Disguise 135_The Matchmaker

CHAPTER 135 

 Saphira stepped forward, each movement deliberate. The air was thick with tension. Her gaze locked onto Cassandra’s, unwavering. “I’m not agreeing to anything,” she said, voice low but steady. “But I’m not leaving without Connor and Amara.”

 Cassandraughed, sharp and mocking. “And how exactly do you think you’ll manage that?” she sneered. “You have no authority here. You and your little band are in our

 territory. You can trade–or you can be taken and chained.”

 Saphira’s jaw tightened, her teeth pressing together until her temples ached. She took another step forward, slow and deliberate, her boots crunching softly against the leaves. Her eyes never left Cassandra’s.

 “I’ve thought about this moment,” she said quietly. “Being face to face with you. After being sent away to the Matchmaker for no reason. I imagined what I’d feel.”

 She paused, letting the silence stretch between them like a de.

 “But now that I’m here?” Her voice dropped, colder. “I feel nothing.‘

 ?? 

 Cassandra’s smile faltered, then twisted into something sharper, more venomous. “Nothing?” she echoed. “Even though your own father sent you away.”

 Saphira didn’t blink. Her voice was steady, her posture unshaken. “I didn’t say it was about Lupus,” she said. “I’ll get my time with him. For everything he’s done. But this-” she gestured between them, her fingers slicing through the air “-this is about you.”

 Cassandra’s eyes narrowed, her smugness cracking like thin ice. “I don’t care,” she snapped. “You’re not getting Connor back unless Ruby is returned. If you don’t agree, they’ll be killed. All three of them.”

 Asher stepped forward, his voice a low growl. “I’d like to see you try.”

 Saphira lifted her hand slightly, palm open–wait. Asher stopped mid–step, his eyes still locked on Cassandra, but he stepped back, his jaw tight.

 11:11 Tue, Sep 9 

 Saphira moved again, closing the distance until she stood halfway between her group and Cassandra. The air around her began to shift–warmer, heavier, charged with something ancient. Her voice was calm, but it carried weight. “Hand them over.”

 Cassandraughed again, tilting her head, her tone mocking. “Or what?” she spat. “What could a stupid human possibly do?”

 Saphira smiled then–slow, dangerous. She let the dragon rise just enough for the heat to shimmer in her eyes, for the power to pulse beneath her skin like a second heartbeat. Her voice came out like smoke curling through me.

 “You have no idea who I am now.”

 Cassandra’s smile faltered.

 Saphira locked eyes with Connor. His expression was tight, jaw clenched, eyes burning with urgency. He gave a subtle shake of his head–don’t shift.

 Her breath caught. Why not? Her fingers twitched at her sides, the dragon inside her stirring, restless, coiling like smoke beneath her skin. They already know I’m with the 

 Damon could’ve told Arrax pack. The elders likely know after Niks’s rescue. And if not … them. Cassandra surely knows.

 She nced back at Asher. He met her gaze, his expression unreadable but firm. He gave the same signal–don’t. Her chest tightened. They’re both telling me to wait. But how else do we get out of this? 

 Her eyes returned to Connor, and for a moment, she wished—I wish I could just ask you what to do. 

 Then, suddenly, a voice echoed in her mind.

 “Don’t shift.”

 Her eyes widened. Connor’s did too.

 Saphira blinked, stunned. “How am I speaking to you like this?” 

 11:11 Tue, Sep 9 

 “I don’t know,” Connor replied, his mental voice just as shocked. “But we’ll figure it out. Just don’t shift. Not yet. We can use it as a surprise <iter.” 

 “And what do we do now? How else do we get out of this mess?”

 “Asher can shift. Let him be the dragon this time.”

 Saphira exhaled slowly. “Alright. Let’s do it your way.” 

 6223

 Cassandra’s voice sliced through the moment, mocking and sharp. “You’ll always be the human pushover,” she sneered. “Doesn’t matter which pack lets you in. You’re not scary. If you were, you’d have done something by now.”

 Saphira turned to her, calm andposed, her voice like steel wrapped in silk. “I don’t need to do anything,” she said. “That’s why I have a team.”

 She nodded once to Asher.

 In a sh of heat and light, Asher shifted. His dragon form burst forth, massive and gleaming, wings ring wide. The ground trembled beneath his weight. He roared–a sound that cracked through the trees and sent birds scattering from the canopy in a

 frenzy.

 Cassandra stumbled back, her bravado fracturing. She turned to run.

 But Raven was faster.

 She stepped forward, her hands glowing with violet light, and cast a spell that froze Cassandra mid–step. A shimmer of magic wrapped around her, locking her in ce like ss hardened by me.

 Jasper and Sam rushed to Finn and Amara, their movements swift and focused. The silver chains ttered to the ground as they freed them, urgency in every motion.

 Saphira stepped closer to Cassandra, her boots crunching softly against the forest floor. Her eyes burned with quiet fire, her voice low and lethal.

 She smirked. “If you want your daughter back,” she said, “then Lupus cane to us.

 11:12 Tue, Sep 9. 

 Alone. Otherwise, you can say goodbye to seeing Ruby again.”

 Cassandra’s eyes widened, fury and fear flickering behind them.

 And Saphira didn’t flinch.

 Saphira turned from Cassandra, her boots pressing into the damp earth as she walked back toward the others. Her pulse was still thrumming, but her voice came out calm and clear. “We need to go. Now.”

 Raven stepped beside her, her cloak brushing Saphira’s arm as she moved. “She’s frozen for a while,” Raven said, nodding toward Cassandra. “I blocked her ability to mind–link too. She can’t call for help. But we need to hurry.”

 Saphira nodded, her jaw tight. Good. That buys us time. But not much. 

 They moved quickly, the group falling into motion with practiced urgency. The roar of the waterfall grew louder as they approached the verge, the path slick and narrow. Saphira led the way, her boots skimming the moss–covered stone, eyes scanning the treeline for movement.

 As they descended, she nced back at Finn and Amara, who were walking just behind her. Their steps were steady, but fatigue clung to their shoulders.

 “Are you okay?” she asked, her voice low.

 Finn looked up, his expression tired butposed. “I’m fine. They didn’t harm us.”

 Saphira exhaled, tension easing slightly. “Good. We’ll talk more once we’re home.”

 Amara gave a small nod, her hand brushing Finn’s arm in quiet reassurance.

 They reached the base of the waterfall, the mist curling around them like breath. The forest was quiet–eerily so–but no one spoke. Every footstep was deliberate, every nce sharp.

 Saphira’s thoughts churned as they moved. We did it. We got them out. But this isn’t over. 

 11:12 Tue, Sep 9 

 The ne came into view, nestled in the clearing like a promise. No guards. No traps. Just the way they left it.

 They climbed aboard without issue, one by one. Saphira paused at the door, her eyes scanning the treeline onest time. Let theme. We’ll be ready. 

 She stepped inside, the door closing behind her with a soft click.

 And the forest faded into silence as they took off.

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Disguise 135