bCHAPTER /bb142 /b

    Saphira’s gaze didn’t waver. She leaned forward slightly, her fingers resting against the edge of the table, her voice low but unwavering. “If ites to it, I’ll use their ignorance about me to our advantage. Whether I have your approval or not.”

    Niks stiffened beside her, his jaw tightening as he turned toward her. “Saphira-

    But Zafira raised a hand, her voice slicing through the tension like a de. “Niks, wait.”

    The room stilled. Zafira’s eyes moved from Saphira to Niks, her expression taut with conflict. “As much as I hate the idea of anyone else in my family being in danger… she’s right. It’s probably the best advantage we haveb./bb” /b

    Her fingers curled tighter around Asher’s hand, her knuckles paling. “That doesn’t mean we use it immediately. But as ast option? We’d be foolish not to.”

    Niks didn’t respond right away. His eyes narrowed, gaze dropping to the map as if it could offer a better answer. Saphira watched him closely, saw the tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers flexed against the table.

    She reached out and ced her hand gently over his. “It’s ast resort,” she said softly.

    Niks exhaled, slow and reluctant. His shoulders dropped slightly, but the tension didn’t leave his eyes. He didn’t like it. But he didn’t argue.

    Asher cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “So… what’s the first option?”

    Before anyone could answer, the door creaked open again. Jed stepped in, his expression calm but alert, eyes scanning the room before settling on Niks.

    “You alright?” Niks asked.

    Jed nodded, moving to take the empty seat beside Anastasia. “Yeah. Just thought I’de back and join the discussion.”

    Asher leaned forward, elbows braced on the table. “Then let’s talk first n.”

    They began tossing ideas around, the map between them bing a battlefield of possibilities.

    “We could circle them,” Zafira suggested, tracing a finger along the outer ridges. “Come in from

    15:08 Thub, /bSep 18 bT /b

    multiple angles. Catch them off guard.”

    Saphira watched the motion, her mind already calcting routes, timing, risk. It’s boldi. /iiBut /iit stretches us thin.

    Anastasia frowned, her arms crossed. “That would mean pulling more pack members from the inner perimeter. Which leaves the pack vulnerable. Especially the children.”

    “Or we confront them head–on,” Asher offered. “Use magic. Hit hard and fast.”

    Niks shook his head slightly. “If their witch is stronger than ours, we risk being countered. And exposed.”

    Saphira leaned in, her brow furrowed. “What about luring them into a building? Somewhere isted. We control the space. We set the terms.”

    Jed nodded slowly, tapping the map. “It’s smart. But risky. That puts them close to the pack. Too close.”

    The room fell into thoughtful silence, the map between them marked with red ink and consequence.

    “It’lle down to who they send,” Anastasia said finally, her voice quiet but certain. “And what they bring with them.”

    Saphira’s gaze lingered on the map, her fingers brushing the edge.

    Niks leaned forward, both palms resting t on the table, his gaze sweeping across the map and the faces around it. “Our options,” he said, voice steady but edged with tension, “are basically all of them. We need to be ready for each possibility–and able to switch it up in a moment’s notice. Especially once we know who we’re up against.”

    Saphira watched the way his fingers flexed against the wood, the way his shoulders held the weight of leadership. iHe’s already running /iithrough /iievery /iiscenario/i. iEvery /iifailure/ii. /iiEvery /iicost/i.

    Jed nodded thoughtfully, arms crossed. “Have you spoken to Jasper and Sam? Gotten their thoughts?”

    Niks shook his head. “Not yet. They’re supporting the warriors right now–reinforcing the perimeter and checking gear. I’ll ask them toe by when they’re done.”

    Jed tapped the table lightly with two fingers. “Good idea. Let’s pause negotiations until they’re back.

    Go through everything again with a full circle.”

    Saphira nced around the room. Zafira was still tracing the map absently, her brow furrowed. Anastasia leaned back in her chair, arms folded, her expression unreadable but engaged. Asher sat forward, elbows on his knees, nodding slowly.

    One by one, they agreed.

    Saphira exhaled, her fingers brushing the edge of the map. It’s ithe /iiright /iicall/i. We ineed /ievery ivoice/ii. /iEvery angle. Especially now.

    Niks straightened, his eyes meeting hers briefly. There was no need for words–just a shared understanding.

    One by one, the others filtered out of the room. Chairs scraped softly against stone, murmured goodbyes passed between them, and the door clicked shut behind Jed, leaving only Saphira and Niks in the quiet.

    Saphira turned slowly to face Niks, her voice quiet but certain. “You’re still not okay with it.”

    b64 /b

    Niks looked at her, jaw tight, eyes shadowed. “You’re putting yourself on the spot, Saphira. You’re offering yourself up like a pawn.”

    She stepped closer, her boots silent against the stone. “You would do the same if the roles were reversed.”

    His eyes narrowed, a flicker of frustration sparking. “That’s not the point.”

    “It is,” she said, her tone sharpening. “You’d do it without hesitation. You’d walk into fire if it meant protecting us.”

    Niks pushed off the wall, pacing once across the room, his movements taut. “That doesn’t mean I want you to.”

    Saphira’s shoulders tensed, her breath catching. iHe’s /iiscared/ii. /iiNot /iiof /iithe /iin/ii–/iiof /iilosing /iime/ii. /iiBut /iiI’m /iiscared /itooi. /iiOf /iidoing /iinothing/i. iOf /iiletting /iithem /iistrike /iiagain /iiwhile /iiwe /iihesitate/i.

    “I’m not throwing myself into danger,” she said, stepping into his path. “I’m saying if ites to it- if it’s the only way–we use what they don’t know. But only if my dragon is ready. Only if we’ve weighed every risk and every counterstrike.”

    15:08

    Thu, Sep b18 /bT

    :

    Niks stopped pacing. His eyes searched hers, the storm behind them quieting just enough to let her words in. His hands dropped to his sides, fingers twitching like he wanted to reach for her but wasn’t ready to give in..

    “I won’t let them harm my family anymore,” she said, voice softening. “I know you hate it. I understand why. But this… this could be the only option.”

    He stepped forward, slowly, and pulled her into his arms. His grip was firm, protective, but not possessive. His forehead rested briefly against hers.

    “If that’s what we do,” he murmured against her hair, “then I’m nearby. Ready to strike. No

    hesitation.b” /b

    Saphira nodded against his chest, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. “Agreed.”

    They stood there for a moment, wrapped in silence and each other. The tension between them melted into something deeper–shared resolve, shared fear, shared love. His hand slid up to cradle her jaw, thumb brushing her cheekbone, and she tilted her face toward him.

    The kiss was slow, passionate, desperate. A promise sealed in breath and touch. Saphira slid her hands into his hair, feeling the soft strands under her fingers. Niks moaned softly against her lips, and she chuckled, pulling back just enough to whisper, “Maybe let’s wait until tonight. Don’t want to destroy the office again.”

    Heughed quietly, forehead resting against hers. “Fair point.”

    Saphira leans back, smiling up at him. iWe’re /iiin /iithis together/ii. /iiNo /iimatter /iiwhat /iies /iinext/i.

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