<b>CHAPTER </b><b>138 </b>
The office slowly filled with familiar faces, each arrival shifting the energy in the room. Jed entered first, his stride purposeful, shoulders squared like he was already bracing for the weight of the discussion. Raven followed close behind, her cloak trailing like smoke, eyes scanning the room with quiet calction. Anastasia stepped in next, arms folded tightly across her chest, her gaze sweeping over each person with maternal precision–checking, counting.
Zafira slipped in silently, her presence sharp and unreadable, like a de sheathed but never forgotten. Then came Jasper, Talia, Finn, Amara, and Sam–each carrying the weight of the past few days in their posture. Shoulders hunched, eyes shadowed, movements slower than usual. No one spoke beyond a few murmured greetings. The air was thick with anticipation, but also relief.
Saphira watched them settle in–chairs pulled closer, cushions adjusted, the scrape of wood against stone. Her fingers rested lightly on the edge of the table, paper and pen ready, though her thoughts were anything but still. We’re all <i>here</i>. <i>That’s </i><i>something</i>. <i>That’s </i><i>everything</i>.
Her gaze flicked to Amara, who sat beside Finn, her shoulders drawn in<b>, </b>arms wrapped around herself like armour. Her expression was distant, eyes unfocused. <i>Still </i><i>quiet</i>. <i>Still </i>holding <i>something </i><i>in</i><i>.. </i><i>I </i><i>need </i><i>to </i><i>speak </i><i>to </i><i>her</i>. <i>Soon</i>.
Niks leaned forward slightly, his voice calm but firm, cutting through the quiet. “Before we discuss anything else, I want to be filled in. Everything. Starting with how Asher, Talia, and Sam were taken.”
A hush fell over the room, the kind that settled deep in the bones. Sam cleared his throat, leaning forward, elbows braced on his knees. His fingersced together, knuckles pale.
“We were scouting the perimeter,” he began, voice steady but low. “Everything was going fine. Quiet. We were about to head back when they came–pack warriors. Out of nowhere. No scent trail, no warning. It was like they were waiting.”
Saphira’s brow furrowed, her pen tapping once against the paper. <i>That </i>kind of <i>precision </i><i>doesn’t </i><i>happen </i><i>without </i><i>help</i><i>. </i><i>Someone </i><i>tipped </i>them off. Or someone cloaked them.
Sam continued, his voice tightening. “Then we realized they had a witch. She was cloaked, hidden. We didn’t see her until it was toote. One second we were fighting, the next… we were bound. Chained. No chance to shift.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, jaw clenched. “They transported us straight to that building. No stops. No words. Just silence.”
Asher picked up the thread, his voice clipped and cold. “Lupus questioned us. Tried to get us to talk. We didn’t. He said they’d swap us out for Niks when he came for us. That they had something that could finally kill him.<b>” </b>
Saphira’s breath caught. She leaned forward slightly, eyes locked on Asher. <i>They </i><i>never </i><i>said </i><i>anything </i><i>about </i><i>a </i><i>weapon</i>.
“I tried to get more out of them,” Asher added, his fingers curling into fists. “But they wouldn’t budge. Just smug smiles. Like they knew something we didn’t.”
Saphira shook her head, her voice low. “They didn’t mention a weapon when we confronted them. Not once.”
Sam nodded, his gaze flicking to Niks. “Probably because Niks didn’t go. They weren’t expecting us to break in. They thought they’d get him toe to them. When that failed, they saw an opportunity to trade Ruby and Damon instead.”
Saphira nced at Niks, who was listening intently, his expression unreadable, but his eyes sharp. Her fingers tightened around the pen, pressing into the paper without writing.
Niks leaned back slightly in his chair, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. The room had settled into a tense quiet, the kind that followed hard truths. He looked around at the gathered faces–each one marked by exhaustion, resolve, and something deeper. Then he nodded.
“Thank you,” he said, voice low but firm. “It’s good to know. All of it.”
He turned his gaze toward Saphira, Jasper, and Raven. “Now I want to hear what happened when you arrived. From the moment you breached the perimeter.”
Raven sat forward, her fingersced together, cloak pooling around her like smoke. “It was easier than expected,” she said. “The barrier spell was strong, but notyered. I found a weak point and opened a gap just wide enough to slip through. Once inside, I kept it open long enough to get everyone out.”
Saphira nodded slightly, remembering the shimmer of magic and the way the air had bent around them. <i>Raven’s </i><i>precision </i><i>saved </i>us <i>time</i>. <i>And </i><i>time </i><i>was </i><i>everything</i>.
Jasper picked up the thread, his voice steady. “Once inside, we moved fast. The guards were scattered, distracted. We reached the holding room without resistance. But then Cassandra showed up.”
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Saphira’s eyes narrowed slightly, her fingers tightening around the pen in herp. Niks nced at her, but she didn’t speak yet–just listened, making sure not to miss a single detail.
“She tried to stall us,” Jasper continued. “Mocked us. Threatened Connor and Amara. Said they’d <b>die </b>if we didn’t hand over Ruby. That’s when Saphira stepped in.”
Saphira lifted her chin, her voice calm but edged. “I told her if they want Ruby, then Lupus cane
to us. Alone.”
A few heads turned toward her, but she kept her gaze on Niks. <i>Let </i><i>them </i>know <i>we’re </i><i>not </i><i>ying </i><b>by </b><i>their </i><i>rules </i><i>anymore</i><i>. </i>
Raven leaned back, her tone cool. “Before we left, I trapped Cassandra in a stasis spell. She’s frozen. It gave us plenty of time to reach the ne and take off.”
Niks nodded slowly, absorbing it all.. “That’s useful. Very useful.”
The room shifted as the conversation turned. Jed leaned forward, arms crossed. “Do we think the pack will approach us again?”
Talia frowned. “It’s possible.”
Jasper shook his head. “I don’t think they’ll be that stupid.”
Zafira’s voice cut through, sharp and certain. “They’ll use a diversion again. Either to get Niks–or to get Ruby and Damon back.”
Saphira nodded, her voice quiet but firm. “I agree. They’ll be in the vicinity. Watching. Waiting.”
Jed exhaled. “I don’t think they’ll get the elders involved. Not for Ruby. That’s personal. Not business<b>.</b>”
Niks tapped his fingers against the table. “Then we need to reinforce our borders. Use the witches to cast a barrier spell–wider than before.”
Raven nodded, but her expression was thoughtful. “A spell that big isn’t simple. Or quick. It’ll take time. And power.”
Saphira leaned forward, her mind already racing. “Or… we bait them.”
Finn frowned immediately. “No. That’s reckless.”
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Anastasia shook her head. “They won’t bite unless it’s someone important.”
Saphira’s voice was steady. “I could be the bait. They still think I’m human. They won’t use <b>excessive </b>force. Not like they would on anyone else.”
The room went still.
Niks‘ voice came next, quiet but absolute. “No.<b>” </b>
Saphira met his eyes, but didn’t argue<i>. </i><i>Not </i><i>yet</i>. <i>He’s </i><i>protecting </i><i>me</i><i>. </i>I <i>get </i><i>it</i><i>. </i><i>But </i><i>if </i><i>it </i><ies </i>to <i>it</i><i>… </i>I’ll <i>do </i><i>what </i><i>needs </i><i>to </i><i>be </i><i>done</i>.
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