Saphira said goodbye to the girls, lingering for a moment at the doorway, <b>soaking </b>in the warmth that had settled in her chest. It was different–this feeling- of belonging, of having something outside of Niks and Finn anchoring her to this ce. It wasn’t just duty or survival anymore. It was connection.
There was still so much to figure out–her calling, her dragon, the tangled mess of identity y she hadn’t yet unravelled. But for tonight, she didn’t need all the answers. She just needed to take things <b>one </b>step at a time.
Tomorrow, she would talk to Fi
Tonight, he would be there for Niks.
She made her way to her room first, rubbing at her arms <b>as </b><b>she </b>stepped inside. The <b>early </b>evening air carried <b>a </b><b>chill</b>, wrapping around her <b>as </b>she moved <b>to </b>grab fresh clothes. Even though she <b>had </b>showered that morning, hours of games had left her hat and sticky, and she wanted to feel fresh before heading to the hospital.
The water ran warm over her skin, soothing in its simplicity. She let the steam clear her thoughts, washing away the weight of the past few days.
Once the was done, she changed into leggings and an oversized 1–shin–nothing <b>fancy</b>, justfort
She <b>can </b>a brush through her damp hair, pulling it into a loose braid, then stepped toward Niks” door, knocking lightly.
at the already knew.
She hesitated, knocking once more–but theck of reports confirmed what
le was still at the hospital.
et left for for
Which grant fe likely hady’t left for food
(head slightly. Of course, he was still there. He probably wouldn’t <b>leave </b>until Zafira woke up.
Before heading out, she made a detout to the dining room, the set of freshly prepared food greeting her as she stepped inside,
She grabbed two take away be
hours from the stack, preparing to fill them when a familiar figare caught her attention
Aster stood by the buffet, staring at the variety of
front of him, usmasing, his expersion distant.
Saphira approached, offering a small smile. “Hey, Asher”
He turned, his own smile apprating–gemine, but <b>subdued</b>. “Oh, hey, Saphira Crabbing some fod
“Yeah.” <b>She </b>lifted oor of the containers sight. “Thought I’d pack up some for Niks and I and take it to the hospital.”
Aber nodded, ncing hack at the food before picking up a container himmelf.
<b>“</b>same,” he said, exhaling. “Niks loved me to me and get some food.”
Saph
a shortugh. “Sounds <b>about </b>right”
– She started filing her container, but paused when the noticed Asher hadn’t moved–hadn’t added anything to h?p màn b?n
“You not like anything?” she asked, tilting her head..
Jaher let out a slow breath, shifting his wright. “jast…don’t know what to have, It feels wrong, eating while Mum is unconscious.”
Ha voce was quiet, beavy, and the was his fingers tightened around the edge of the box made something tot to Saphira’s chest
mudging him lightly.“1 know,” <b>she </b>said, voice gentle but firm. “But you need your strength at grab a bit of everything<b>, </b>see how you feel
<b>1/3 </b>
CHAPTER <b>55 </b>
when we get back –
Aber hesitated, his grip flexing slightly against enntajner before modding “<b>Okay</b>”
Saphira waited as he started picking out
to the hospital was quiet, the evening air crisp against Saphira’s skin. The sun had began <b>its </b>descent, casting golden hors over the trees lining the path. The silence between them in’t ufortable–it was thoughtful, filled with unspoken worries and lingering exhaustion.
nced at Asher, noticing the temon in his shoulders, the way he carried himself–like his mind was elever, locked in worry.
“How are you healing?” she asked, breaking the silence gently
Asher let out a slow breath, rub bad-
hand absently over his amm as though checking for pain. “I’m good now,” he admitted. “Still a bale stiff.
Saph
odded, watching him carefully, sensing the hesitation in his tone. There was more to it.
re still worried,” she said softh
Aber’s grip flexed slightly at his side. “Yeah,” he murmured. “For
Saphira’s chest tightened.
“Wars her ranie?” thei
Auler beutated
and before replying: “Anastasia:+1
There was wright in that name–something
ng filled with history, something he didn’t need to exin for her to understand.
voce carrying that quiet vulnerability he hadn’t let slip before. “If <b>she </b>doesn’t pull through He swallowed
prankutance, not forcing <b>words</b><b>, </b>just presence
Saphira reached out, Brushing her fingers against.
“She will,” she said gently. “She’s fighting, Ashen, She’s itill here.”
His jaw clenched alightly, but he nodded, <b>as </b>though trying to convince
fter a pause, he let out a slow ftruth. “Thanks,” he murmured.
in before she would respond; he stepped far
pulled her into a bug.
Saphira stiffened for a second, surprised–but the instant
wrapped around her, something shiftedag
pulse of energy, deep inside her chest–inside her dragon
She inhaled sharply, her grip on his back tightening briefly before she instinctively pulled away, stepping back <b>as </b>confusion and inside her
His experation munoted ha–wide–eyed, startled, searching
before either of them could say a
word, <b>a </b>vice cat through the moment,
me stood by the
cut her posture but relief in her voice
<b>2/3 </b>
“She’s waking up.”
Asher froze
Then–without hesitation–he bolted past Saphira, his breath uneven, his entire focus redirected.
Saphira stood there for a second, heartbeat pounding–not from the news, but from what had just happened.
Whatever that was between her and Asher–she didn’t have <b>time </b>to question it.
Not for now anyway.
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