Page 15 of Tempest Blazing
I took the message, recognizing the coded script immediately. Lorcan's network used a cipher that changed daily, but I'd been reading his reports long enough to translate without thinking.
High-stakes exhibition match scheduled for Friday evening. Opponent: recently bonded pair, rare affinity. Significant betting interest from Guild families. Location: The Crimson Arena.
My blood went cold.
"Recently bonded," I said slowly. "How recently?"
"Three days ago." Lorcan's expression stayed carefully neutral, but I caught the flicker of something that might have been concern. "A storm dragon and his water elemental mate. The bond is fresh—sacred by our laws, but apparently not sacred enough to keep them out of the fighting rings."
The parchment crumpled in my fist before I could stop myself. Fire magic leaked through my fingers, turning the message to ash in seconds.
"They're using a mate bond as entertainment," I said, my voice sounding strange even to my own ears. Flat. Dangerous. "Breaking one of our most fundamental laws for sport."
"That would be my assessment, yes." Lorcan tilted his head, studying me with predator intensity.
"I need details," I said. "Everything you can find about the match, the opponent, the arena setup. I need security schedules, guard rotations, emergency protocols."
"That's going to cost extra." Lorcan's voice stayed carefully neutral, but I caught the calculating gleam in his eyes. "Considerably extra."
"I don't care."
"And if I were to ask what you're planning to do with this information?"
I met his gaze steadily. "You won't."
Because we both knew what I was planning. What I'd been planning since the moment I'd read that message.
I was going to stop this.
Chapter 6
Tess
My muscles ached and my brain felt foggy from exhaustion—today's classes had been especially intense after the announcement. But Mason and I had agreed we couldn't afford to wait—we needed to start researching the Matrix immediately. A couple hours before dinner would have to do.
The Library seemed to sense my purpose the moment I stepped inside, guiding me through shifting corridors with gentle nudges of warm air. I followed the subtle cues—a brightening sconce here, a softly creaking door there—until I found myself before a room I'd never seen before.
"In here," came Mason's familiar voice, tinged with amusement.
I stepped through the doorway and couldn't help but smile. He was already seated at a circular table surrounded by towering stacks of books. The sight of him still sent a little thrill through me—my mate, brilliant and determined.
"The Library's playing matchmaker again," I said, gesturing to the cozy space.
Mason's grin was pure mischief as he stood and crossed to me. "Can't say I mind." His hands found my waist, pulling me close for a quick kiss. "Though I suspect it's more about giving us privacy for potentially dangerous research than romance."
"Why not both?" I laughed, feeling some of the day's tension ease from my shoulders.
He chuckled, then gallantly pulled out the chair beside his. "Your research station awaits, my lady." As I settled into the seat, his hands found my shoulders, strong fingers working at the knots of stress there with practiced ease.
"Mmm," I sighed, melting under his touch. "If you keep that up, we'll never get any work done."
"Just a minute," he murmured, his thumbs finding a particularly stubborn knot. "Can't have my brilliant mate too tense to think clearly."
After another blissful moment, he pressed a kiss to the top of my head and took his own seat, immediately diving back into his research.
The Library settled into comfortable silence around us, broken only by the whisper of turning pages and the occasional scratch of Mason's pen as he took notes. Hours passed in focused concentration, both of us lost in our respective texts as dust motes danced in the magical light filtering through the windows.
"Another dead end," Mason muttered, slamming another leather-bound tome shut. The sound echoed off the stone walls, sharp and frustrated.
