bCHAPTER /bb38 /b

bThe /bRoyal Dragons bexist/bb. /b

And Saphira was mated to one.

It bwas /banother piece to add to the already overwhelming events of the evening, stacking one impossible revtion on top of another. She barely had btime /bbto /bbprocess /bit before Jed spoke again, bringing the conversation back to the matter at hand.

“bHow /bdid you manage to escape?” bhe /basked, his tone sharp, cutting through the tension like a de.

Niks bsat /bbback /bslightly; his expression unreadable as he answered. “I bwas /bable to break free. Then I was going to capture the Elder myself, but before bI /bcould, another killed him–then disappeared.” His words were calm, controlled, but Saphira could sense the weight beneath them. He had nned bto /btake the Elderb, /bbut someone had stolen that chance from him.

bA /bsilence settled bover /bthe room, thick and uncertain.

“That seems… beasy/bb,/b” Raven said, eyes narrowed.

The words hung in the air, charged with doubt.

“You’re not telling us something,” the warrior said, his voice edged with distrust. The same tone as before. The same challenge lurking beneath his words.

Niks straightened slightly. “Like what?” he asked, his voice carrying just the faintest note of warning.

“I don’t know.” The warrior leaned forward, his stare unwavering. “But you are hiding something.” His tone sharpened, usation deepening. “And it will get us all killed. You will doom us all.”

The air in the room shifted.

Niks‘ golden eyes darkened, his posture turning rigid.

“Excuse me?” His voice was low–deadly.

Before anything more could snap between them, Raven cut across the tension like a de. “Damon, enough.”

The name hit the room with weight.

But Damon wasn’t done.

He shot to his feet, energy sharp, unrestrained. “No! I don’t trust him! He disappears to the Matchmaker for God knows how long, then vanishes for days-es back unharmed, ming our Elders?” His voice rose, pressing into the room, demanding something–answers, proofb, /bconfirmation that Niks wasn’t lying.

“Sit down,” Jed ordered, voice clipped, controlled.

But Damon didn’t listen.

He repeated himself–over and over, the usations spilling from his lips like venom, too loud, too forceful.

And soon, the room cracked under the weight of it,

Voices shed, rising in tension.

The warriors, Jed, Finn, Raven–all arguing, tangled in the chaos Damon had ignited,

Saphira remained still, her pulse quick, iher /imind sharp, watching everything unfold.

Only she and Niks weren’t speaking.

CHAPTER b38 /b

bSaphira /bstole ba /bbnce /bat Niks. His expression remained neutral–calm, steady. But why? Was bhe /btruly unfazed by all this, or bwas /bbhe /bholding himsell b refusing to reveal anything to them? Either bway/b, the constant back–and–forth, the arguing, was starting to wear on bher/bb. /b

bA /bslow frustration coiled in her chestb, /bbwinding /btighter with every tense voice that filled the room.

bThen/bb–/bsnap.

b“/bEnough! Saphira’s voice cut through the chaos like a de, sharp,manding.

The room stilled instantly, all eyes locking onto her.

She turned her gaze directly to Damon, the anger simmering beneath her words spilling out in full force. “He was able to escape from the strength of ba /btrue bmate /bbond.”

Silence stretched thick and bheavy/bb. /b

Damon stiffened, his bown /bexpression flickering between shock and something else–something dangerously close to fear.

Saphira wasn’t finished.

She stepped forward slightly, eyes locked onto his. b“/bAnd you need to show some damn respect before I remove byou /bfrom this pack myself.”

Her breath was heavy, chest rising and falling as the weight of her words settled over the roomb. /b

Damon sat instantly, the defiance draining from him, reced by stiff uncertainty.

Raven was the first to break the silence.

“Your true matesb?/bb” /bshe asked, voiceced with intrigue.

Jed exhaled slowly, rubbing his chin as a flicker of realization crossed his features. “But that means… hmm.”

Saphira held his gaze, watching understanding click into ce behind his eyes.

And she smiled. She knew Jed would figure it out.

When Saphira sat back down, she instinctively nced at Niks, finding his golden eyes locked on hers, filled with something that made her breath hitch- admiration. There was no teasing smirk, no yful remark. Just quiet intensity, like he had seen something in her tonight that changed everything.

Heat bloomed in her chest, but she pushed past it, offering him a small smile before turning her attention back to the room.

Niks exhaled lightly, shifting his focus. “Now that’s settled–any more questions, or can we call it a night?” His voice was steady, leaving the conversation open but firm.

Finn didn’t hesitate. “Let’s call it.” He pushed his chair back, standing. One by one, the others followed, nodding toward them before leaving the office. All except Damon–who left too quickly, his movements sharp, his energy unreadable.

Saphira caught the flicker of unease in Niks‘ expression as the warrior disappeared, but before she couldment, he reached for her,

In one fluid motion, Niks pulled her onto hisp.

Her pulse stammered at the sudden shift, the warmth of his hold settling against her skin.

“I’ve got to say, I’m impressed,” he murmured, his voice lower now, intimate in a way that sent something electric through her veins. “You’re a natural.”

Saphira felt a flush creep up her neckb, /bunprepared for the praise. “I don’t know what came over me,” she admitted, letting out ia /ismall breath. b“/bbI /bjust—had enough.”

His grip on her tightened, not possessive, but grounding.

bCHAPTER /bb38 /b

“Well, I liked it,” he said, fingers pressing gently against her hip. His eyes searched hers, something unspoken bhovering /bbetween in about us–especially bnow /bthat we’re true mates?”

Saphira held his gaze, seeing past the confidence, past the teasing remark. He wanted assurance. She could feel it.

b“/bWhen I thought you were about to die…” she started softly, cing a hand on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her palm T feeling I never want to feel that again.” Her voice wavered just slightly, but she didn’t stop. “In that moment, if you had died so would L

Niks inhaled sharply, his grip tightening for a fraction of a second, but she didn’t let him speak.

“I knew I felt something more when I couldn’t not look for you,” she continued, letting the words fall between them, real and rawb. /b“I didn’t know if it was because of your mark, but–for the first time in my life–it was something I wanted. Something I needed.”

Silence stretched, charged, heavy with the weight of everything left unspoken.

Then, a breath–a shift–Niks‘ hand slid up to cup her face.

“That’s the best thing I’ve heard in a long time,” he murmured, bvoice /brough with emotion before he gently pulled her closer.

And then–his lips imed hers.

The kiss was deep, intense, brimming with everything neither bof /bthem had bdared /bto say aloud. Her hands tangled in his hair, his grip molding her to him. the warmth between them searing in a way that left no room for doubt.

There bwas /bno hesitation anymore.

She was his.

And he was hersb. /b

bChapter /bbComments /b

Tracy Gordon

Damon and possibly jed are traitors. Damon for sure. Raven???

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