Chapter 18
Tess
I froze, my heart pounding.
A dragon.
I knew that distinctive telepathic touch, but this voice was different from any I'd encountered before—intelligent, powerful, and somehow... compelling. My eyes darted around, searching for the source, but none of the visible dragons seemed to be paying me any attention.
“I've been waiting for you.”
Questions raced through my mind, but beneath the confusion, there was a sense of... rightness. As if some part of me recognized this unseen dragon, trusted it implicitly.
“Trust me. Stay.”
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Every logical part of my brain screamed at me to run, to get as far away from here as possible. But something deeper urged me to stay.
As my anxiety peaked, a sudden wave of calm washed over me, soothing my frayed nerves. It was like a gentle caress to my mind, easing away the tension and replacing it with a sense of peace. My eyes widened in surprise. Was this coming from the dragon?
I'd never heard of dragons using empathic powers with just anyone, let alone a human like me. It should have been impossible. Yet, I couldn't deny the sense of serenity flowing through me.
I nodded imperceptibly, focusing my thoughts inward. Okay, I projected, hoping the dragon would hear me.
A warm chuckle resonated in my mind. Good job, the voice replied, amusement coloring its tone. I felt a flutter of excitement at the successful communication, mixed with a strange sense of comfort from the dragon's approval.
The challenge continued around me, applicants facing the daunting obstacles with varying degrees of success. But my attention was drawn away from my thoughts, to Selena and Valen's conversation.
"Look at that one," Selena sneered, nodding towards the largest dragon on the field. "The gold and obsidian beast. I bet our little librarian here would love to try her luck with him."
I followed her gaze, and my breath caught in my throat. The dragon she referred to was breathtaking. Its scales shimmered like polished metal, a mesmerizing blend of rich gold and deep, glossy black. It stood head and shoulders above the other dragons, its presence commanding and regal.
I felt an inexplicable pull, as if an invisible thread was tugging at my very core. I'd read countless books about dragons, but nothing had prepared me for this visceral reaction.
Valen chuckled darkly. "Oh yes, that would be a sight. The most powerful dragon here, and he hasn't partnered with a single rider since this whole process began two months ago."
Its movements were fluid and graceful, belying its enormous size. But there was an edge to its demeanor, a coiled tension that spoke of barely restrained power.
"And in the last three weeks," Selena added, her tone mockingly thoughtful, "hasn't he been even more... temperamental?"
"That's putting it mildly," Valen confirmed, his grip on my arm tightening painfully. "He's seriously injured half a dozen applicants. All of them disqualified, of course. Can't be a Rider if you can't even approach the dragon."
As if sensing our attention, the gold and obsidian dragon turned its head in our direction. Its eyes, I noticed with a start, were a striking amber color, seeming to glow with an inner fire. For a heart-stopping moment, I thought those eyes locked with mine, and I felt a jolt of... something. Recognition? Curiosity?
I found myself holding my breath. The dragon was undeniably dangerous, yet I couldn't help but be drawn to its beauty and power. Was this the dragon that had spoken to me?
Before I could ponder further, Selena's cruel laughter cut through my thoughts. "Why don't we give our little librarian a closer look?" she sneered.
Panic surged through me as I realized their intent. "No, wait—" I began, but it was too late. With a forceful shove, Selena and Valen propelled me forward.
I stumbled, arms windmilling as I fought to regain my balance. The world tilted and spun, and suddenly I found myself in the last place I wanted to be—the starting area of the course, where applicants paired with dragons.
Acutely aware of how out of place I was, I noticed the applicants around me turning to stare. They were a diverse group—elves with their pointed ears, broad-shouldered orcs, lithe fae, and beings I couldn't even identify. All wore sleek, form-fitting attire that put my simple jeans and blouse to shame.
"Hey, isn't she human?" a voice called out from nearby, belonging to a young elf with silvery hair.
Another applicant, a muscular orc, chimed in, "What's she doing here? This area is for dragon riders only!"
I wanted nothing more than to disappear, to rewind time and never have left the safety of my library. The curious and judgmental gazes of the applicants felt like physical weight pressing down on me.
But then I saw him.
The gold and obsidian dragon was moving, his massive form cutting through the crowd of applicants and smaller dragons with ease. And he was coming straight for me.
I stood rooted to the spot, equal parts terrified and awestruck. Up close, he was even more magnificent—and overwhelmingly large. Each scale gleamed like a work of art, the gold and black creating mesmerizing patterns across his hide.
His long neck stretched up, his head alone probably larger than my entire body. Those amber eyes, now unmistakably fixed on me, seemed to glow with an inner fire.
"Look!" someone shouted. "It's Thalon! He's approaching her!"
"But she's not even an applicant," another voice added, incredulous.
Thalon. So that was his name.
"Thalon," I whispered, testing the name on my lips. It felt right, somehow.
“Don't be afraid,” his voice resonated in my mind, and I knew without a doubt that this was the dragon who had spoken to me earlier. “ I won't hurt you.”
Despite his reassurance, I couldn't help but tremble as he drew near. The ground seemed to shake with each step he took, his very presence radiating power and ancient wisdom. I had to crane my neck to maintain eye contact, feeling impossibly small in his shadow.
The crowd's murmurs grew louder. But contrary to everyone's expectations, including my own, there was no aggression in the massive dragon's demeanor. His movements were careful, almost gentle, as he lowered his head to my level.
“You're safe with me,” his voice echoed in my mind, warm and reassuring.
Hesitantly, I raised a hand, stopping just short of touching his scales. Thalon's amber eyes, so fierce moments ago, now regarded me with what I could only describe as fondness. Then, to my astonishment, he slowly lay down before me, his enormous body settling onto the ground with surprising grace.
A collective gasp rippled through the onlookers.
"Impossible," someone whispered. "He's never lowered himself for anyone!"
I stood there, frozen in awe. He was still immense, but no longer towering over me.
“You honor me,” I thought, hoping he could hear me.
A low, pleased rumble emanated from Thalon's chest, vibrating through the ground beneath my feet. His eyes never left mine, holding an intensity that took my breath away.
But not everyone was pleased by this unexpected turn of events. From the corner of my eye, I saw Selena's face contort with rage and jealousy.
"No!" she snarled. "This isn't right. You're nothing! A pathetic human!"
Before I could react, Selena's hands began to glow with an ominous purple light. She thrust her arms forward, sending a bolt of crackling energy straight towards me.
Time seemed to slow. I saw the spell racing towards me, felt the malevolent intent behind it. In that moment, a tidal wave of emotions crashed over me—fear, yes, but also a fierce determination to protect, not just myself, but Thalon.
Surprisingly, I sensed the exact same emotions emanating from him.
Our eyes locked, and suddenly, I wasn't just feeling my own emotions—I was experiencing Thalon's too. His protective instinct surged through me, powerful and primal. My own determination to keep him safe mirrored back.
“Protect,” we thought simultaneously, the word echoing between us with crystal clarity.
Without conscious thought, I raised my hands as if I could somehow stop her, just as Thalon's wing swept around me protectively. In that split second, my palms pressed against his wing, and the last barrier between our minds crumbled.
A brilliant golden light erupted from where we touched, expanding outward in a shimmering dome. Selena's spell hit the barrier and dissipated harmlessly, but neither of us really noticed. We were lost in our newfound connection.
Shared sensations flooded us—the cool air on my skin, the warmth of the sun on his scales, the pounding of my heart, the power thrumming through his body.
As the light faded, I found myself breathless, my hand still pressed against Thalon's scales. The bond between us pulsed with life, a bridge connecting our very souls. I could feel his every thought, his every emotion, as clearly as my own.
“Hello, little one.”
Thalon's voice resonated within me, filled with deep satisfaction, as if a long-held suspicion had finally been confirmed. There was a warmth to his thoughts, a profound contentment at our connection, and underlying it all, a hint of amusement at my wide-eyed shock.
“You seem surprised,” he added, a touch of dry humor coloring his mental voice. “ Did you truly believe our meeting was mere chance?”
"Soul Resonance," someone in the crowd whispered in awe. "It can't be..."
The whisper seemed to break a spell of silence that had fallen over the crowd. Most faces reflected confusion, while a few onlookers wore expressions of stunned disbelief. A tall, lanky applicant stumbled backward, nearly knocking over a smaller candidate who stood frozen, mouth agape.
“What the hell just happened?” A gruff voice boomed from somewhere in the crowd. The exclamation was echoed by a dozen others, their words overlapping.
The voices blurred together. I felt dizzy, my mind still reeling from the intense connection I now shared with Thalon. His thoughts brushed against mine, a soothing presence.
“Stay calm, little one. I'm here.”
"Impossible," Selena hissed, her face a mask of shock and fury. "This can't be happening!" Her eyes darted between me and Thalon. The hand that had cast the spell trembled visibly.
Directly across from us, a royal blue dragon lowered its head, eyes narrowing as it studied us intently. The intensity of its gaze made me want to shrink behind Thalon.
The dragon reactions seemed to mirror those of the human crowd—awe, confusion, and wariness. I couldn't help but notice how some of the larger dragons, with battle-scarred hides and keen eyes, regarded us with what appeared to be newfound respect. They stood perfectly still, only their eyes moving as they tracked our every movement.
Through the bond, I sensed Thalon's satisfaction tinged with wariness. “ We've certainly caused quite a stir,” a hint of dry amusement in his mental voice.
Before I could respond, I noticed a commotion in the crowd. Two familiar figures were pushing their way through the mass of onlookers—Kane and Mason.
Kane reached me first, his eyes wide with concern and confusion. He glanced rapidly between me and Thalon, clearly struggling to process the scene before him. "Tess!" he exclaimed, slightly out of breath. "What in the world just happened? Are you alright?"
Before I could even attempt to answer, Mason's imposing form appeared beside him. His usual stoic expression was replaced by one of barely concealed worry. Without a word, he positioned himself protectively between us and the encroaching crowd, his broad shoulders creating a barrier.
"Stand back," he growled at the onlookers.
"Tess," Kane tried again, his voice gentler this time. "Can you tell us what's going on?"
I opened my mouth to explain, but the words wouldn't come. How could I possibly describe what had just happened? The bond, the shared thoughts and emotions, the inexplicable connection I now felt with Thalon—it all seemed beyond the realm of ordinary language.
“Tell them you're unharmed,” Thalon suggested gently. “ That's what matters most to them right now.”
I nodded, grateful for his guidance. "I'm okay," I managed, surprised by how steady my voice sounded. "I'm not hurt. Thalon... he protected me."
Kane's brow furrowed deeper, if that was possible. "Protected you? But how? What exactly happened between you two?"
A shadow fell over the courtyard, followed by a rush of wind that sent cloaks flapping and hair whipping. I looked up to see a sleek, copper-scaled dragon descending from the sky. Though slightly smaller than Thalon, its presence was no less commanding.
The crowd parted hastily, stumbling back as the dragon touched down with practiced precision. Its scales gleamed in the sunlight, each one a burnished shield, and its eyes, a deep amber, surveyed the scene with an intelligence that matched its rider's.
From its back, a figure dismounted in one fluid motion. The man strode forward, each step purposeful and heavy. Scars crisscrossed his face, telling tales of battles long past. His piercing gaze swept over the scene, lingering on the fading glow between Thalon and me.
“That's Garrick Burke, the Master of the Wing, and his dragon, Kaelon,” Thalon's voice echoed in my mind. “ He's second only to the Lord Protector in authority here.”
My mouth went dry. The air itself seemed to grow heavier, pressing down on my shoulders.
"What in the name of all that's sacred is going on here?" Burke's deep voice cut through the air like a blade, causing several nearby applicants to flinch.
I could feel my heart pounding against my ribcage, each beat a thunderous roar in my ears. Sweat beaded on my palms as I glanced at Kane and Mason. Their faces were pale, but determined.
Through our newfound bond, I sensed Thalon's attempt at projecting calm. It was my own stomach that wouldn’t stop churning.
“Steady, little one. We'll face this together.”
Burke's steel-gray eyes locked onto me. I felt pinned in place, like a butterfly on display. "You. Explain. Now."
I opened my mouth, but my tongue felt like lead. How could I possibly explain something I barely understood myself?
"Sir," Kane stepped forward. "It seems there was an... incident during the compatibility test."
Burke's face hardened as he surveyed the scene. "An incident? That's quite an understatement, wouldn't you say? This girl—this human —has just bonded with a dragon.”