Page 20 of Tempest Blazing
"What exactly are you proposing?" Kane's voice carried that crisp, analytical tone he used when he was working through a problem.
"A schedule." Theron pulled out a piece of parchment covered in his precise handwriting. "Extra training sessions. Each of you has strengths the others need."
I leaned forward, trying to read the schedule upside down. "What kind of strengths?"
"Mason." Theron's gaze moved to my bonded mate. "Your physical conditioning is exceptional. Your combat training, your understanding of defensive positioning—all of you could benefit from that knowledge."
Mason nodded slowly, his dark eyes thoughtful. "I can do that."
"Anya." Theron turned to the necromancer. "Your academic knowledge is extensive. History, magical theory, Guild protocols—you've studied them all."
"I have," Anya agreed, her voice soft but confident. "I'd be happy to help with studying."
Then Theron's attention shifted to Kane, and I saw something flicker across the High Fae's face—resistance, maybe even irritation.
"Kane," Theron said carefully. "Your magical abilities are... unique. Your understanding of elemental manipulation could be invaluable."
Kane was quiet for a long moment, his blue-violet eyes fixed on something beyond the window. My own magic stirred restlessly beneath my skin, responding to his presence in a way I couldn't understand or explain. When he finally spoke, his voice was tight. "Fine. I'll help with magic training."
The reluctance in his voice stung more than I wanted to admit.
"Excellent." Theron made a note on his parchment. "We'll start tomorrow. Mason, I want you to work with all of them on combat readiness. Anya, begin with Guild history and protocol review. Kane—"
"I know what you want," Kane interrupted, his tone sharper than necessary.
The tension in the room thickened, and I found myself caught between wanting to smooth things over and respecting Kane's obvious boundaries.
"Well," I said, trying to inject some confidence into my voice. "I guess we should get going—"
"Actually," Theron continued, his gaze settling on me, "I'd like to speak with Tess privately."
Mason's eyes found mine, a question in their depths. Through our bond, I felt his protective instincts stirring, but I gave him a small nod.It's okay.
Kane stood first. "I'll see you later, then."
Anya rose gracefully, her dark robes rustling softly. "I'll prepare some study materials. There are several areas where additional focus would be beneficial."
Mason was the last to stand. He paused beside me, his hand brushing mine briefly—contact that sent warmth racing up my arm despite how fleeting it was.
"See you later," he said quietly, his voice carrying promises of conversations to come.
Then it was just Theron and me, the office suddenly feeling both larger and more intimate. He moved to close the door, the soft click of the latch somehow ominous.
"Sit," he said, returning to his desk.
I settled back into my chair, hyperaware of the way his emerald eyes seemed to see straight through me. "If this is about my performance in the trials—"
"It's not." He leaned forward, elbows on his desk, fingers steepled. "It's about your work in the Library."
My stomach dropped. "What about it?"
"You spend a lot of time there alone." Not a question.
"It's my job," I said carefully. "The Librarian position requires—"
"I know what it requires." His voice carried a sharp edge. "I also know that someone broke into the Library two nights ago. Someone who knew enough about the wards to get past the initial defenses."
The memory of that hooded figure made my skin crawl. "Security has been increased. Moriyana said—"
