Tempest Awakening (The Dragonne Library #1)

Chapter 1

Tess

I gripped the steering wheel tighter as Madison's voice chirped through the car speakers. "You should see the dress I bought for tonight, Tessie. It's to die for!"

"Uh-huh," I mumbled, barely audible over the hum of tires on asphalt. Another mind-numbing commute home, another reminder of how different our lives had become.

"Gerard managed to score us tickets to Alastriona's private show. Can you believe it?" Madison's excitement crackled through the Bluetooth. "A genuine fae singer! Pre-Unveiling, we could only dream of such things."

I forced enthusiasm into my voice. "That's great, Maddie. I'm sure it'll be magical." Literally.

"Oh, it will be! The guest list is super exclusive. Gerard says half his hospital board would kill for an invite." She paused, and I braced myself for the inevitable. "Speaking of Gerard, he was wondering if you'd like us to set you up with one of his doctor friends? It's been ages since you've dated, right?"

I clenched my jaw. "I'm good, thanks. Kind of busy at the moment."

"Right, of course." Madison's tone dripped with faux sympathy. "You're so good to take care of Mom like this. I don't know how you do it, working that little job and all. It must be... quaint."

My grip on the steering wheel tightened until my knuckles turned white. "Tres Lobos isn't exactly 'little,' Maddie. And I'm not—"

"Oh, sweetie, I didn't mean anything by it! You're just so... selfless. Not everyone could give up their whole life to move back home. Mom's lucky to have you."

I bit back a retort. She had no idea. No concept of the constant criticism, the passive-aggressive jabs, the soul-crushing disappointment that radiated from Mom every time she looked at me.

"Anyway," Madison continued, oblivious to my inner turmoil, "I should run. Got to start getting ready for tonight. You know how these supernatural events are—you never know who might show up! Dragons, vampires, who knows? It's all so thrilling since The Unveiling, isn't it?"

"Yeah, thrilling."

The Unveiling. It had been five years since that world-shaking event when supernatural beings—Supes, as they were commonly called now—had "come out" and revealed their existence to the world. Overnight, our understanding of reality had shifted dramatically as we learned that werewolves, vampires, fae, and other magical creatures had been living among us all along. Some of our neighbors, coworkers, and even friends turned out to be something more than human. It had been a time of chaos, fear, and wonder, and even now, half a decade later, the world was still adjusting to this new reality.

"Anyway, gotta go! Love you, Tessie! Give Mom a kiss for me!"

The call disconnected, leaving me alone with the drone of the engine. I sighed, reaching for the audiobook controls. If I couldn't live in a world of magic and wonder, at least I could lose myself in one for a while.

If only I possessed the courage to break free from Mom's suffocating expectations. Kendall Whittaker, the immaculately-dressed matriarch. Now a widow in her fifties, she projected every ounce of her dissatisfaction onto me, her greatest disappointment—a mere librarian with a penchant for fantasy novels and secondhand clothes.

Not that I was working as a librarian at the moment. It had been nine long months since Mom's conveniently timed health scare, one that she'd used to guilt me into coming home to help her.

I'd given up my apartment, my job, and what little independence I'd managed to scrape together. Interestingly enough, her dire condition dramatically improved as soon as I moved back into my childhood bedroom.

But by that time, it was too late.

I shouldn't resent Madison, my sister—the golden child. Her blind self-assurance and pampered life weren't her fault, after all. She breezed through life on a cloud of effortless charm, her perfect blonde hair and size two figure a constant reminder of everything I wasn't.

A blaring horn shattered my reverie.

The unmistakable crunch of metal filled the air as a silver minivan slammed into the rear of a jackknifed semi. Tires screeched. Glass shattered. The smaller vehicle crumpled like a discarded soda can.

I yanked the wheel, pulling onto the shoulder. My heart hammered against my ribs as I threw the car into park. Hands shaking, I fumbled with my seatbelt. The acrid stench of burnt rubber and spilled chemicals assaulted my nostrils as I shoved open the door.

Without thinking, I sprinted toward the wreckage. Debris littered the asphalt. Other drivers scrambled from their vehicles, faces pale with shock. The semi's trailer had swung sideways, blocking two lanes. Its driver stumbled out, dazed but seemingly unharmed.

"Call 911!" someone shouted, their panicked tone slicing through the cacophony.

A woman staggered from the crumpled minivan, clutching her head as a crimson rivulet streamed from her hairline.

I stepped back, my gaze roving over the chaotic scene. Emergency crews would arrive any minute to handle the situation properly. Maybe I should just stay out of the way and let the professionals—

That's when I spotted a disheveled figure huddled against the guardrail, their tattered clothes and grizzled beard marking them as one of the city's homeless population.

My gaze locked onto the homeless man. He cowered against the guardrail, eyes wide with terror. Amid the chaos, no one else seemed to notice him. My heart clenched. I couldn't just leave him there, vulnerable and exposed.

I took a hesitant step toward him, my mind racing. What could I do? Offer him a ride? To where? I had no plan, just an overwhelming need to help.

"Sir?" I called out, my voice barely audible over the cacophony. "Are you—?"

My words died in my throat as an immense shadow suddenly engulfed the highway. What the—?

I looked up, and my heart stopped.

Leathery wings as wide as a city bus blotted out the sun, their rhythmic beats stirring the air into a frenzy. A massive, serpentine body followed, covered in gleaming rust-colored scales that shimmered like a thousand faceted gems.

My knees threatened to buckle as the majestic creature alighted on the asphalt with a thunderous impact, its claws gouging deep furrows in the pavement. I drank in every glorious detail, from the elegant sweep of its horns to the smoldering embers flickering in its maw.

A dragon. An actual, living dragon.

I gaped in stunned silence, unable to fully process the mythical beast before me. My mind raced with half-formed memories—tales of dragons and magic that had been the stuff of fairy tales and fantasy novels... until The Unveiling.

My heart pounded. Of all the supernatural beings revealed during The Unveiling, dragons and their riders had captured my imagination the most. I'd spent countless hours watching videos, reading articles, and daydreaming about these magnificent creatures. But seeing one in person, mere feet away from me, was beyond anything I could have imagined. The sheer power and majesty of the beast before me made every fantasy pale in comparison.

The dragon's head swiveled, its molten gaze locking onto me with unsettling intensity. For a heartbeat, I found myself paralyzed beneath that smoldering glare. Then the beast let loose an ear-splitting roar, its wings flaring wide as if to shield me with their shadow.

This was everything I'd ever dreamed of, everything I'd lose myself in books to imagine. The very air crackled with ancient power, setting my skin tingling.

The dragon lowered its massive head, bringing one giant eye level with mine. I saw my own awestruck reflection in its pupil, dilated with wonder rather than fear.

"Hello," I whispered, surprising myself with the steadiness of my voice.

To my utter astonishment, the dragon blinked once, slowly. Was that... acknowledgment?

Before I knew what to think, a figure clad in leather armor descended from the creature's back.

A Dragon Rider.

My heart raced. I'd seen them on TV, of course, swooping in to battle wildfires or clean up oil spills. But this close? The Rider's presence radiated power and purpose.

I remembered the heated debates, the controversy surrounding their role. Some hailed them as saviors, bridging the gap between humans and Supes. Others feared their influence, the bond between Rider and dragon that transcended human understanding.

What was it like, I wondered, to soar through the skies on dragonback? To share a connection so profound it defied explanation? For a moment, I let myself imagine it—the freedom, the responsibility, the sheer wonder of it all.

My eyes drank in the sight of him—tall and broad-shouldered, with an aura of command that demanded respect. Raven hair framed chiseled features, his piercing emerald stare seeming to dissect my very soul.

"Stand aside," he commanded, his rich baritone resonating through my core as he strode toward the wreckage. "This area is no longer safe. Get clear, now."

The rider's gaze swept over the crash site, focusing on the pool of chemicals spreading from the ruptured tanker. His expression hardened.

"Yrdren," he called out, voice firm. "Deal with this chemical hazard before it spreads further."

The beast's head dipped low in an unmistakable nod of acknowledgment. Smoke billowed from its nostrils in a steady stream before its jaws parted, the glow of molten fire flickering in its gullet.

With a flick of his armored gauntlet, a shimmering azure barrier—like a force-field—covered the surrounding area, sealing off the hazardous scene. My gaze darted between the dragon, the mysterious knight, and the pooling chemicals as realization slowly dawned.

My heart leapt into my throat.

"No," I whispered, bolting towards the dragon.

A sense of dread settled over me as the dragon drew in a deep breath. His rust-colored chest expanded and his nostrils flared. I knew what was coming next.

"No, wait!" I cried out in a blind surge of panic. The world seemed to warp around me, every sound a dull echo as my pulse roared in my ears. I felt the heat radiating off the dragon’s scales as I skidded to a halt in front of him.

"Wait!" I screamed, planting myself in front of the dragon.

"There's someone over there!" I pointed toward the crumpled form of a homeless man huddled beside the guardrail, perilously close to the blaze.

At the last second, the dragon tilted his head. The rush of flames meant for the semi veered upwards, narrowly missing me and singeing the air above my head.

Heat washed over me, my hair lifting from the force of it. My glasses slipped down my nose from the sudden sweat breaking out on my skin. My breath hitched as the flames roared overhead, bright and blinding against the blue sky.

I didn't dare move, standing in place as the flames dwindled. When I dared glance over, the rider was storming towards me, his face contorted in anger.

"Look, just over there." Keeping low, I gestured towards the huddled form still slumped against the chain-link fence. "That man won't survive if you just torch the whole area. Please, we need to get him out of here first. Then do... whatever it is you were planning to do."

For a long, tense moment, the stranger simply stared at me, his eyes narrowing to mere slits. I met that smoldering gaze and held it, forcing myself to remain still and impassive despite the thunderous pounding of my pulse.

At last, the man let out a grunt of acknowledgement. "Very well. Get him clear, then."

With a sharp hand gesture, the flames dissipated as swiftly as they had ignited. The dragon closed his mouth with a snap, his body relaxing as he obeyed his rider's command. He turned his massive head to look at me with what seemed like curiosity. His golden eyes held mine for a moment before he lowered his head in a show of deference.

With a visible effort, I exhaled the breath I'd been holding. Nodding once, I turned and started back towards the homeless man, crouching low beside him as he struggled to prop himself upright.

"Easy, easy. You shouldn't be breathing in these fumes." I draped one of his bony arms over my shoulders, helping support his meager weight. "Let's get you away from this mess."

The poor man's sunken eyes blinked up at me, hazy and unfocused. "Th-thanks, miss," he wheezed between labored breaths. "You’re... one've the good ones."

Sirens split the air as emergency vehicles finally arrived. A paramedic rushed over, her eyes widening as she took in the scene. "I'll take it from here," she said, gently taking the homeless man from me. "Sir, we need to get you checked out. Come with me, please."

As they moved away, I felt a presence behind me. The Dragon Rider towered over me, his emerald eyes blazing with fury.

"What were you thinking?" he hissed, his voice low and dangerous. "You could have been killed! Do you have any idea how hot Yrdren's flames are? You could have been incinerated in a microsecond!"

As his words sank in, the adrenaline that had been coursing through my veins suddenly evaporated. My legs began to tremble, and I felt the blood drain from my face. The world around me started to blur, and I could hear my heart pounding in my ears.

"I... I..." I tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling over before I could stop them. My breath came in short, sharp gasps as the reality of what had just happened hit me full force.

The rider's expression shifted from anger to concern in an instant. "Hey, hey," he said, his tone softening. "Take a deep breath. You're safe now."

I tried to comply, but a sob escaped instead. My knees buckled, and I would have fallen if not for the rider's quick reflexes. He caught me, gently lowering us both to the ground.

"It's okay," he murmured, pulling me close. "Let it out. You're okay."

I buried my face in his chest, my body shaking with sobs as the shock and fear I'd been holding back finally broke free.

"Shhh, just breathe. I've got you, you're safe," his deep voice rumbled, the vibration oddly comforting. He held me as I cried, murmuring reassurances. Slowly my sobs quieted to hiccups and my breaths evened out. The panic and pain receded, his steady presence anchoring me in the present.

I don't know how long we stood there, wrapped in each other's arms. But, gradually, I became aware of my surroundings again—the murmur of concerned onlookers, the acrid smell of smoke still lingering in the air.

Embarrassment flooded me. I had just had an epic meltdown in front of a bunch of strangers and a gorgeous dragon rider who probably thought I was a complete nutjob.

I pulled back, scrubbing at my tear-stained cheeks. "I'm so sorry," I mumbled, unable to meet his eyes. "I don't know what came over me."

He clenched his jaw and looked away. "There's no need to apologize. I'm the one who should be sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that."

I gave a weak shrug. "I did kind of run straight at a dragon breathing fire," I said, attempting humor to cover my mortification.

His eyes snapped back to mine, intense and unreadable. "You did. And it was incredibly stupid."

Despite his harsh words, I couldn't help but notice the way his arms flexed as he crossed them over his chest. The leather armor he wore did little to hide his muscular physique.

"I couldn't just stand by and let someone die," I said, lifting my chin defiantly.

He sighed, running a hand through his raven hair. The movement drew my attention to the strong line of his jaw, the slight stubble that shadowed it.

"No, I suppose you couldn't," he muttered, his voice gruff but with a hint of grudging respect.

I became acutely aware of how close we were standing. The heat radiating from his body seemed to envelop me, and I caught a whiff of leather and something wild, like a forest after a storm.

His gaze roved over me, and I felt a blush creep up my neck. "Are you sure you're alright?" he asked, his tone softer now.

I nodded, not trusting my voice. My skin tingled where his eyes had traced.

He cleared his throat, taking a step back. "Good. Then I need to get back to work."

As he turned to leave, I felt a pang of disappointment. "Wait," I called out, surprising myself. "Will I... see you again?"

He paused, looking back at me over his shoulder. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of interest in his eyes.

"This city's full of dangers," he said cryptically. "Who knows? We might cross paths again."

With that, he strode back towards the crash site, his powerful gait drawing my gaze. I watched him begin to coordinate with the emergency responders, his authoritative presence commanding attention.

As I stood there, still processing the encounter, I felt a sudden warmth wash over me. It wasn't physical heat, but a sensation that seemed to bloom directly in my mind. Startled, I turned to find the dragon's massive head lowered near me, its golden eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that made me shiver.

Then, to my utter shock, I heard a voice in my mind—deep, ancient, and unmistakably draconic.

“Well done, human ,” it rumbled, amusement coloring its tone. “ You've impressed us both.”