The Matchmaker

    bCHAPTER /b107

    Saphira sat forward, legs uncurling beneath her, the cushion shifting under her weight. Her fingers gripped the edge of the sofa, knuckles pale. Her eyes locked onto Finn, searching his face for something solid.

    “Training them for what?” she asked, voice tight.

    Finn’s jaw clenched, the muscle twitching beneath his skin. “Asher doesn’t know yet. But it’s structured. Intentional. And it’s happening near the

    Saphira’s chest tightened, a slow coil of dread winding through her ribs. So it’s not just a ritual–it’s a foundation. They’re building something. P next generation for whatever’sing. Her gaze flicked to Niks, who had gone rigid, arms folded across his chest like he was holding back a sto

    Zafira leaned forward, her voice low and grim. “That’s not just strange. That’s dangerous.”

    Saphira nodded slowly, her thoughts racing. Children mean legacy. Continuity. This isn’t a moment–it’s a movement. She swallowed hardb, /bthe taste of ash lingering at the back of her throat. “We need to find out what kind of training. And why.”

    “That is their next step,” Finn said, his voice quieter now. “Asher didn’t have much detail, but he said they have a n to find out. He’ll update us as soon as they know more.”

    Niks exhaled, his stance loosening just slightly. “That’s ba /bgood start. More to add to our investigation.”

    “We just need to hear from Jed now,” Zafira said from her corner of the sofa, her arms folded tightly. “Can we try him again?”

    “On it,” Niks replied, already lifting his phone and dialing.

    Finn sank back into the cushions, his shoulders bheavy /bwith tension. Saphira watched Niks as time passed, the phone still pressed to his ear. She could see it in his posture–the bway /bhis fingers tapped against his thigh, the way his gaze drifted.

    He’s not going to answer. I can already tell.

    Right on cue, Niks hung up, his jaw tight with frustration.

    Saphira leaned back, her bheart /bthudding. Something’s wrong.

    #

    Niks paced near the window, his silhouette fractured by moonlight. His fingers curled into bfists /bat his sides, knuckles pale against the ss. The phone sat abandoned on the table, screen dark and using. His jaw worked, silently, frustration simmering just beneath the surfaceb. /b

    “One phone,” he muttered, voice tight. “One bloody phone between/them. What were bwe /bthinking?”

    Saphira watched him, her own nerves fraying blike /bthreadbare cloth. The bsilence /bfrom Jed gnawed at her, each minute stretching too long, too quiet. We should’ve nned better. Should’ve split the risk. One point of contact–what bif /bit’s already gone dark?

    Finn leaned forward, elbows braced on his knees, bvoice /bsteady but low. “Jed’s smart. And bRaven’s /bwith him. Plus a few bof /bour strongest warriors. They’re not easy to take down.”

    Saphira’s breath caught. Raven. Her mind raced, heart thudding against her ribs. If something was seriously wrong… wouldn’t bshe /bsend a signal? Use bher /bmagic somehowb? /bbShe /bwouldn’t just vanish.

    She turned sharply to Niks, her voice cutting through the tension. “If they bwere /bin breal /btroubleb, /bRaven would’ve found a way to reach bus/bb. /bbWouldn’t /bshe?

    Niks paused mid–step, his brow furrowed. He nodded bslowly/bb, /bthough doubt lingered in bhis /beyes. “It’s possibleb. /bbShe’s /bresourcefulb. /bbBut /bbmagic’s /bbnot /bbalways /bcleanb. /bDepends on the situation.”

    Zafira, still perched bin /bher cornerb, /btilted her head, fingers bdrumming /bbagainst /bbher /bbthigh/b. “bIf /bbthey’re /brestrained, bor /bbif /bbRaven’s /bbdrained/b, bit /bbcould /bbfmit /bbher/bb. /bcan’t assume she’s free to actb. /b

    bSaphira’s /bbstomach /btwisted, a slow bthurn /bof dread, so eeen bKaven /bbmight /bbbe /bsilencedb. /bbThat’s /bbworse /bbthan /bI bthought/bb. /b

    bAnastasia/b, bwho /bbhad /bbbeen /bbquiet /bbuntil /bbnow/b, bstood /bbabruptly/bb, /bbhat /bbmovements /bbsharp /bso, what di walio nowe lust att bereta hare this vatting von

    Saphira rose too, tension snapping through her legs like a coiled spring. “I agree. Sitting still feels wrong. We need to move. Even if it’s just gathering more intel or preparing for worst–case.”

    Niks rubbed the back of his neck, his shoulders sagging with the weight of the day. “As much as I agree,” he said, voice low, “it’s gettingte. We all need to eat. Rest. Anything could happen tomorrow.”

    Saphira nced at the clock, blinking at the hour. He’s right. We’re no good to anyone if we’re running on fumes.

    Zafira exhaled sharply, the sound almost a growl. “Fine. But I hate it.”

    Saphira nodded, her own reluctance mirrored in the tightness of her chest. Pausing feels like surrender. But exhaustion is creeping in, and bwe /bc be slow when it counts.

    Just as they began to shift, the door creaked open. Amara stepped inside, her expression unreadable but alert, eyes scanning the room.

    Finn stood immediately, crossing to her with quiet urgency. “Hey. How are you, is everything ok?”

    Amara gave a small smile, tired but resolute. “I think bI’ve /bmade some progress with Ruby. She’sying it on thick–charm, vulnerability, the whole act. But bI /bcan see through it.”

    Saphira narrowed her eyes, arms folding across her chest. Of bcourse /bshe’s performing. Ruby doesn’t do anything without a motive.

    “She’s gone to bed for now,” Amara continued, “but I’ve ced a sensor outside her door. bIf /bshe leaves, bwe’ll /bknow. We can track her movements.”

    b“/bGood,” Saphira said, her voice sharper than she intended. “I don’t like the idea of her snooping around without anyone knowing.b” /b

    Niks gave a short nod. “Smart move, Amara. Let’s hope she stays put.”

    The room settled into a tense silenceb, /bthe kind thates before forced brest/b. Saphira felt the weight of it pressing against her ribs. Tomorrow could change everything.

    The room began to thin out, the tension lingering like smoke as they all said good night.

    Anastasia approached Saphira, her steps light but purposeful. Without a word, she wrapped Saphira in a firm hug, warm and grounding.

    “bCall /bif you need anything,b” /bshe whispered, her breath brushing Saphira’s ear.

    Saphira nodded, holding on for a moment longer than she meant to.

    One by one, the others drifted out, leaving the room quieter, dimmer. Only Niks remained, standing near the table, his eyes on her.

    bHe /bcrossed the space between them and pulled her into a hug, arms strong around her shoulders. Saphira leaned into it, letting herself breathe.

    “Jed will be okay,” she murmured against his chest. “I know it.”

    Niks didn’t answer right away. His grip tightened slightly, then loosened, “I hope you’re rightb,/bb” /bbhe /bsaidb, /bvoice low. b“/bbI /bwant to believe that.”

    bHe /bstepped back, his hand lingering briefly at her elbow. “Come on. bLet’s /bbgrab /bbsome /bfood and take it to our room. I don’t want to brisk Ruby /bseeing byou/bb. /b

    Saphira’s brow furrowed. “bWhat /babout Finnb?/bb” /b

    Niks shrugged, already moving btoward /bthe door “If she bsees /bhim, bwe /bbcan /blean into bthe /bbamnesia /bscenariob. /bbIt’s /busible. bBut /bbyou/bb?/b” He bnced /bbback /bbat /bbher/bb. /bb“/bbYou’d /bbe harder to exin without letting on the full truth.”

    Saphira bnodded /bslowlyb. /bHe’s right. One wrong nceb, /bone flicker bof /bbrecognition/bb, /bband /bbthe /bbwhole /bbthing /bbcould /bunravel.

    bOkay/bb, /bshe bsaid/b. Let’s gu

    bThey /bbslipped /bbout /bbtogether/bb, /bbthe /bbhallway /bbquiet/b, shadows stretching long bacross /bthe floor.

    The Matchmaker

    bCHAPTER /bb108 /b