Saphira studied Finn carefully, eyes flickering over every inch of his expression, searching. Doubt pressed against her ribs, her instincts urging caution. Was he telling the truth? The weight of the past, the years of uncertainty-it demanded answers. And yet, as she searched, as she looked deeper, she found no deception there. Just raw honesty,
Her grip tightened on his hands, anchoring herself in the moment. “So, are you Finn or Connor?” Her voice was steady now, stronger, a quiet confirmation that she believed him.
Finn exhaled, a small, relievedugh escaping as he pulled her into another embrace, warm and unwavering. “I prefer Finn now,” he murmured. “New life,
new name.”
Saphira let the words settle, her own eptance threading through her veins. Maybe he was right-maybe everything had shifted. This was their new beginning.
“Okay then,” she said, voice thick with emotion. “Finn it is. I’m just-gods, I’m so happy you’re alive.” Thest words broke apart as a sob escaped, too powerful to restrain.
Finn held her tighter for a beat before pulling back, hands resting firm on her shoulders. “And I’m d you’re here.”
Here. The word resonated differently now, deeper.
They embraced onest time before Finn moved to sit next to Amara, a quiet understanding settling between them.
“Well,” Jed interjected, slicing through the weight of the moment with ease. “I wasn’t expecting this today.”
Niks hummed thoughtfully; arms crossed as he considered them all. “It exins a lot, though.”
Saphira blinked, shifting her focus. “Like what?”
“Jed felt a need to protect you, and as much as I tried to fight it, so did I. And Amara-she said she felt a connection.” Niks nced toward her, certaintycing his tone. “It’s because you’re Finn’s sister.”
Something clicked inside Saphira-not just understanding, but something grounding.
Jed, still absorbing, simply nodded. “Oh. Interesting.”
But Saphira wasn’t questioning it anymore. Not really.
“Well, there we go then,” she said, epting Niks’ words without hesitation.
The next hour passed in a blur of voices andughter, the air thick with memories resurrected and new bonds quietly forming. Saphira listened, interjecting here and there, but mostly she absorbed-every detail, every shift in tone, every flicker of expression. It had been years, too many years, yet here they were, filling in the gaps as if time had only taken a brief pause.
“Why don’t we all get some rest for a while, and we will meet again for dinnerter,” Niks said, his voice steady but carrying something unspoken beneath it. He nced at Saphira. “There is something I want to discuss with Saphira.”
She nodded, though a trace of unease pricked at her.
One by one, they bid their goodnights, warmth lingering in their exchanges. And then there was Finn. He stepped forward, hesitation flickering across his face before he pulled her into a tight embrace. Saphira didn’t hesitate-she wrapped her arms around him with equal fervor, pressing into the solidity of him, the reality of him. He was here. Alive. No longer just a whisper in her mind, a phantom of what had been lost. The weight of it settled into her bones, grounding her in a way she hadn’t expected. She exhaled against his shoulder, closing her eyes for a fleeting moment.
The room felt different now-quieter, heavier. The absence of others left behind an unsettling weight, and Saphira couldn’t quite understand why the shift made her nerves crackle under her skin. She had been alone with Niks countless times before, yet now, something about this moment made her pulse
stumble.
??1
“I can hear your heart beating from here,” Niks said, his voice slicing through the silence with quiet amusement.
She exhaled, willing herself to steady. “Sorry, I’m not sure why I feel so nervous,” she admitted, her voice softer than she intended.
“Don’t be.” He gestured toward the sofa where they’d all sat just moments ago, the cushion indented with the presence ofughter and shared stories. “Come sit with me.”
She nodded and followed, choosing a spot with just enough distance to keep the tension in her chest from spiralling out of control. Every movement felt measured, deliberate.
“I wanted to discuss what I am,” Niks began, his tone shifting to something more serious, more certain. “Now we are mates-you deserve to know.”
The wordsnded with a quiet finality, stirring a flicker of something deep within her. “Oh.” It was all she could manage, her thoughts splintering into unexpected directions. She hadn’t expected this conversation-not now, not like this-but curiosity burned beneath her surprise. She had wondered since the moment she met him, the way he carried himself, the way power seemed to hum beneath his very existence.
“I have told you that I have abilities, and that there aren’t many of my kind left.” He paused, eyes steady, breathing measured. “Me, Jed, and my sister… we are Dragons.”
The word settled between them, thick with meaning, impossible to ignore. He took a deep breath before continuing, his gaze unwavering. “I know there’s a small pack out there, but them and us-we are thest of our kind.”
Saphira’s breath hitched, her mind racing to keep up. Dragons. It was beyond anything she had ever imagined-beyond myths and stories whispered in passing. And yet, looking at Niks now, it felt as though a veil had been lifted, as if the truth had always been there, waiting for her to see it.
Her breath hitched, but not in fear. In awe.
“You’re a Dragon,” she murmured, the words rolling over her tongue like something sacred. She let her gaze travel over him, as if truly seeing him for the first time. The way power hummed beneath his skin, the sharp intelligence in his eyes-it all suddenly made sense, as though the universe had aligned just to let her understand.
A slow, reverent smile curved her lips. “That’s incredible.”
Chapter Comments
Jo Ketterman Leastman
Awesome. I’d be asking for a ride on his dragon.
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