Page 80 of Tempest Blazing
"Better than I expected," I admitted, flexing my cramped fingers. "Though I'm pretty sure I rambled about dragon bond theory for three pages longer than necessary."
"Thoroughness isn't a weakness," he said, and something in his tone made me look up at him. There was pride there, mixed with something fiercer. Something that made my chest tight with gratitude.
Draven glanced between us, then at Anya's subdued expression, before straightening with sudden energy. "You know what? We should celebrate. All four of us made it through the written portion without hexing anyone or accidentally summoning the dead." He paused, shooting a pointed look at Anya. "Well, most of us didn't accidentally summon anything."
Anya managed a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Probably," she said quietly. "But that's beside the point."
"Exactly," Draven continued, his voice gaining enthusiasm. "We deserve lunch. Somewhere with actual food, not whatever nutritional paste they're serving in the dining hall today."
Mason nodded slowly. "Sounds good. There's that place in town—"
"No." The word shot out of me before I could stop it, sharp and immediate. All three of them turned to look at me, and I felt heat crawl up my neck at their surprised expressions. I caught the flicker of hurt that crossed Anya's face before she masked it,and guilt twisted in my stomach. But I pushed it down. This was bigger than our friendship. This was about proving I deserved to be here. "I can't. I need to study."
"Tess," Draven said carefully, "you just finished the written exam. The practical isn't until—"
"Tomorrow," I interrupted, already backing away from them. "The practical is tomorrow, and I need every minute I can get. I need to review combat theory, magical application under stress, dragon synchronization protocols..." My voice picked up speed as the list grew in my head, each item a weight pressing down on my chest.
Anya's expression cooled, her arms crossing over her chest. "You've been studying those things for weeks. You know them backwards and forwards."
"Not well enough." The words came out harsher than I intended, frustration bleeding through. I saw Anya flinch slightly, and another pang of guilt hit me, but I couldn't afford to care about hurt feelings right now. "I'm the first human Dragon Rider. If I fail—"
"You won't," Mason said firmly, stepping closer. I could feel his steady presence through our bond, trying to anchor me, but I pulled back.
"You don't know that." My hands clenched into fists at my sides. "Everyone's watching me, waiting for me to prove I don't belong here. Silvius, half the Council, probably most of the other applicants. I can't afford to be anything less than perfect."
The hallway around us had mostly emptied, other students heading off to celebrate or decompress. But I felt exposed standing there, like my desperation was written across my face for everyone to see.
"Tess—" Anya started, her voice softer now, almost pleading.
"I have to go." I was already turning away, my satchel bouncing against my hip as I hurried toward the library. "Have fun at lunch."
The words came out colder than I meant them to, and I caught Anya's sharp intake of breath. I forced myself not to look back, even as my chest tightened with regret. This was the right choice. It had to be. Everything I'd worked for depended on tomorrow.
I heard Mason call my name, felt the concerned pulse through our bond, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. There were too many things I still needed to review, too many gaps in my knowledge that could trip me up tomorrow.
Failure wasn't an option. Not when I'd come this far.
Chapter 34
Tess
My knuckles were bone-white against my sleeves as Mason and I stepped through the towering double doors to the Grand Hall. Time for written exam results. The sound of our boots echoed across the marble, swallowed by the low murmur of too many voices, too many bodies filling the space.
I'd spent the morning trying to quiet the anxious voice in my head—the one that whispered I didn't belong here, that I was fooling myself. But I'd worked too hard to let doubt win now. I could compartmentalize for now, focus on what mattered most—the final trial.
"I feel like I'm going to throw up," I whispered through gritted teeth. "Think they'd disqualify me for puking on the floor?"
Mason glanced down at me, that familiar warmth in his dark eyes even as he smirked. "Probably. Aim for Selena if it happens."
A laugh bubbled out of me—sharp, a little hysterical. God, I loved him for that. Mason always grounded me when everything else felt like it was sliding off a cliff. Even with all the uncertainty swirling around us, that hadn't changed.
The hall was filling fast. I spotted Kane rigid near the front, hands folded like he was attending a board meeting. Of coursethe bastard was confident. Kane Ellesar didn't do nervous. Ever. I couldn't help but lean down as I passed.
"You're not even a little worried, are you?"
He didn't look at me, eyes locked on some invisible future only he could see. "Worry is a waste of energy. My performance speaks for itself."
Draven, naturally, was the picture of nonchalance. Sprawled in a seat near the middle, long legs stretched out like he owned the place. Those hazel eyes found mine and lit up with amusement.
