Disguise 83_The Matchmaker

CHAPTER 83

 Wings stretched wide, sunlight catching on her scales in brilliant shes of silver and indigo, Saphira soared–if a little wobbly value, the par flight had started with uneven beats, a few graceless dips that had her heart lurching, hur Vaclora steadied her with a deep, betual Rivas, Han rustle of wind and the sound of her wings, Saphira could feel it: the quiet steadiness of trust holding them aloft.

 Niks flew just beside her, hisrget dragon form cutting through the sky with effortless grace. He kept pace with her rather than leading, lili presen more like an anchor than a guide. Every once in a while, he let out a low, rhythmic call–encouragement, she realised and it helped her find her mischen.

 Below them, the world unfolded in rich detail.

 From up here, the forest encircling the territory felt almost sacred, its trees clustering like silent sentries, Dotted throughout were the rooftops of the smaller homes she hadn’t even known existed, nestled into the terrain like stones in a stream. Further out, a few squat buildings–shops, maybeat along winding path that curved between the trees. Saphira blinked at the sight, startled at how much of the park’s world had gone unseen when she was grounded

 It’s beautiful, she thought.

 Vaelora’s pride pulsed warmly in response.

 They arced in a slow, sweeping circle, and as they veered back toward the clearing, movement below caught her attention–a vehicle rolling up the drive near the outer road.

 Niks dipped his wing and angled down, and Saphira followed–awkwardly at first, her/bnce shifting too fast–but she managed to steady herself with a rushed p. His dragon form turned his head slightly mid–flight, eyes locked on the vehicle. Then he nodded once toward the clearing below.

 Got it.

 Saphira angled into descent, bracing herself. Thending was… less than elegant. Her feet hit the ground in a skittering thud, wings ring awkwardly to keep her from toppling forward, dust kicking up around her. She exhaled sharply, amused and a little winded.

 Niksnded a few heartbeatster–smooth and precise–before shifting back into his human form. Saphira followed, the pull of her shift rippling through her limbs until she stood in the grass barefoot and blinking against the sun.

 “They’re back,” Niks said simply, voice low but charged with purpose. “Jed, Raven, and Jasper. Come on–we should meet them.” 

 Saphira nodded, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face, still catching her breath. Her chest hummed with adrenaline and something else–something she was only just beginning to name.

 She’d flown. Really flown.

 The trees whispered as they walked beneath them, the clearing slowly falling away behind Saphira and Niks. Her hair was windswept, cheeks flushed, boots brushing through sun–dappled grass with every step. She hadn’t said anything at first–still too full of the memory, the wind beneath her wings, the wild pulse of flight. But now, with the adrenaline ebbing, her grin finally broke free.

 “That was… amazing,” she breathed, turning toward him, her hand brushing against his as they walked. “I didn’t think it would feel like that.”

 Niks looked over, something unmistakably proud behind his easy smile. “You did better than I expected,” he admitted. “Most dragons can’t hold the air that long on their first flight. They either panic or overcorrect.”

 Saphira blinked, surprised. “Really?”

 He nodded. “It’s a sign. Your bond with Vaelora–it’s forming faster than most. Stronger, too.”

 Her heart gave a small jolt at that, not fear, but something like quiet awe. She nced ahead, where the treeline opened toward the path. “I can feel it,* she said softly. “Like something clicked into ce today.”

 Niks’s gaze lingered on her then–soft, thoughtful, knowing. “It did.”

 They walked a few more paces before he cleared his throat lightly, voice dipping toward something more practical. “You should practice more. Get used to sudden turns, rapid shifts in movement, climbing higher. That sort of control onlyes with time.” 

 Saphira raised a brow. Is that leading somewhere? 

 He smirked. “Once you’re confident up there. I’ll teach you how to fight in your dragon form.

 Her eyes widened slightly, the challenge sparking deep in her chest–and somewhere, Valora stirred too, eager.

 “Alright,” she said, that grin returning with a sharper edge now. “Let’s see what she can really do.”

 And beneath the trees, with wind still brushing at her heels and the sky still echoing in her bones, Saphira walked forward–not just lighter–but drade

 The pack house emerged through the trees, solid and weathered, its familiar silhouette striking a quiet chord in Saphira’s chest. The building had seen battles, homings, and unspoken promises–and now it stood waiting again, stone and timber steeped in memory.

 On the front steps, three figures clustered–Jed upright and unreadable, Raven leaning with arms crossed, and Jasper just behind them, half in shadery. The crisp scent of pine was quickly overtaken by something more charged: news.

 Raven was the first to notice. Her golden braid caught the sun as she smirked. “Saw you two in the sky,” she called out, eyes flicking between them with something like mischief. “Figured you wouldn’t be far behind.“–

 Saphira nced at Niks, breath still tinged with the thrill of flight. His hand brushed lightly against hers, casual but grounding. Her heart settled, just a little.

 “Subtle as always,” Saphira replied, voice dry but amused.

 Niks offered a sharp nod of acknowledgment to the group, but his gaze homed in on Jed. Saphira watched the shift in him–his shoulders straightened, jaw set, instincts rising like a current beneath calm waters.

 Jed didn’t miss the look. He met it without flinching. “We should talk,” he said,

 No hesitation. “Office,” Niks said, already turning.

 voice low and even.

 Saphira fell into step beside him, their strides in sync. She noticed the slight tension in his frame–barely visible, but there. Something’s not right, she thought, the buzz of worry rising like static. 

 Inside, the pack house greeted them with familiar quiet–doors shut, voices muffled in distant rooms. It felt almost too still.

 They moved as one down the hallway, the air thick with anticipation. Niks reached the office first, pushing the door open with a sure hand. He held it for her, the touch of his fingers at her lower back as she passed through more steadying than words.

 Jed took a seat at the head of the table, posture rigid. Raven dropped into a chair across from Saphira with her usual effortless sprawl, while Jasper hovered at her side, arms folded, gaze watchful.

 Niks settled beside Saphira, leaning forward with his elbows on the table, close enough that his shoulder brushed hers. His presence grounded her–fierce, steady, and exactly what she needed to face whatever came next.

 His eyes swept the room. “Alright,” he said, voice clipped“. “Let’s hear it.

 Chapter Comments 

 Heddy Baran

 I’m so ready for more!!!! Absolutely loving this story

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Disguise 83