Niks approached Anastasia’s bed slowly, his posture that with tension, hes golden eyes
an be studied her.
Saphira feh the shift in him before he even spoke–the guarded edge in his stance, the way his fingers feed slightly, as if preparing himself for thing
“How do you know my name?” Niks <b>asked</b>, his voice low<b>, </b>measured, hut carrying an unmistakable sharpness.
Saphira inhaled slowly, her stomach tightening. No one outside the pack or the Elders should know his name–especially after everything that had already happened. This was dangerous. This was wrong. And it was only natural that <b>Niks </b>would be an edge.
Anastasia stined, shifting slightly, her movements slow and cautious
Asher was beside her in an instant, supporting her as she adjusted herself in the bed.
Once she was settled, she <b>gave </b>Niks a small, tited smile.
“Because my dear.” she started, voler quiet but steady, “I was there when you were born… When you were named.”
The words hit the room like a weight dropped into <b>still </b>water.
<b>Niks </b>expression shifted, confusion flickering across his features, pulling his brown together. “L.. how?”
new up
friends.”
p <b>with </b>your father,” Anastasia continued her <b>voice </b>softer now,ced with something
14 farmiliar. “And when he met your mother, we became best
Silence settled thick between them.
Asher was staring in shock<b>, </b>eyes wide, lips parted slightly as if trying to process it
Even Saphira felt frozen, her breath uneven, her dragon stirring with unease.
Niks hadn’t moved.
He stood stiffly, barely binking, like his mind was racing too fast to form a response
Then, slowly–hesitantly–he started, “Do you…” but the words faltered before he could finish.
Anastasia’s expression dimmed.
“No,” she said, her voice
d, her voice dipping with sorrow, already understanding what he was trying to ask,
Saphina’s chest tightened, watching the way Anastasia’s shoulders curled slightly inward, how the emotion broke through her exhaustion.
“I have been searching for them ever since they disappeared,” <b>she </b>whispered, her gaze distant, like the was coving teething only she had loved through. “I found no leads. I’m so sorry.”
A tear <b>slipped </b>down her cheek, catching on theer <b>of </b>her lip before she wiped it away absently.
Niks exhaled slowly, the sound heavy.
“We have an <b>idea</b><b>,</b><b>” </b><b>he </b>admitted, voice steadier than before, though there was something restrained beneath it–something held <b>back</b>. “But I don’t want bu cause you any <b>stress </b>right nowe
Anastasia <b>nodded </b>weath, her fingers gripping Asher’s hand for silent reassurance.
“<b>You </b>need to heal” Nis continued, squeezing her shoulder gently, offering something quiet–something meant to ground her, <b>if </b>only fat now. “They
we can talk”
WAFTER 5/
He turned, stepping <b>back</b>, moving as though preparing on leave–but hesitated.
Puting at the door, he nced over his shoulder.
“Tim d you’re safe.”
His sake carried more weight than the words alone.
“Wee home”
Anastasia let out a slow breath, her los pressing
pinto something faird–something unreadable.
Niks turned toward Saphic then, his gater but stillced with thought.
“Let’s give them sonte space,” he murmured, tilling his head slightly toward the door. “We cane back after we eat
He ached for the contamer she had brought in<b>, </b>lifting it off the side table.
“This in cold now,”
Baghira nodded, falling into step beside him without hesitation
As they left. Niks passed only briefly to speak to one of the doctors, ensuring Zafira would be watched closely until they returned.
Then–together–they walked back to the house.
Saphira and <b>Niks </b>med toward the farthest table in the half–ergty dining room, each carrying <b>a </b>te of <b>food</b><b>, </b>their movements slow–gued, but
As they entered, a few pack member exchanged brief words, small talk about border status <b>and </b>any signs of trouble
Luckily everything seemed quiet.
Still, Saphira felt the weight of it all pressing against Siks, the temien roing through him even though nothing had been said yet.
Deer they settled into their seats, the silence between them stiched, settling <b>thick </b>in the air.
<b>Saphira </b>studied. Niks for a moment–his shoulders tense, his jaw set, the shadows beneath his eyes deeper than before. He looked like he <b>was </b>carrying everything alone.
She let the silence linger for a beat longer before finally breaking it.
“Are you okay?”
Niks exhaled slowly, rubbing his thumb absently against the <b>side </b>of his te before answering.
“Yes,” he murmured. Then–after a pause=“It’s just <b>a </b>lot. And now I have to break the news of my parents” death to her,”
Saphira felt something sharp twist inside her chest at that.
“It seems ever since the whole ordeal with The Matchmaker… everything has been against us.”
His voice was quieter now, edged with something defeated.
Saphira inhaled slowly, watching him, truly shing him in a way she hadn’t before.
<b>Niks </b>Arax–the most dangerous, se creature alive–looked deleted
2/14
But she wasn’t about to let him sit in that feeling.
She reached out, cing her lund finely in his arm, waiting until his pure lifted to meet hers.
“That’s because we don’t understand everything set,” she said, her mire steady, certain. “When we desi
Nike stared at her for abg mement
Then–aly, subtly his lips conved into the smellest hist of <b>a </b>smile,
“I really like your confidence,” he mimated.
Saphira umiked, squeezing his arm briefly before palling her hand back.
“Because you are Niks Amas. My mate. The most powerful and feared creature to exist.”
Niks let out a low rkle, shaking his head slightly.
“I <b>don’t </b>feel powerful,” he admitted. “I was able to be taken so easily. Twice”
Saphira narrowed her eyes slightly, her fingers tightening around the edge of her te.
“That that was because you were ochrambered,” she pointed out. “You can only do so much alone… especially against Elders.”
<b>She </b>softened, midging his foot lightly beneath the table,
“But you’re not alone anymore.”
<b>Niks </b>held her gaze for another long boat–then exhaled, something in his posture losing just slightly.
They <b>finished </b>eating in silence, but Saphira wasn’t lost in thought the way the <b>normally </b><b>was</b>..
She felt… grounded.
Until-
Something <b>clicked </b>in her mind<b>. </b>
Something she <b>had </b>overlooked.
Without hesitation, she tumed her entire body toward Niks, Her expression sharpening, he spipe straightening with deliberate purpose.
Niks blinked, confused by the sudden shift..
“Now seriously,” she said firmly, her tone carrying weight Niks wasn’t expecting “you ever wander off <b>without </b>anymunication to try and relve this yourself again…
She leaned in slightly, <b>eyes </b>locked unto his.
“I will never forgive you”
<b>Niks </b>blinked again, <b>his </b>expression flickering between shock and mild amusement–but mostly shock.
?Understood,” he finally replied, his voice edged with realization.
Saphira <b>felt </b>the weight lift off her shoulders instantly–the frustration, the unspoken anger she hadn’t even schroedelgel anil nome
She hadn’t realized how much it had aflosed her
How <b>much </b>it had
Intlle her, waiting to be spoken.
Now she had said
And Nis heard
That was enough
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