CHAPTER <b>120 </b>
The clearing had settled into stillness again, the wind threading through the tall grass like a luby, Saphira stood barefoot, toes curling into the earth, arms ck at her sides. Her breath came in slow, uneven pulls, the remnants of thest shift still humming beneath her skin. Her fingers twitched–residual heat, or nerves, she couldn’t tell.
Niks put his hands on her shoulders. “You did well,” he said, volce low and sure. He reached up, brushing <b>a </b>strand of hair from her cheek with the back of his knuckles. The touch was featherlight, but it calmed her. “I only stopped you because I didn’t want you hurting yourself–or me. But this time…” He stepped back, giving her space. “I won’t intervene too quickly. I want to give you the room to find control.”
Saphira swallowed hard, her throat tight. Her gaze dropped to the ground, then flicked back up to meet his. <i>Not </i>failure. Not sess. Just the space between. “Okay,” she mured. “Let’s try again.”
Niks nodded, his expression unreadable but open. The distance between them felt charged–like the moment before lightning splits the sky.
Saphira closed her eyes. Her hands curled into fists, nails biting into her palms. <i>Find </i><i>the </i>thread. Find the heat. She reached inward, calling up the memories–Ruby’s voice, sharp and cold; the betrayal that had carved hollows in her chest<b>; </b><b>the </b>tension that had lived in her spine like a second skeleton.”
It didn’t take long.
Her breath hitched. Her ribs tightened. Heat bloomed beneath her skin, rising like a tide.
<i>‘</i><i>Vaelera</i><i>,</i>‘ she whispered. <i>‘</i><i>Take </i>it.‘
The shift mmed into her like a wave. Bones stretched, skin burned, fire roared through her veins. Her dragon surged forward, and Saphira felt herself pulled behind the veil, her awareness dimming at the edges.
Vaelora roared, wings ring wide, ws digging into the earth. Niks was already moving, his stance firm, his presence a wall between her and the sky.
Then it hit. The block. Thick. Cold. Unyielding.
Saphira pressed against it mentally, her consciousness straining like fingers against ss. <i>‘</i><i>Vaelora</i><i>, </i>give <i>me </i><i>control</i><i>.</i>‘
Silence.
She pushed harder. <i>‘</i><i>Please</i>. <i>Let </i><i>me </i>in.‘
The block pulsed, stronger now, pressing her further out. She could still see–through Vaelora’s eyes–Niks bracing, ready. But she couldn’t steer. <i>He’s </i><i>holding </i><i>her </i>down. I <i>need </i>to <i>act</i>. <i>I </i>need to <i>move</i><i>. </i>
She reached for the thread–the ce where her will met Vaelora’s. It shimmered, just out of reach. She grabbed it, tugged
hard.
Nothing.
Frustration surged, hot and bitter<i>. </i><i>Enough</i>.
Her voice snapped through the shared space. ‘<i>Vaelora</i><i>! </i><i>Give </i>me control. No
CHAPTER <b>120 </b>
The dragon stilled mid–motion, wings half–raised.
‘We are one,‘ Saphira said, her tone sharp,manding. ‘You cannot remain in control. Just like I always leave the connection open for you in my human form, you have to do the same.
A pause. Then a ripple.
Saphira telt it–guilt, hesitation. Vaelora’s fury dimmed, reced by something quieter. She’s listening.
Saphira softened her mental grip. ‘We need to work together<i>. </i><i>I </i>know it’s new. And terrifying. But if <i>we </i>want to <i>be </i>strong, <i>we </i>have to learn together. Not apart.<i>‘ </i>
The block began to ease. The pressure lifted like fog burning off in sunlight. Saphira felt herself slide forward, her consciousness merging with Vaclora’s–not overtaking but joining. The dragon didn’t resist.
She weed her.
‘We are one,‘ Vaclora whispered.
Saphira smiled inwardly, the warmth of it blooming through her chest. ‘We <i>are</i><i>.</i><i>‘ </i>
The shift back was gentle this time. Her body folded into itself, fire receding, bones settling. She knelt in the grass, palms pressed to the earth, breath steady, heart full.
Niks stood a few feet away, arms crossed, a grin stretched wide across his face. Admiration lit his eyes like sunrise.
“That,” he said, voice rich with pride, “was incredible.”
Saphira rose slowly, brushing dirt from her knees. Her legs trembled, but she stood tall. <i>She </i><i>hadn’t </i><i>just </i>taken control. She’d <i>earned </i><i>it</i>. <i>And </i><i>she </i><i>hadn’t </i><i>done </i><i>it </i><i>alone</i><i>. </i>
Before Saphira could fully steady herself, Niks was already moving–his boots slicing through the grass<b>, </b>his grin wide and uncontained. He reached her in two strides, arms wrapping around her waist as he lifted her clean off the ground and spun her in a tight circle.
She let out a startledugh, her hands flying to his shoulders for bnce. The wind caught her hair, and for a moment, the world–narrowed to the warmth of his chest and the joy in his eyes.
He kissed her–firm, breathless, full of pride–and then gently set her down, his hands lingering at her waist.
“I’ve never seen a bond form so quickly,” he said, voice low with awe. “And joint control? That easily ovee? It’s rare.
Almost unheard of.”
Saphira blinked, her brows knitting. “How do you know?”
Niks smirked, brushing a thumb across her cheek. “Your mind link was open. Vorthar and I could hear everything.”
Her eyes widened, then softened. Of <i>course</i><i>. </i><i>She </i><i>hadn’t </i><i>even </i><i>thought </i><i>to </i><i>shield </i><i>it</i><i>. </i>But she didn’t mind. Not with him. “<b>It </b>feels good,” she said, her voice quiet. “And… in a weird way, I feel stronger. It’s hard to exin, but it’s there. Like something
clicked.”
Niks nodded, his gaze steady. “That’s because you and Vaelora have fully bonded. From here, it only <b>gets </b>stronger. Every shift<b>, </b>every moment you work together–it’ll build.”
<b>2/3 </b>
Saphira smiled, the weight in her chest lightening Tean’t wait”
But then her repression shifted, more thoughtful. Her fingers curled slightly at her sides. “<b>Once </b>everythings over… I need. to work through it all, Everything I’ve been through. This training–it’s opened my eyes. I’ve pushed so much <b>down</b><i>. </i>I Raven’t truded hall of it?
Niks’s face softened. He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her again. “When you’re ready,” he said, I’ll <b>help </b>in
any way I can.
She leaned into him, her forehead resting against his. They kissed again–slower this time, more passionate. A promise.
Footsteps approached, and two warriors emerged from the treeline, heads bowed respectfully.
“Apologies for the interruption,” one said. “But Damon has requested to speak with you, Alpha.”
Niks straightened, his expression sharpening. “I’ll go right away.”
“I’ming too,” Saphira said, already stepping forward.
Niks turned, hesitating. “Saphira-”
She met his gaze, firm but gentle. “We’re in this together.”
He exhaled, then nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Sorry. I’m still getting used to being a team<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Saphira reached for his hand, giving it a squeeze. “We’ll get there.<b>” </b>
Together, they walked toward the cells, side by side, the wind at their backs and the bond between them stronger than
ever.
Chapter Comments
LIKE
POST COMMENT NOW
<SHARE
3