The Matchmaker
Saphira and Niks authed at the meeting point where the others had alerede fingen gathering. The tention wat perpared be exchange their findings
Niks took the lead, snice firm and meaned. “What did
bed and Asher exchanged a look before speaking.
sed, heavy with unricipation as they
“We saw something.” led said first. “A glimpse of a dragon. But in siest was blocked before we could get a dear look.”
Ashet nodded, his expression tight. “It was definitely movement, through Mat
Saphira swallowed, her pale quickening at the erediens
Niks turned to <b>oven</b>. “And you?”
Raven exhaled, rolling her shoulders before responding. “I tapped into the energy around the guards were stationed at ”
There
figures made that mom–the one the
Saphira’s breath hitched.
Two. <b>Asher’s </b>mother. And Zafira.
Niks absorbed the information, then asked, “Did you sense anything else?“.
Raven
en shook behead. “No Elders. No additional presence beyond them.”
Finn and Anura stepped forward. “We found two more guards,” Finn reported. “Back entrance. Armed, but not heavily.”
Amira nodded. “They don’t seem to expect anyoneing from that deaction”
Nik a <b>hand </b>through his hair, processing.
Saphira took a step forward, <b>adding </b>her own findings. “Niks and I spotted to guard at an entrance we believe to be the front. They were pacing in <b>front </b>of a doorway–stationary, focused on guanling whatever’s inside.”
<b>Niks </b>nodded in agreement. “<b>That’s </b><b>four </b>guard’s total. No sign of Elders, no additional reinforcements He nced at the group. “This means we <b>have </b>to be smart turing forward”
Niky stood in the
stood in the centre of the group, his golden eyes sharp with determination as everyone gathered close, ready for the final nning before they moved in.
“We need to move in one motion,” he said<b>, </b>voice steady,manding “Jasper and Raven will take the back tu, led and I will handle the front. We <b>take </b>“them out at the same time–no hesitation, no <b>dys</b><b>.</b>”
Jasper smirked slightly, rolling his shoulders. “Nice and clean, got it.”
Baven exhaled, flexing her fingers as a subtle hum of <b>magic </b>crackled at her fingertips. “I’ll suppress their ability in teact beforerper maves us. We don’t need unnecessary noise.”
Niks nodded approvingly, then turned to the rest of the team. “Finn, Amara, Asher, and Saphira–you hold position and keep watch. If anything unexpected happens–reinforcements, an Elder aring–<b>you </b>signal immediately. We cannot risk getting rought in an ambush “
Saphira swallowed, the weight of the responsibility settling deeper into her <b>chest</b>. It was <b>a </b>solid n–unit, ficient–but the risks were still suffocating,
Asher elenched his fists at his sides, jam tightening “We need to be <b>quick</b>. The longer we’re here, the higher the chance they notice something’s off.”
<b>Niks </b>nodded. “Exactly.” He scanned the faces around him, <b>making </b>sure no one was second–guessing, ensuring everyone was ready. “Dace the guards an down, we regroup mediately, then prove in”
Finn exchanged a look with Antara befour speaking. “And if we runto more than expected?”
Nik gaze handened. “Then see adapt. We don’t lose contin- adpt the n at needed. But whatmer happen, er keeping
Saphira turned to Niks, keeping her voice low but wegent. “If all goes to n with the grands,” she starte
How exactly are we doing that?”
<b>Niks </b>met het gaar, his golden eyes unwering. He had already been thinking thead she could see it in the way his jaw tightened, in the remand terath he took before amerring.
“we go in,” he said singly. “We assess their conditions first, If they’re weak, injured if they can’t move on their man–e carry them t
Saphira exhaled, nodding slightly. That part had <b>always </b>been clear. But there was more. “And if they’re restrained? If they’re too far prone to even try to
Niks clenched his fists, his voice steady but edged with quiet determination. “Then we find a way. No matter what.”
Silence stretched between them, the weight of his words pressing into her.
Because Niks meant it
They weren’t walking away without aher’s mother.
And if this <b>was </b>Zafira–if Niks <b>sister </b>was truly behind the doors
Then no force in this world would stop him from getting her out.
Saphira felt the same resolve settle into her bones
No matter how fast they had to move,
No matter what they Exced inside.
They were getting them out.
Together
Kaven stepped forward then, rolling her shoulders, her fingertips twijthing with
“) can try using a spell to make it safe for travel,” she offered. “Th
wouldn’t <bst </b>forever, but even if it gives us a window of time when <b>we’re </b>harder to <b>track</b>, it’ll be worth it.”
Jasper smirked slightly, adjusting the daggers strapped to his belt. “And if we need speed, I can run them back–one at a time, as <b>fast </b><b>as </b>I can.” His vampiric mature meant he could move faster than anyone <b>else </b>in the group. “It’s not subtle, but if ites down to getting them out now, I’ll make sure they don’t get left behind.”
Niks nodded<b>, </b><b>taking </b>in their offers, calcting, strategizing,
“We use everything we have,” he decided. “Magic, <b>speed</b>, strength–all of it.”
Saphira felt her pulse study at his words. Because no–this wasn’t just a rescue mission
It was a fight for freedom. And they weren’t leaving anyone behind. Not today.
“Then we have our <b>n</b><b>,</b>” she <b>said</b>, modding to Nics,
Niks met her gaze, his golden eyes unwave
with silent intesity. “Let’s go.”
But before parting, he stepped closes, <b>his </b>pesence grounding her in a way only he could. His fingers curled lightly around her wrist<b>, </b><b>his </b>lorehead pressing against hers, warmth radiating between then
“Be careful,” he murmured, his voice lower now, edged with something raw. “I cannot lose you
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Saphira exhaled, stendying hensell, absorbing the quiet vidnerabilityted beteren his wonde
“I will,” she assumed him, a small smirk tugging at her lips. “You be careful toe. I don’t want to have to nece que
She winked at thest part, Injecting light into the heavy moment,
thing past the tension that
Niks smiled, the corner of his mouth lifting just ennigh before he leaned in, stealing a quick bits–brief but full of umpoken proscars
Then–just like that–he tuned and left with Jed, slipping into the shadones
Saphira watched him go, holding not the warmth for a moment longer
before she felt movement behind
“Come on, Sis.” Finn’s voice pulled her back, grounding het in a different way. She turned to see him standing there, his expression confiul belief unshaken.
They would pull this off.
They had to. Because failure wasn’t just uneptable.
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