Page 55 of Tempest Blazing
"Tempest," I whispered—not my given name, but the truth of who I'd become since bonding with Thalon. The name felt right. Like claiming something that had always been mine.
The pendant flared to life.
The light didn't explode outward—it imploded. Searing inward through the silver filigree. Into my skin without burning. My back arched. Every breath stolen. Magic flooded my senses. Fire and shadow. Light and darkness. All of it threading through me. Weaving itself into my bones.
I could feel Thalon's essence mixing with mine—his ancient wisdom, his fierce protectiveness, his unshakeable strength. But more than that, I could feel something uniquely my own rising to meet it, something that had always been there but had never been fully awakened.
Thalon's roar split the air. Not pain—pure resonance. Recognition. Completion. I felt it in my bones, in the marrow of me, as our bond deepened beyond anything I'd thought possible. The world seemed to hold its breath.
My magic twisted. Reformed. The familiar gold and purple fire was still there, but now it was threaded through with something darker, more primal. Dragon fire. Shadow flame. Power that tasted of centuries and starlight.
The pendant began to liquefy against my chest, fire opal and silver filigree melting into something that felt like liquid starlight. Not burning, but consuming. I could feel each drop of molten metal threading through my skin like veins of pure fire, seeking my heart with deliberate purpose.
It moved with its own intelligence, flowing deeper and deeper until it reached the very core of my being and settled there likea second heartbeat, pulsing in perfect synchronization with my own.
Overwhelming. Caught between ecstasy and terror. Every cell singing with new possibility. New strength. I could feel Thalon not just beside me now, but within me, our souls intertwined in a way that made separation impossible.
When the transformation finally ended, I collapsed to my knees, gasping for air that tasted different somehow—richer, more alive. My sternum glowed beneath my shirt, pulsing with my heartbeat. The light was subtle but unmistakable, a visible sign of what we'd just done.
I could feel everything—the ancient magic flowing through Dracara's soil, the whisper of wind through leaves that hadn't stirred before, the steady pulse of Thalon's massive heart just feet away. But most of all, I could feel him inside me now, not just connected but truly merged. No collar, no magic, no force in any realm could sever this bond.
The realization hit me like a physical blow—relief so profound it nearly broke me. Never again would I feel that terrible silence. Never again would I be cut off from the most important connection in my life.
With effort, I lifted my head, hair clinging to my damp forehead. When I met Thalon's molten gaze, I saw my own wonder reflected back at me, along with something that made my chest tight with emotion.
I pressed a hand to my sternum, feeling the warm pulse of light beneath my palm—steady, unbreakable, eternal. The glow flared brighter at my touch, then settled back into its gentle rhythm.
This was what we'd become. What we'd always been meant to be.
Unbreakable.
Chapter 24
Tess
The familiar scent of cinnamon and books wrapped around me as I stepped into my suite, but it felt... different. Like I was seeing it through a stranger's eyes. The cozy reading nook by the window, my scattered notebooks on the desk, the rumpled bed where I'd woken up yesterday morning—it all looked the same, but something had shifted. Like I'd been gone for years instead of hours.
A soft mew broke through my spiraling thoughts.
"Whiskey." My voice came out rough. Barely there.
My orange tabby padded toward me, his single eye bright with concern. He wound around my legs, purring loudly, and something tight in my chest loosened. I sank to the floor, gathering him into my arms.
"Hey, pumpkin," I murmured, burying my face in his fur. He smelled like sunshine and safety. Like home. "I missed you too."
He purred harder, kneading my thighs with his paws, and for the first time since leaving the arena, I felt like I could breathe properly. This was real. This was mine. No collars. No fighting ring. No demons trying to tear me apart.
A gentle knock at the door made me look up. "Come in."
Mason stepped inside, carrying a tray that smelled like heaven. His dark eyes swept over me sitting on the floor with Whiskey, and his expression softened.
"Thought you might be hungry," he said quietly, setting the tray on the small table by the window.
I stood slowly, Whiskey still in my arms. "You didn't have to—"
"Yes, I did." Firm but gentle. "When's the last time you ate?"
I tried to remember. Breakfast felt like a lifetime ago. "This morning, I think?"
