Disguise 140 - The Matchmaker

bCHAPTER /bb140 /b

Finn stepped into the room like he’d been struck by lightning. His eyes were wide, chest heaving, and his hands trembled at his sides. “What the hell happened?” he asked, voice sharp and cracking

at the edges.

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Amara flinched at the sound, but didn’t look away. Her hands trembled in herp, fingers twisting in the fabric of her shirt. Her voice came out quiet but clear. “I told Saphira already. I’ll tell you too.”

Saphira stayed seated beside her, her hand still resting lightly on Amara’s arm, anchoring her. She could feel the tension vibrating through Amara’s skin. Finn dropped into the nearest chair, his body folding in on itself, elbows on his knees, eyes locked on Amara like he was afraid she’d vanish.

Amara took a breath, then began. Her voice was steady at first, but each word seemed to cost her more. She told him how Cassandra had separated her from the others, how the witch had sensed her bond with Finn and used it against her. How unnatural magic had been used to strip her of the ability to have children.

Saphira watched Finn closely. His face was a storm–shock, disbelief, horror, grief. His hands gripped his knees so tightly his knuckles turned white. His jaw clenched, then ckened. His eyes never left Amara, but he looked like he couldn’t breathe.

Amara’s voice faltered only once, when she said, “I was pregnant.” Then again, quieter, more broken: “They killed my baby.”

Finn’s breath hitched. His mouth opened, then closed. No words came.

Saphira stood slowly, her heart aching, her anger simmering just beneath her skin. She leaned down, brushing Amara’s shoulder gently, her voice soft but fierce.

“I’ll leave you two to talk,” she said. “But I’m here. For whatever you need. And I swear to you, Amara–I will make them pay for this.”

Finn looked up at her then, his eyes ssy but fierce. He gave her a single nod, silent but full of meaning. Saphira returned it, then turned and left the room.

Her steps were slow, deliberate. The hallway felt colder now, the air heavier. Her thoughts churned, her fury growing with every stride. iThey /idid this to Amara. The most kind, iloving /iperson I’ve iever /iiknown/i. iThey /iitore /isomething sacred ifrom /iiher/i–and they did it iwith /ismug iprecision/i. That iwitch /iididn’t /iijust /iicast /iia /iispell/ii. /iiShe /iicarved /iia /iwoundi. /i

By the time she reached the office, her jaw was tight, her hands clenched. Inside, Niks was speaking with Jed and Raven, a few witches gathered around the table. Arge map was spread across it, marked with boundary lines and magical sigils. The scent of ink and old parchment filled

the air.

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Saphira walked straight to Niks‘ side. He nced at her, saw the storm in her eyes, and without a word, wrapped an arm around her waist. His touch was warmb, /bsteady. She leaned into it slightly, but the fire inside her didn’t cool.

“We’re discussing how far out to cast the boundary,” Raven was saying. “We’ve mapped the outer ridges here and here-” she pointed to two marked zones “–but we’ll need to branch out along the northern edge if we want full coverage.”

Jed nodded, tapping the map with a knuckle. “That’s where they’ll test us first. It’s the most exposed.”

Saphira listened, her gaze flicking over the map. The lines were clean, the n sound. It sounded like they were nearly done—just finalizing the reach andyering.

When the conversation began to wind down, Saphira stepped forward, her voice calm but edged. “Raven, wait. You and the others–before you go.”

The witches paused, turning toward her. Raven tilted her head, sensing something deeper beneath

the request.

“Do you know much about fertility spells?” Saphira asked. “Specifically ones used with unnatural

magic?”

The witches exchanged nces. One of them–a younger woman with silver–threaded braids–spoke first. “It’s risky magic. Even when done with extreme precision, it’s unstable. There are often holes in the spell. Gaps. Unintended consequences.”

Raven nodded, her expression darkening. “It’s not something we touch. Too unpredictable. Too cruel when it goes wrong.i” /i

Niks turned to Saphira, concern flickering in his eyes. “Why?”

Saphira leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll tell you in a moment.”

Raven gave her a look–curious, concerned, but respectful. She didn’t press. Just nodded once, slowly.

Saphira nodded back. “Thank you.”

The witches gathered their things and left, Raven lingering a moment longer before following. Her gaze lingered on Saphira, full of questions she didn’t voice. Then the door closed behind them, leaving Saphira, Niks, and Jed in the quiet.

The door clicked softly behind the witches, leaving only the quiet hum of magic in the air and the rustle of parchment on the table. Saphira stood still for a moment, her fingers brushing the edge of the map. Then she turned to Niks and Jed, her voice low and steady.

“There’s something you need to know,” she said. “But it stays between us. For now.”

Niks straightened, sensing the shift in her tone. Jed leaned forward slightly, his arms resting on the table, eyes narrowing with focus.

Saphira took a breath. “It’s about Amara. What the Silvermoon pack did to her.”

She told them everything–how Cassandra had isted her, how the witch had used unnatural magic to sever her ability to have children, how Amara had been pregnant, and how they’d taken that from her too. Her voice didn’t waver, but her hands curled into fists at her sides.

Niks closed his eyes briefly, jaw tightening. Jed’s expression darkened, his fingers flexing against the wood grain of the table.

“I don’t want this spreading,” Saphira said. “Not until we know if anything can be done. I don’t want whispers behind her back. She deserves better than that.”

Niks stepped closer, cing a hand gently on her shoulder. “You’re a good friend,” he said softly. “A sister.”

Saphira nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. iShe /ideserves someone to ifight /ifor her. Someone who doesn’t flinch.

Jed’s voice came next, quiet but firm. “And if you don’t find anything? If there’s no way to undo it?”

Saphira’s gaze sharpened. “Then I’ll make them pay.”

Niks didn’t hesitate. “We all will.”

The silence that followed was thick with promise.

Saphira exhaled slowly, letting the tension ease just enough to shift gears. “Aside from that… how was the meeting?”

Niks nced at Jed, who gave a small nod before replying. “We’ve agreed on a border. Wider in the areas that could be used to hide or stage an approach. It’s not perfect, but it’s smart.”

Niks added, “The witches are starting the spell now. It should be mostly in ce by nightfall. Enough to alert us, even if it doesn’t hold them.”

Saphira nodded, her eyes scanning the map again. iGood/ii. /iiLet /iithem /iitry/i. iWe’ll /iibe /iiready/ii. /i