APTER 59

Not long after Zafins had seker, she was back asleep, her breathing does and even, her body still requesting fo

ind had joined then just before the drifted off again, his relief event in the way betely let af her hand wanting term, inable to sleep, waiting for any ute on het conditions.

The night stretched on, long and silent, with only the rational presence of a doctoring in a check her vitals.

Saphira sat beside Zara’s best, shifting erosionally, trying to ease the stiffnen settling into her limbs, Shep came in short intervals – factored and restless. Every movement in the tours jelted her make, her mind tou alert, ton wired to fully strender to ethentic.

Niks was the same.

Jeden

Note of the truly slept with the weight of uncertainty preasing down on them,

T’a-

A soft click of the door opening inapped Saphira from the hate of half–sleep.

She inked, rubbing the heel of her hand against her eyes before looking toward the entrance.

bNiks /bstepped inside, his posture slightly heavier than usual, but his grip steady around the three to–go coffee caps in his hands.

“Here,” he murmured, bhis /bvoice lower than usual, edged with quiet exhaustion. “Thought we could all do with it.”

He handed her one of the caps, the warmth of it soothing against her cald fingers.

bShe /bcurled both hands around it instantly, inhaling the familiar scent, letting it settle thing inside her

Niks handed the second cup to led, who had just stirred, stretching out his shoulders before taking the offered drink.

“I’ve updated everyone, bNiks /bsaid as he sat down beside Saphira, rolling his shoulders slightly before taking ba /bsip of his own code. Told them to go home for now. There isn’t anything they can do here.”

Saphira nodded slow, her fingers flexing against the cup, absorbing the heat.

b“/bGood idea,” led murmured, his voice bnow /bfrom sleep deprivation, but carrying an edge of agreement.

Saphira kept her are on the steam curling from the surface of her drink, her mind beady circling around what cane mest.

Would Niky tell her to go home too?

She didn’t want to argue–didn’t want to make bthis /babout her. But she needed bto /bstay.

She needed to be here.

She wallowed, beating herself, seating for him to bsay /bit.

But–headn’t.

He didn’t so much as hint that the should leave.

Reel washed over her, though she kept her bexpression /bneutral, taking a slow sip of her coffee, letting the warmth push way the

bShe /bwasn’t going anywhere.

it wasn’t long before another centred then, moving with rab quiet focus

precation bas /bhe assessed Zalita, dincking far sttals, eating the monitor wits

Saphira shifted slightly in her chair, wothing lonely, sailing for any sign–any tube stuff in the door’s tight timething new

Beside her, led snaightened, his voir familiar and steady as he asked, “Any ute?”

He asked it every time a doctor entried, the same works, the sine theral of expectation led

The docter finished filling out his forms before offering a resting nod. Her vitals are improving, but

fed exhaled slowly, his tension eaning jout slightly. “Thanks, Dec”

Once the doctor left, illence settled thick beineen them again.

It wasn’t the conforting kind—it was too heavy, the sustain, stretching its something ufortable

Saphira shitted again, rubbing her thumb absentmindedly against her palm the hated this waiting, hated how helgesine

Then-knock at the door.

I nced up bas /bRaven signaled for Niks and led, standing in the hallway, her experisian tight with something unreadable.

blook /bat Saphira. “I’ll be bhack /bin second”

Niks stood, casting ba /bquick le

She nodded. “Of course.”

Jed followed him out, leaving Saphire alone with Zafita, the stillness pressing in once more.

Her gaze drifted toward the hallway, watching bas /bNiks, led, and bRaven /bspoke in hushed tones. She couldn’t hear the words–but she could see it, the tension in their postures, the sharp lines in Raven’s face.

Whatever it was it wasn’t good news,

Minute bpaised /bbefore Niks returned, stepping back into the soon, his moments slightly more rigid than before

Saphira straightened, her pulse ticking bup /bslightly. “Everything bokay/bb?? /b

Niki rim, a b

ra hand over his jave, his gaze flickering between Zafira, Jed, and Saphira bere settling on her.

“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “There’smation at the east boeder, and itimlers Barnan.”

Saphira frowned, inhaling slowly, trying to read the tension in his voice

“They need assistance and requested me and jed

he didn’t hesitate. “Then you need to

Nis nced toward Zafira’s still fem, hesitation fickening across his features.

“I’ll stay with her,” Saphira continued, standing and cing a gentle hand on bhis /bam, steadying him.” can send bthe /bther–to stay with me while you’re g

He exhaled sharply, his fingers curling slightly before releasing. “I feel bad leaving her when she might wake at any manuent.”

Saphira squeezed his agni lightlyb, /bher voice after hut firm. “on still bhave /bba /bpack a run.

He held her group a long moment, searching, before finally adding

ΠΡ

arsing–he leased down, pressing a brief, firm kirs to her lips, something grateful and resolute in the proture.

see if Finn can sit with you.”

Saphir watched as he turned, moving forward the door, his pace quickening instantly as he stepped into the hallway, fed falling in stride bemade him,

Whatever was happening–whatever kat pulled him away–it was urgent.

And even though she hated watching him leam, hated the uncertainty of not knowing –

the understood

just hoped they wouldn’t be gone for long

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Tracy Gordon

I knew Damon was a traitor. little snake

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