The man’s voice is steady, almost clinical, as heys out the options. “Your choices are as follows: you can mate with your selected partner now, enter for another round of matching-meaning your selected partner will be banished and escorted away-or leave as a free man, but only if you kill your selected partner first.”
Saphira’s stomach churns. What the hell? How is it fair to change the rules just for Niks?
Beside her, Niks’s fury ignites. “This is bullshit!” he snaps, his voice sharp and unrestrained.
The man doesn’t flinch, his tone unwavering as he adds, “You have two minutes to make your choice.”
Niks looks ready to unleash hell, his anger palpable, but Saphira steps in quickly. She grabs his arm, pulling him to the side, leaving led to argue with the man in the suit.
Her pulse races as she tries to steady him, knowing the stakes are higher than ever.
Niks’s voice is sharp with fury. “This isn’t right! They can’t do this!”
His re remains locked on the man, his entire body tense with rage.
Saphira exhales, keeping her voice steady. “I know-but they have. Look at me.”
He does, instantly.
The anger is still there, burning beneath the surface, but so is something else-guilt, frustration, helplessness.
She doesn’t know how she’s so calm, but she’s grateful for it. One of us needs to be.
“I can’t make this decision, Saphira. It isn’t right-I just can’t.”
His voice has shifted now, the raw edge of fury giving way to something heavier. The vulnerability unsettles her-she’s never seen him like this.
And that’s why she knows she has to make the decision for him.
“You can’t,” she agrees, her voice unwavering. “But I can. You can’t go back in-you might never leave. And you can’t risk losing your abilities. You need them to find your sister.”
Her expression hardens as she delivers the final truth. “Which leaves one option.”
Niks recoils instantly, shaking his head, his voice rising in protest. “No. No. No!”
He knows exactly what she’s saying.
And he doesn’t want to ept it.
Saphira’s voice is steady, but the weight of her words is undeniable. “You have to. I came into this thinking I wouldn’t get out anyway. I have nothing outside of this ce-but you do. You have a family, a pack. They need you home at full strength.”
She squeezes his hands gently, taking in the contrast-rough, strong, yet somehow, hers fit perfectly within his.
“Just… make it as painless as possible,” she murmurs.
Niks doesn’t reply.
He only stares down at their joined hands, his expression unreadable, his grip tightening ever so slightly.
CHAPTE
Saphira’s breath catches as movement in her peripheral vision draws her attention.
The man in the suit is walking toward them.
The man’s voice is firm, leaving no room for hesitation. “Time to make your choice. Decide now.”
Niks’s gaze flickers toward Saphira, searching for something-an answer, reassurance, anything to ground him in this impossible moment.
She meets his eyes, holding his stare for a fraction longer before giving a small, encouraging nod. Then, slowly, she closes her eyes.
The weight of what’sing presses against her, but a quiet thought surfaces-one bittersweetfort.
At least this will reunite her with Connor.
Niks pulls one hand away from hers, his fingers settling gently against the side of her face.
Here we go.
Saphira barely has time to brace herself before she feels the warmth of his breath near her throat, the anticipation thick and suffocating.
“This is the right thing to do,” he whispers, his voice barely audible.
Then… A burning pleasure?
A burning pain erupts from her neck, spreading in vicious waves through her entire body.
Her senses blur, the world slipping out of focus.
But one thing remains unmistakably clear.
She is still conscious.
Still aware.
The burning pain coursed through Saphira’s body, starting at her neck and spreading down to her toes. Slowly, it dulled, transforming into a warm, electric sensation that hummed beneath her skin.
Her eyes fluttered open, and the blurry forms of Niks and Jed came into focus, hovering over her as the pain abruptly ceased.
“What… what happened?” she asked, her voice shaky and confused. She should be dead-she was certain of it.
Niks and Jed helped her to her feet, her legs unsteady beneath her.
“I’m sorry, Saphira,” Niks said, his voice heavy with regret. “I couldn’t kill you. And I’m so sorry I forced this on you.”
The sadness in his eyes was unmistakable, and the weight of his words settled heavily in her chest.
He hadn’t killed her-but the pain she felt was undeniable.
And that could only mean one thing.
Saphira’s voice is steady, though the weight of her words is undeniable. “You marked me.” It’s not a question-it’s a statement, one that carries its own gravity.
Her hand instinctively moves to her neck, searching for evidence, but she feels nothing.
“It can take a while for the bond to settle,” Niks admits, his voice low, tinged with regret. “But yes. I’m sorry.”
Before she can respond, the man in the suit speaks, his tone triumphant. “Congrattions on your mating. You are now free to leave.” He gestures toward the doors before turning on his heel and walking away, his indifference stinging more than his words.
A part of Saphira burns with the urge to chase after him, to make him pay for what he’s done. But deep down, she knows it’s futile-she wouldn’t stand a
chance.
Jed’s voice cuts through her thoughts, grounding her. “Come on, guys. Let’s go home. We can discuss this there.”
They move toward the exit, Saphira’s steps unsteady beneath her. Niks notices, slipping an arm around her to steady her.
The warmth of his touch radiates through her, a tingling sensation spreading from where his arm rests. It’s subtle, but it seems to help, grounding her as they take their first steps toward freedom.
Saphira’s voice is soft, her curiosity breaking the quiet. “What about your friend-Finn, was it?” She recalls the mention of him earlier, wondering if he had made it out as well.
Niks nces at her, his tone calm but certain. “He’s already left. He’ll meet us at home.”
She nods, epting the answer as they climb into the same car Jed had used to pick her up. The sunlight outside beckons her, and for a moment, she wants to take it all in-to embrace the warmth and freedom.
But exhaustion weighs her down. The marking had drained herpletely, leaving her body heavy and her mind foggy..
“Get some sleep,” Niks says gently, his voice steady and reassuring. “You’ll need it. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”
Saphira doesn’t argue. She leans back; her eyes fluttering closed as sleep ims her almost instantly.
Chapter Comments
Jo Ketterman Leastman
Well now what wille of this little hup in their ns.