Chapter 24
Tess
The first thing I felt when I stirred was warmth. Not the dry heat of the fading fire or the slight chill of the wind from outside the cave, but something deeper. Something alive. It radiated across my back, steady and grounding, anchoring me to the present in a way that dreams never could.
Mason.
His body was pressed against mine, solid and warm, his arm possessively draped over my waist. His breaths, slow and steady, stirred the hair at the nape of my neck, and for a moment, I let myself just be . No dragons, no quests, no impossible destinies—just this. Mason, and the quiet rise and fall of his chest against my back.
But the peace couldn’t last, not entirely. My heart started to flutter, caught somewhere between the comfort of his presence and the awareness of how good it felt to be held like this. His arm tightened slightly, pulling me closer, and my breath hitched.
He stirred behind me, his hand flexing against my side. “Tess...” His voice was a low, gravelly murmur, still thick with sleep. I felt my name more than heard it, the rumble of it vibrating through me. “You’re awake…”
“Yeah,” I whispered, my voice softer than I intended. I didn’t move, unsure of what might happen if I did. Unsure if I wanted to move.
His nose brushed against my neck, a slow, deliberate movement that sent the smallest shiver cascading down my spine. Then his lips followed. Soft. Warm. Testing. I swallowed hard, every nerve alight at the feel of him.
“Mason…” I said his name, a half-breath of protest that neither of us believed. When his mouth brushed the curve of my neck again, this time with more intent, I couldn’t hold back the small sound that escaped me. A quiet, betraying moan that seemed to undo something inside both of us.
He froze for a heartbeat, then shifted. With a deliberate slowness, he turned me in his arms until I was facing him. His eyes, dark and searching, locked onto mine. There was something raw there—something vulnerable, yet unyielding. His hand moved to my cheek, calloused fingers tracing a light path down to my jaw.
“Tell me to stop,” he said quietly, though there was a tremor in his voice, a hesitation that wasn’t like him.
I didn’t. Neither of us moved for a second, suspended in that fragile space between caution and desire. And then he leaned in.
The first press of his lips against mine was careful, measured—as if he was testing the waters. But when I responded, leaning into him, meeting his kiss with equal want, all of that restraint unraveled. His hand slid to the back of my neck, tangling in my hair as the kiss deepened, becoming something more urgent.
I gasped softly against his mouth, and his hand pressed against the small of my back, pulling me flush to him. His heat, his strength—it was impossible not to feel consumed.
Until I heard the voice.
“ Tess .” Thalon’s deep, resonant tone cut through the haze of the moment like a sharp blade. Somewhere between startled and mortified, I pulled away from Mason, trying to catch my breath. His forehead dropped to mine, and he groaned softly, his breaths labored.
“What is it, Thalon?” I asked, willing my voice to steady as I drew my fingertips to my still-tingling lips.
“ There’s a problem ,” Thalon said through our bond, the unshakable weight of his words snapping my mind to attention. “ Something urgent. Wake the others. I'll be outside in minutes .”
I exhaled sharply, turning my head away to clear my thoughts. Mason’s arm lingered against my waist, as though reluctant to let go. He opened his mouth to say something, but I quickly shook my head.
“We’ll talk later,” I said, my tone firmer than I felt. “Right now, we need to get moving.”
Reluctantly, Mason released me, and I stood, brushing off the lingering haze of that kiss as I moved toward the others. Kane was already awake, sitting cross-legged by the cave’s entrance. Raze, on the other hand, was still sprawled near the fire.
I crouched beside him, giving his shoulder a light shake. “Raze, wake up.”
He stirred instantly, blinking up at me with narrowed eyes. His nostrils flared, and he sniffed once, then stiffened. “Why does it smell like smoke?”
That got Kane’s attention. He rose swiftly, his expression shifting to one of alarm. “I noticed it during my watch,” Kane said, stepping toward us. “The air’s wrong. There’s no breeze, but the forest… it’s too quiet.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Thalon contacted me,” I began, addressing the group. “There’s something happening. He didn’t say much, only that it’s urgent. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”
That was all it took to propel everyone into motion. Within moments, the quiet cave erupted into the chaotic pressure of readiness. My heart hammered as I tugged my jacket tighter around me against the chill I could no longer feel.
The sound of wings and a displaced gust of air announced the arrival of the dragons. Thalon landed first, his huge form radiating an almost palpable energy. His scales shimmered, shifting from molten gold to a darker, more shadowed obsidian as his formidable frame settled near the cave’s entrance.
“Now that’s an entrance,” I murmured under my breath.
Thalon’s voice swept through my mind, his tone curious and amused. “ Showing off keeps things interesting, does it not?”
Before I could reply, another dragon landed beside him, bringing a searing wave of heat. Yrden, Theron’s dragon. Rust-colored scales shimmered, and the very air around him seemed to smolder. Theron, seated high on Yrden’s broad shoulders, dismounted with practiced efficiency, landing with a grunt and tossing a bundle of foil-wrapped packages toward Mason.
“Eat now,” Theron said curtly. His green eyes flicked over the group like a commander assessing his soldiers. “You’ll need the fuel.”
I guess we weren’t bothering bothering with pleasantries.
As Mason caught the bundle mid-air and began divvying the packages, my curiosity got the better of me.
“And where exactly are we going? What’s going on?” I asked, hesitating only briefly before peeling open my packet, finding a steaming breakfast sandwich.
Theron didn’t bother looking at me. “The Guild’s lands. A fire started in the northeastern reaches. It’s closing in. Fast.” His voice was clipped, devoid of comfort, but the lingering pause between his words said plenty. Whatever this was, it wasn’t natural.
“The trees are dense in this region,” Mason said from beside me, his deep, gruff voice a rumble of quiet concern. “If it spreads...”
“It already is. Faster than it should,” Theron interrupted. “We need help—from all the applicants. Riders have been sent to gather everyone back to the guild. The survival challenge is over. This emergency takes precedence.”
Raze crossed his arms. “And how exactly are we getting back?”
Theron gave him a sharp look. “We’re flying.”
Thalon nudged me gently with his massive claw, drawing my attention back to him. “ Mason’s with us,” he rumbled, his golden-amber gaze steady as he offered his claw as a step toward his great, winged back.
I motioned to Mason, and he stepped forward.
“I guess you two are with me,” Theron muttered, indicating Kane and Raze should join him.
When Mason reached me, he didn’t hesitate. His strong hands rested firmly at my waist as I climbed onto Thalon’s back, steadying me as the dragon’s heat pulsed beneath my palms.
The sensation sparked a flicker of warmth low in my belly—a surprising comfort amidst the rising tension.
“Comfortable?” Mason’s voice was low in my ear, a gruff tease that made my heart stutter.
“No,” I shot back with a huff, trying to deflect the flush blooming across my cheeks. “This guy wasn’t exactly built for humans, you know.”
He chuckled, the deep sound rolling through me as steady as the earth beneath Thalon’s talons. Moments later, with Mason settled behind me, his hands bracketing my sides protectively, Thalon’s body coiled like a spring.
The next heartbeat was a blur of motion. Thalon launched into the air with a powerful surge of his wings, the ground falling away so fast my breath caught in my chest. Mason’s arm brushed my side—not holding me in place, but reassuringly close in case I faltered.
Theron and Yrden were right behind us, their ascent as smooth and deadly as a predator closing in. I glanced over my shoulder to see Raze and Kane, their usual bickering an unintelligible buzz in the rush of wind.
“Play nice, you two,” Theron barked. “Or I’ll drop you both into the fire and let nature sort it out.”
“That’s the spirit, Teach,” Raze called back, his grin widening. “Always inspiring the troops.”
Despite myself, I let out a shaky laugh. The tension eased, if only for a moment.
But as we climbed higher, the sense of unease returned tenfold. The fire spread below us like a living, breathing creature, its black smoke snaking across the landscape with unnatural speed.
"This is no ordinary fire," Thalon remarked.
I swallowed hard. “A fire this big is bound to feel unnatural,” I muttered under my breath, though I couldn’t shake the unease. Thalon rarely sounded rattled, and the tension in his words was like a warning bell ringing in my head.
The air was a suffocating haze of smoke and heat as we descended toward the chaos below. What had been a crisp, clear sky was now a bruised smear of orange and gray, the acrid scent of burning wood stinging my throat.
Thalon's massive wings beat against the smoke-filled air as he angled downward, his powerful form cutting through the haze with practiced precision. The heat from the inferno below radiated upward, making the descent feel like plunging into an open furnace. As we neared the ground, his powerful muscles tensed beneath me, preparing for landing.
With a graceful sweep of his wings, Thalon touched down, far enough from the flames to give us a moment to gather ourselves. Mason's hands steadied me as I slid from Thalon's back, my boots hitting the scorched earth with a soft thud. The acrid smoke immediately assaulted my senses, making my eyes water and throat burn as we faced the wall of flames.
Applicants and instructors scrambled, their shouts barely audible over the roar of destruction.
Theron’s voice cut through the din, sharp and commanding. “If this fire spreads toward the training grounds, it’s not just the Library at risk. Drakehaven’s close—too close. We can’t let it get that far.”
I glanced at the towering inferno, my chest tightening. I wondered if the library would be okay. Not to mention, Drakehaven, the small but bustling town just beyond the forest, was a tinderbox waiting to ignite.
Kane, standing a few feet away, nodded grimly. “The Library will hold,” he said, his voice cutting through the chaos. “But the other structures? Not so much.”
I swallowed hard, gripping the straps of my pack tighter. “Then let’s make sure it doesn’t come to that.”
Theron’s emerald eyes snapped to mine, his expression unreadable but intense. “Containment duty. Move now, and try to keep up. Get anything flammable out of the way.”
I nodded and jogged after him, my boots crunching against scorched earth as I followed his lead. Mason was already ahead, his broad frame a reassuring presence as he hefted a massive fallen branch out of the way with ease.
Selena strode past, her silvery hair catching the strange orange glow of the firelight. She didn’t miss the opportunity to let her disdain drip from her words. “Oh, great. The librarian on containment duty. Bold choice, Theron.”
Her smirk was infuriating, but Theron didn’t give her a chance to continue. His sharp command snapped us all back to focus. “Enough! Mason, reinforce the firebreak. Whittaker, you’re with me. And Selena, unless you want to get toasted, I suggest you direct your energy at something useful.”
Selena huffed but moved off to assist another group, leaving me to fall in step with Theron.
I swallowed hard, the weight of being the only human among supernatural elites settling heavily on my shoulders. This was what it meant to be a Dragon Rider—stepping up even when the odds felt insurmountable. Dragon Riders weren’t just warriors; they were first responders, leaders, protectors. If I wanted to stand among them, I had to prove I could handle more than just books and research. I had to be ready for anything.
The heat was overwhelming, licking at my skin even from a distance. Mason was already ahead, using his immense strength to drag large debris out of the fire’s path, his movements efficient but strained as he worked to build a firebreak. He tore up thick bushes and tree limbs, clearing a wide strip of land to deprive the fire of fuel. The idea was simple: without anything left to burn, the flames would slow and, hopefully, stop before consuming everything in their path.
Above us, sleek, sinuous forms cut through the smoke-filled sky. Water dragons and their riders soared in coordinated patterns, their shimmering scales reflecting the fire’s glow like living sapphires. Jets of pressurized water shot from their mouths, dousing the advancing flames in bursts of steam. The riders leaned forward, guiding their dragons with firm but fluid motions, their teamwork seamless.
I grabbed a nearby shovel, my muscles already protesting as I started digging into the dry earth to create a barrier. Around me, chaos reigned, each applicant throwing themselves into the effort with desperate determination. A shifter worked beside me, his powerful arms driving his shovel into the ground with a speed and efficiency that made my own efforts feel sluggish in comparison.
Raze, meanwhile, was a blur of motion, his shirt discarded as he hurled rocks and debris into the growing firebreak with a ferocity that bordered on reckless. "Faster, people!" he bellowed, his amber eyes flashing as he shot a frustrated glance at the creeping inferno. "If this thing gets any closer, we’re done!"
A sudden crack above us made me freeze. My eyes darted upward, where a massive, flaming branch teetered precariously on the edge of a burning tree. The heat had weakened it, and it was seconds away from crashing down—right onto Mason and a group of applicants working nearby.
“Look out!” I shouted, my voice nearly lost in the roar of the fire. The branch was already falling.
"Tess. Golden Shield." Thalon’s voice sliced through my panic—calm, urgent.
“I—” My body locked up, fear choking the words.
"Trust me."
The world slowed. My pulse thundered. I raised my hands on instinct. “Golden Shield,” I whispered.
Heat flared inside me, expanding—igniting. A shimmering golden barrier burst forth, doming over Mason and the others just as the branch crashed down. Sparks and ash erupted, but the shield held.
Mason looked up, wide-eyed. Around us, the applicants stood frozen. Even Theron’s emerald gaze flicked to me, sharp with something unreadable.
The shield flickered, trembling under the strain of the flames, and I felt my knees weaken, the energy draining from me faster than I expected. “Hold it steady,” Thalon urged, his voice a lifeline in my mind. “You’re stronger than you think. Don’t let go.”
I gritted my teeth, focusing on the warmth in my chest, on the connection I could feel to Thalon. The shield stabilized, glowing brighter as I pushed it outward, creating a safe zone around us. The flames hissed angrily, retreating as if they recognized a force they couldn’t overcome.
Theron’s voice broke through the stunned silence. “Good. Now focus—we need to get those people out.”
I nodded, too drained for words, and took a shaky step forward. The shield expanded, forming a protective barrier over the trapped applicants. Mason was already at my side, his broad frame a steady presence as he began clearing debris again. He didn’t say anything, but the quiet nod he gave me spoke volumes.
“Was that human using magic?” one of the applicants whispered.
I froze for half a second, realization hitting me. None of the applicants had actually seen me use magic before. I’d been practicing in secret, testing my limits when I was alone—but this was the first time I had done it openly.
“It doesn’t matter,” Theron snapped, his sharp tone jolting everyone back to focus. “Whittaker, keep moving. We’re not done yet.”
I swallowed hard, my legs trembling as I pushed the shield farther. The strain was immense, like holding up a weight far beyond my capacity, but I couldn’t stop now. Around us, the fire seemed to hesitate, its relentless advance finally slowing. I let the shield go, taking a deep breath. For the first time, it felt like we had a chance.
Just then, a pulse of magic rippled through the air, faint but undeniable. It was like an icy shiver crawling up my spine, setting every nerve on edge.
“Do you feel that?” Thalon’s voice was urgent. “Something is coming.”
The ground beneath us trembled, a low, menacing growl that seemed to rise from the earth itself. Then, with a deafening roar, the fire surged outward, and something massive emerged from the inferno.
At first, I thought it was another burst of flames, but then I saw it—the creature. Its body glowed like molten rock, cracks of searing light running along its sinuous form. Its eyes burned with an unnatural, malevolent intelligence, and every movement left a trail of fire and destruction in its wake.
“A salamander,” Mason murmured, his voice low and grim.
The creature was a living embodiment of fire and fury, its serpentine form radiating heat so intense the air shimmered around it. It moved with terrifying grace, every lash of its tail sending sparks and embers flying. Around us, applicants scattered, their shouts of panic swallowed by the roar of the flames.
And then, its burning eyes locked on me.