Page 82 of Tempest Blazing
"Mason Sharpe." Relief flooded through me as his name glowed near the top. Of course he'd make it. Steady, brilliant Mason who never gave himself enough credit.
"Kane Ellesar." Just beneath Mason's. A flicker of satisfaction warmed me. Kane would brush this off as trivial, but I knew better. This mattered to him.
"Draven Loto." Top third, practically radiating confidence. I could already picture his smug comment. Despite his arrogance, he'd earned it.
Behind me, a soft exhale. Anya stood there, violet eyes scanning the board with hope and terror. Her fingers clutched her dark robe like a lifeline. Suddenly her shoulders sagged.
"I made it," she murmured, barely audible. Relief and pride flickered across her guarded features.
A genuine smile spread across my face. "Of course you did. You're stronger than you think."
She turned to me, lips curving into a small, grateful smile.
A familiar voice, low and disappointed, caught my attention. "Guess I didn't have what it takes after all." Finn stood near the edge of the crowd, his usual brightness dimmed. Shoulders sagged, amber eyes dull under rejection's weight.
My gaze drifted downward reluctantly. I didn't want to look, but my eyes betrayed me. There it was, below the red divide:Finn Randall.The letters blurred as my chest tightened.
But safely above the abyss:Raze Ulrich.Relief for Raze, aching grief for Finn.
My chest constricted. Should I go to him? The urge to comfort warred with the knowledge that Raze was already there, already offering what Finn needed. Sometimes friendship meant knowing when to step back.
Before I could move, Raze clapped Finn's shoulder. "Come on, man. Let's get out of here. You don't need to stick around for this crap." His voice rough with sympathy. Finn hesitated, then nodded, letting Raze guide him away.
Guilt twisted in my stomach. I'd made it, and he hadn't. How was that fair? Finn was brilliant, kind, everything a Dragon Rider should be.
As the crowd thinned, muted conversations and hurried footsteps filled the hall. I was still catching my breath, relief mixing with the weight of others' failures. My fingers brushed my sleeve—nervous habit I couldn't shake. Mason stood quietly beside me, steady as always.
But relief never lasted long here.
"Well, well, look who managed to slip through the cracks," Selena's voice chimed, honey masking poison. The kind of tone that made your skin crawl. I turned to find her sauntering toward me, Valen close behind, eyes gleaming with predatory amusement.
Her sharp heels clicked against marble, every step calculated. She stopped just short of my personal space, tilting her head in mock curiosity. "You must besoproud, little human. Tell me, how does it feel knowing you don't actually belong here? That this is all just some cosmic mistake?"
Valen chuckled, the sound smooth as silk, twice as dangerous. "This was just the written exam. All theory." His crimson gaze flicked over me, lingering just long enough to feel invasive. "I wonder how you'll fare when you have to prove you're actually worthy of a dragon's bond. Some bloodlines just aren't meant for greatness."
Thalon's amusement rippled through my mind."Let them speak their poison, little one. Words cannot diminish what we have forged together."
My fingers curled into fists, nails digging crescents into my palms. Mason stepped closer, his frame casting shadow over both of them. Something shifted in his posture—predatory, protective. The air around him seemed to thicken with barely restrained violence. His dark eyes locked onto Valen's with quiet, simmering intensity that made the vampire's smirk falter.
But Selena pressed her advantage.
"It's almost inspiring, really. Watching someone so hopelessly inferior cling to delusions of belonging." Her smile widened, all sharp edges. "Like a mouse pretending to be a lion. And we all know what happens to mice."
"Selena," Mason said quietly, low and measured. Not quite a warning, but there was an edge that made her pause. "Back off."
She raised an eyebrow, smile never wavering. "Oh, relax, Mason. Just a little chat. Isn't that right, Tess?" Her gaze snapped back to me, daring.
I straightened despite the anxiety twisting in my chest. "Funny. I don't remember inviting you."
Valen's smirk returned, fangs flashing. "Feisty. I like that." He leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper. "Let's see how long that fire lasts."
Before I could respond—or punch his smug face—Selena stepped between us, expression dripping with mock pity. "Oh, don't worry, dear. I'm sure you'll stumble through a little longer. Maybe even make it to combat trials." Her gaze flicked over me, dismissive. "Though I'd hate to see you embarrass your species in front of everyone. Some bloodlines just aren't cut out for greatness."
"You know what's embarrassing?" Mason's voice cut through the tension. A muscle in his jaw twitched. "Trying this hard to intimidate someone who just proved they belong here."
Her eyes narrowed. Valen placed a hand on her arm, grip light but firm.
"Come now, Selena," he murmured, deceptively soft. "Let's not waste time here." His eyes met mine one last time, dark promise lingering. "The trials are just beginning."
