<b>CHAPTER </b><b>134 </b>
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<b>54 </b>
Raven knelt by the door, her fingers trembling as they began to glow with a soft, strained light. The chant she whispered was quieter than usual; each syble stitched with precision and fragility. The magic felt thinner–like spun ss–delicate and dangerous. Saphira’s breath hitched. Even the air seemed to tighten around them<b>, </b>as if the room itself was holding its breath.
Jasper had shifted beside Talia, his stance angled protectively toward her, one hand
hovering near the hilt of his de. His eyes flicked between Raven and the door,
calcting. Asher and Sam stood close to Saphira. She could feel the heat radiating off
Asher’s arm, the subtle tremor in Sam’s fingers as he flexed them. <i>We’re </i><i>so </i><i>close</i><i>. </i><i>Just </i><i>one </i><i>more </i><i>step</i>. <i>Don’t </i><i>fall </i><i>apart now</i><i>. </i>
The minutes dragged, each one stretching taut with silence.
Raven’s shoulders began to shake, her jaw clenched so tightly Saphira could see the muscle twitch. The glow around her hands flickered, unstable, like a candle fighting wind. Saphira’s foot shifted forward, instinct overriding caution. <i>She’s </i><i>faltering</i>. I <i>should— </i>
Raven lifted a hand without looking. A silentmand: wait.
Saphira froze, her fingers curling against her thigh. <i>Trust </i><i>her</i><i>. </i><i>Just </i><i>trust </i><i>her</i>.
Then, with a final surge of effort, Raven pushed herself upright, swaying slightly. Her face was pale, lips bloodless. She stepped aside, voice raw. “Go. Now.”
They moved as one.
Jasper was through first, his body low and fast. Talia followed, her braid whipping behind her. Sam darted after them, and Asher grabbed Saphira’s wrist, tugging her forward. She didn’t resist her legs were already moving. Raven camest, her hand releasing the spell as she crossed the threshold. The shimmer copsed with a soft hiss, and she staggered, one hand bracing against the wall as she gasped for breath.
“We need to move,” Raven said, scanning the trees with sharp, ssy eyes. “I don’t know if the other witch sensed me. But we can’t risk finding out.”
Saphira nodded, her voice tight. “Follow me.”
She turned, boots whispering against the forest floor as she led them into the tree line. The shadows swallowed them quickly, cool and familiar. Her shoulders dropped a fraction. <i>We’re </i><i>covered</i><i>. </i><i>For </i><i>now</i><i>. </i><i>Keep </i><i>moving</i>.
Asher leaned in, voice low. “How are we getting out?”
“The waterfall,” Saphira murmured. “It’s how we got in.”
Jasper nodded, already stepping ahead. “We need to be careful. I’ll run ahead and check the first open spot. Make sure it’s clear.”
No one argued. They fell into formation, each step deliberate, each nce sharp. Saphira’s eyes scanned the underbrush, her senses stretched thin. <i>Every </i><i>leaf </i><i>could </i><i>be </i><i>a </i><i>trap</i>. <i>Every </i><i>silence </i><i>a </i><i>warning</i>.
At the first exposed section, Jasper darted forward, his form a blur against the pale light. He returned momentster, breath steady. “Clear.”
They crossed one by one, hearts pounding in rhythm with their footfalls. Then back into the trees, swallowed again by shadow.
The waterfall came into view–silver and roaring, cascading like a promise. Saphira felt her chest loosen, just slightly. <i>We </i><i>made </i><i>it</i><i>. </i><i>We </i><i>actually- </i>
Sam slowed, his brow furrowed. “It’s been too easy.”
Saphira’s steps faltered. Her gaze narrowed. “Maybe it was always meant to be.”
A voice sliced through the trees, cold and sharp.
“Of course it would be my na?ve daughter who’d say that.”
Saphira froze mid–step.
Lupus emerged from the shadows, his presence like a de drawn in silence. Behind him, bound in glinting silver chains, were Finn and Amara. Their faces were bruised, eyes
burning with defiance and pain.
Saphira’s breath caught in her throat. Her fists clenched at her sides, nails biting into
her palms.
Lupusughed–a low, grating sound that scraped across Saphira’s nerves like ws on stone. His eyes gleamed with cruel amusement, drinking in the tight line of her mouth, the fury simmering just beneath her skin. He was savouring her restraint.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t outsmart a human leading a handful of supernatural’s?” he said, voice thick with mockery. “That I wouldn’t notice something fishy in Connor’s return not long after I captured the others?”
Saphira’s jaw locked. Her fingers twitched at her sides, aching to reach for a de. <i>He </i><i>wants a </i><i>reaction</i>. <i>Don’t </i><i>give him </i><i>one</i>. She forced her hands still, nails digging into her palms. The heat in her chest was rising, slow and steady.
Lupus stepped forward, deliberate and unhurried, like a predator circling prey. “I’ll admit, I’m surprised you survived the Matchmaker. And the Arrax pack must be truly desperate to let a human in.”
Jasper shifted beside her, his stance tightening, a low growl vibrating in his throat. Saphira caught the movement and subtly lifted two fingers near her thigh–<i>hold</i><i>. </i>Jasper’s eyes flicked to her, then back to Lupus, his jaw clenched but silent. <i>Good</i><i>. </i><i>Stay </i><i>sharp</i>. <i>Not </i>
<i>yet</i><i>. </i>
Lupus tilted his head, watching the exchange with a smirk. “I was hoping Niks might show up, though.”
Saphira’s breath caught. Her voice snapped out, sharp and unfiltered. “Don’t say his name. You don’t have the right.”
Lupus chuckled again, colder this time. “And who do you think you are now?”
Her dragon stirred, a pulse of heat blooming in her chest, curling around her ribs like smoke. She swallowed the fire, pressing it down with sheer will. Her shoulders rolled back, spine straightening. <i>Not </i><i>yet</i>. <i>Not </i>here,
Then she saw it–no guards. No backup. Just him and the chains.
Her eyes narrowed, voice low and steady. “Release Connor and Amara.”
Lupus raised a brow, amused. “You broke out my other prisoners. I need recements. But I’m willing to discuss a trade–Ruby and Damon.”
Jasper stepped forward, voice sharp. “And what if we deny?”
Lupus shrugged, adjusting the cuff of his coat with casual elegance. “Then Connor and Amara are as good as dead.”
Saphira’s breath hitched. Her voice came out low, furious, trembling with restrained fire.
“That’s your son. How can you be so cruel?”
Lupus turned slightly, brushing a speck of dust from his sleeve. “It’s business. And I have more pressing matters to attend to.”
As he spoke, a figure emerged from the trees–Cassandra, her expression smug, lips curled in satisfaction. She walked to Lupus without hesitation, and he kissed her cheek
with theatrical ir, eyes never leaving Saphira.
“Goodbye, daughter,” he said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Saphira didn’t move. Her fists were clenched so tightly her nails bit into her skin.
Cassandra stepped forward, her gaze locked on Saphira like a de. “I want my daughter
back.”
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