she’s yours to defend.The primal urge clawed at the edges of my restraint, a deep-rooted instinct as much a part of me as the air I pulled into my lungs.

Everyone’s focus was on her—whether they realized it or not. The faint murmurs, the lingering stares, the subtle shifts in posture as they assessed her. Every fiber of my being screamed to do something—growl, stake a claim, something.

“She’s mine to protect,” I thought fiercely, a whisper not meant for anyone but me. But even in thought, the words had weight.Claim her. Mark her. Let no one doubt it,the voice inside urged relentlessly, primal, hard-edged.

I shoved the thoughts down—stuffed that voice back into the quiet recesses where it belonged. Respect. Tess deserved respect. Patience. A choice.

Still, her closeness invoked something... deeper, more visceral, something barely restrained, and the duality of it all—the need to protect, the yearning to claim, the hesitation for fear of herpulling away—kept me suspended in this taut, agonizing balance between desire and duty.

I glanced down at her, catching the subtle furrow of her brow as she studied the training field, her lips pressed into a focused line. She was nervous; I could see the tension in her shoulders and the slight, restless movements of her fingers at her sides. Aelar never made this easy. He thrived on pressure, on turning the screws until all weaknesses cracked wide open.

“You good?” I muttered, pitching my voice so low that the buzz of conversation around us swallowed it. The question wasn’t just for me—it was for her.

Her golden-brown eyes lifted to meet mine, the sunlight igniting warm flecks in their depths—and catching the faint shimmer of purple streaked through her hair. That purple, always vivid no matter the light, had a pull that felt almost maddening. “Yeah,” she murmured, and though she tried to sound certain, the edges of her voice wavered just enough for me to hear her unease. “I just... I don’t know what to expect.”

I leaned in slightly, just enough to ensure no one else could hear. My chest stirred faintly as I breathed her in—her warmth, her presence, the steadying calm that brought me back from the edge more times than I could count. “I’ve got your back,” I said simply.

Her lips parted, the faintest inhale catching her breath, and for a fleeting moment, I caught a glimpse of something in her expression. A softness, maybe, but layered with something else—something deeper. Something I wanted to understand but wouldn’t press to name. Not now. Not yet.

Her small nod was all the response I needed, though the faint press of her fingers against my forearm, too fleeting for anyoneelse to see, was enough to send my pulse surging. My stone form stirred again, the hum resonating quiet as a whisper through my veins—but I pushed it down like I always did.

Now wasn’t the time to feel. Now was the time to stand at her side. To be what she needed me to be.

The rest of the class had gathered now, and Aelar, his silver hair gleaming like steel under the sun, stepped into the center with a commanding presence that silenced any lingering chatter. His piercing blue eyes swept over us with the same kind of scrutiny that made you feel like you were being sized up—or cut down—at every turn. The High Elf was no joke. And I could tell by the way Tess shifted beside me that she knew it, too.

Aelar's commanding voice carried across the field, enhanced by a subtle magical resonance that allowed all two hundred of us to hear him clearly. "Gather around," he instructed, gesturing to the wide semicircle of wooden benches that had been set up facing a large, enchanted projection screen.

"You may have noticed we have a few guests observing today," he said, his silver-flecked eyes sweeping the crowd. "Pay them no mind. Focus on the lesson as usual."

"Today's lesson is survival. You’ll be learning what it takes to stay alive when you're on your own in the wilderness. As Dragon Riders, you may find yourselves in situations where you must survive in harsh environments, either while on a mission or if separated from your dragon," Aelar continued, his tone steady and authoritative. "More importantly, you may encounter individuals in dire straits, struggling to survive. Understanding their plight is crucial to effective rescue operations."

With a wave of his hand, images flickered to life on the screen behind him, displaying various wilderness scenarios. "We'llcover the basics of survival without unnecessary disruption to nature. Remember, we are guardians of balance, not conquerors. For those of you with magical abilities, I'll also provide guidance on how to use your gifts responsibly in these situations."

For the next hour, Aelar shared crucial survival skills, his centuries of experience pouring into every word. He covered essentials like locating and purifying water, constructing shelters from natural materials, foraging for food, fire-making, navigation, and basic first aid—all while emphasizing harmony with nature. Aelar stressed understanding the environment, whether it was tracking animals to find water, knowing which plants are safe to eat, or creating shelters without disturbing habitats.

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