The stayed sort, dough cirry second of silence graved at her impatience the wanted to know the carded in know

But something about the way he held it, the way his body tensed, made her kesitate.

the could feel the weight of it–sharey, whatever truth, whatever lo so facing inside him

memory, lon son

After what felt like an eternity, Nis finally spoke, his merely than a min

the dragons remains?”

Hin golden eyes didn’t lease the pendant, dide’t wever in their focus, as though looking way might

?careful. She pulled up her phone, fingers neiging quickly to find the picture–the pli

“This was the pir and spell that was wit

Ladded, handing the phone to him

Niks fingers wrapped and in, his gaze slitting to the image

the watched as his breath hitched–subtle but their the moment ralization settled in

Slowly, he looked back down at the pendant…

Then, finally, his ever met hers

“This bwas /bmy father’s. His voice carried somet

Saphira’s mouth parted, the we

something fractured beneath it. “My mother g

of his words crashing into her with fall force.

Without hesitation, she reached for hand, squeezing it tightly. “I am so sorry.”

Tukn exhaled, but it was sharpb, /buneven, carrying too much emotion at user.

bgave /bit to him.”

y actually helped in look for my parents after they disappeared,” he said, voice darkening.

Tapin the shift in his presence before she saw it–the tension in his shoulders, the storm being behind his go

golden

The change was instant.

Pure, controlled anger.

“The Elders n

need.

His grip on the pendant tightened.

Saphira inhaled deeply, then–before he could spoil–she trached up, cupping his face with steady hands, prounding

–“They do,” she agreed, huilding his gaze firmly, but we need to investigate mine. Their tranpa, their mothes–sha’s working with them.”

Niks clenched his jas, his breath uneven, Ais entire body tout with barely–enntained frustration

“No” Saphir cut in, pressing her them lightly against his cheek, destanding his full attention.

“We do this smart. You’ve already been taken twice the first time when you were

bNiks/b‘ gaze flickerel, socimbing shifting in his expression, but the fier behind his

“I’m stronger now,” he countered, his voler edged with conviction. “Because I have you.”

Saphira swallowed, ben grip on his face tightening slightly.

“And now you have more to lose.”

Her words hit their mark, sinking deep.

She saw it–the quiet realization settling in his pano.

She needed him 1 to understand

They couldn’t affond reckless decisions.

Not now. Not ev

Because if they lost this battle carelessly–they wouldn’t just lose the Eght.

They’d lose everything.

Niks exhaled, bas breath uneven, sharp. His grip tightened around the pendant, his knuckles white, the vein in his arearm standing out as tension coiled through him.

bSaphira /bcould feel it–the simmering fury beneath his bskin/b, the frustration, the helplessness bbattling /bagainst instinct.

He ran a hand through his hair roughly, his fingers gripping at the bstrands/b, as though trying to ground himself–trying to stop himself from srapping, from letting the rage take bhold/bb. /b

“So, how do we do this?” His voice was lower now, taut, controlled–but barely “I can’t just go rushing in and removing them from this earth?”

Saphira swallowed, her bgaze /bflicking to his hands, still clenched too tight

She reached out,ering one of them with hers, squeezing gently, Silently urging him to breathe.

Niks‘ fingers twitched beneath hers, but he didn’t pull away.

“They’re extremely strong,” she started carefully, watching him for any :

signs of resistance “which means they’ll have one, maybe even btwo /broyals of all

Niks” jaw tightened, his breath hinching slightly, but he was listening.

“Not dragons,” he muttered, shaking his head, his grip on the pendant still rigid.

Saphira frowned slightly. “What?”

“They don’t like dragons at all,” he exined, voige sharp but edged with restrained bitterness. “Sa they would never have one as an Elder.”

She could tell there was history there–something deep, ingrained, something painful.

“But why?” she asked, her voice softer now, gentler

Niks binhaled /bdeeply, then exhaled slowly, as though forcing himself to bspeak /bbwithout /banger. His free hand flexed at his side before he finally settled it on his thigh, grounding himself.

“Every species bes stronger when finding their

their mates. bNo /bmatter what “

Saphira squeered his

an taking a choten mate of the cane aperies,” he exined, quieter cose, as though pril?ng thé bey jatt……, didert care abonit mizing like

her thumb brushing apainit his din a reminder,

She saw the slight shit in his shoulders, the faint release of pressure, the way he tighed instead of mappet.

* she momured. “I see “.

Niks nodded mice, exhaling apain–this time stradier

“So–your n?” bhe /bbasked/b, tunning toward her fully, pulling her closer now.

Saphira wwallowed, pulling her thoughts together, determined to anchor him in something solid, something rational.

“First,” she said firmly, “we s until Asher’s mother and Zafira wake up. Until they’re strong enough.”

Niks nodded again, his grip on her loosening slightly. “Thea?”

“Then we find out what they know.”

She felt the moment settle, felt him ground himself in her voice, in the n–no longer just reacting, but thinking.

“Then?” he encouraged.

Saphira nced around, thoughts circling. This wasn’t just survival anymore–this was strategy, war, defunce.

“Then we scope them out,” she continued, a quiet strength building in her tone. “Track their movements. Their meetings. Then–End a pattern”

felt pride swell inuide her, but more bthan /bthat–she saw it reflected in Niks.

The book he gave her sent confidence straight into her chest, warmth spreading beneath her ribs.

His smirk was gone.

In its ce was something deeper–something meal.

A genuine le

“Then it’s a n,” he murmurd, teaching brushing ba /bstray piece of her aubum hair from her face, btucking /bit behind her ear.

The gesture lingered–Belt

Saphira let out a slow breath, finally feeling him case.

The anger

won’t gone.

But it was contained

And for now–that was enough. It had to be. Because this bwas /bonly the beginning. And neither of them would face