Page 88 of Tempest Blazing
"Looks like we made it," she said, brushing dirt off her tunic.
The arena had gone quiet. No more combat. No more shouts. Just… stillness. The fog lifted slowly, revealing the battlefield's center where a handful of candidates remained.
"I think you're right," I agreed, a smile tugging at my lips despite everything. "Thanks for the save back there."
"Don't mention it." Her tone went surprisingly warm. "And, uh… thanks for trusting me." She hesitated, glancing away. "Most people wouldn't have."
"Most people aren't me."
She laughed, shaking her head. "No, they're not. You're alright, Tess. For a human."
"And you're alright for a gardener," I retorted.
A hum began building around us—low, resonant, unmistakable. The magical dome shimmered, then began to rise, the trial's end announced with golden light washing over everything. I watched it lift, my shoulders sagging with quiet relief.
"We survived," I whispered.
The crowd beyond erupted—cheers, shouts, thunderous applause from hundreds of spectators who'd just watched two relative unknowns take down something that should have been impossible. But it felt distant, muffled, like hearing it underwater.
I offered Lunessa my hand. "Come on. Let's get out of here before something else tries to attack us."
She clasped it, her grip firm and warm. "Lead the way."
As we crossed the arena floor, exhaustion settled into my bones like lead, but something else thrummed beneath it—something that made my spirit sing even as my body ached. Every muscle ached, my magic felt scraped to the dregs, but my spirit thrummed with something else entirely.
Recognition.
I did this. Without Thalon whispering guidance. Without Mason stepping in to shield me. Without Kane calculating every angle or Draven reading intentions or Ciaran materializing from shadows to handle the threat. This wasn't just borrowed strength or reflected power—this was mine. Raw, untamed, and burning brighter than ever before.
I glanced up at the stands, searching for familiar faces.
I didn't know who had seen what, but I hoped they'd seen me fight. Not just endure, not just survive—but lead. Command. Win.
Lunessa nudged my shoulder. "You okay?"
I exhaled slowly, feeling the last of the battle tension unravel. "Not even close. But I will be."
We exited together—two warriors bloodied but unbroken, our footsteps echoing in the sudden quiet.
As we passed beneath the archway, a flicker of warmth brushed against my mind—like the ghost of Thalon's flame, distant but steady, a silent promise of his presence. He was there, but distant, letting me have this moment without commentary or guidance.
And for the first time in longer than I could remember, I didn't need his reassurance.
For the first time, I knew exactly what I was worth.
???
My legs felt like they might give out any second, each step back toward the stands sending sharp protests through muscles I'd forgotten I had. The adrenaline was fading fast, leaving behind a bone-deep ache that made me want to curl up somewhere dark and sleep for a week. But I kept moving, one foot in front of the other, because stopping meant admitting how close I'd come to getting myself killed.
Lunessa's hand touched my shoulder—light, brief, but warm. "I'll see you around," she murmured, those amber eyes softer than I'd seen them all day.
I managed a nod, too breathless to form actual words. My throat felt raw, scraped clean by magic and fear and the kind of screaming you do when a massive werebear is trying to turnyou into paste. She gave me one last look—something almost like approval—before melting back into the crowd.
Mason was already rising before I could fully reach our section, his dark eyes scanning my face like he was memorizing every bruise, every scratch, every sign that I'd been in danger without him there to shield me. The worry in his expression made my chest tight.
"You did good, Tess," he said, voice quiet but fierce as thunder. His big hand wrapped around mine—warm, steady, grounding me to something solid when everything else felt like it was spinning. I squeezed back, letting myself lean into his strength for just a moment.
"Did I?" The words came out smaller than I meant them to. "Because it felt like I was about three seconds away from becoming bear food."
