Disguise 46 - The Matchmaker

The weight of exhaustion still clung to Saphine’s body, I

after hours of jest and a proper meal, the Esally felt like the rould breathe again.

Niks sat beside her, his golden ers softer than they had been rastier, the sharp temin in hit puture eased put slightly.

The hospital had been quiet when they’d leh–Zafira still testing, Asher’s mother stable. The uncertainty was still there, pressing in the edges, but for now, they had time.

bNiks /bexhaled deeply, then shifted, turning toward her with quiet intent, “Come for a walk with me?”

Saphira blinked, caught off guard, then studied him closer. His tone was calms, but there was something el?r beneath it—aniething weighted..

She hesitated only for a second belor nodding. “Yeah, I think I need to move after being still for so long.”

A small smirk tugged at Niks lips, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. he stood, then extended his hand toward her offering, grounding, steady,

She took it

fingers curled around hers briefly, warmth passing between then before he pulled her to her feet.

When she was up, he didn’t let go right away. Instead, his thumb brashed lightly bagainst /bher knuckles, almost absentmindedly, as though he was tresnaring himself as much her.

Then–with a deep breath–he led her outside

The evening bair /bmapped around them, cool against her skin, canying the legering scent of damp earth and pine. The sky had darkened, tran peeking through the remnants of twilight, and for the first time in days, the world felt stil.

bNiks /bbexhaled /bagain, bhis /bhands slipping into his pockets bas /bthey walked.

“I’ve been bthinking/b,” he murmured after a moment.

Saphira nced at him. “About?”

Ingeflickered toward her briefly before settling ahead. “About your dragon.”

She straightened slightly, curiosity bsparking/b.

“I know I should’ve been helping you more before.” bhe /badmitted, his tone lined with quiet regret. “But between everything–the Elders, Zafira–t lost focus.”

Saphira shook her head, “Niks. Like I said before, you don’t have to apologize.”

“But now? We have time.” His voice was firm, deliberate. “And we should start now.”

Saphira blinked, caught off guard. “Now?”

bShe /blooked around, realizing how far he had led them deep into an open clearing, away from the bpack/bb, /baway from any prying eyes.

“Yes, bnow/b,” Niks said, his Ups tugging into a small smile. “The first thing we need to do is get you used to tram” “ing*

A sharp pang of fear shot through bSaphira’s /bchest. The Gest time the had shifted had been excruciating.

Back then, she had been fuelled by desperation–the crushing weight of losing bNiks /bhad been the only thing keeping her grounded, keeping her focused, forcing her through the

Now there was no fear of losing him. She bwas /bsafe, standing beside him, with nothing except the uncertainty of what came next. And that trifled her in 2-

1/3b. /b

bShe /bswallowed, forcing herself bto /bkeep her voice level. “Erm.. as we het de stegething che font?

Nis did hesitate.

He stepped forward, reaching for her hands, pulling her closer until the could feel the warmth radiating from him, grounding her, strodying her.

“This needs to be done fist,” he mitmited. “Once you’refortable shifting, your bond with your dragon will be stronger.” His think brushed gently meer her knuckles, reassurine, firm. “I know you’re scared. But the first time is always the worst. After a while, it bes pleasurable.”

Saphira let out a slow breath, her pulse unsteady,

dy, her mind ticing. She wanted to helleve him. The wanted to front that this would be different–that the pain wouldn’t consume her like it had before,

But it bwas /bone thing to be told how it feels. It bwas /banother thing to experience it.

bNiks/bb‘ /bgrip tightened slightly, his warmth unwavering. He was waiting for her–waiting for her to trust him.

She inhaled

deeply, nodding once. “What do I need to do?”

bNiks/b‘ expression shifted instantly, relief and quiet excitement flickering in his eyes as he took a step back, giving her space. “Right. First, close your

Saphira did bas /bhe said, trying to steady her breathing, pushing past the lingering fear curling at the bedges /bof her mind. “Now what?”

Niks‘ voice was softer now, guiding. “Concentrate. Picture the first time byou /bbshifted/bb./bb” /b

Saphic forced herself to reach for the memory.

“The feeling of the ground under your paws,” he continued, his voice smooth, careful. “How your vision sharpened. How your instincts took over.”

Shepictured it all. The sensation of power coiling through her bmuscles/b. bThe /bbrush /bof heightened senses.

The brief moment where, after the pain had finally subsided–she had felt free.

A faint hum of energy stirred in her chest, tingling beneath her skin.

But unlike before, Iran wasn’t fuelling her now. She had nothing to lose.

And that meant for the first time–she had a chance to fully embrace it

To im this part of herself not out of desperation, but out of strength.

A shuddering breath left her lips. She bwasn’t /bsure if she was ready

Niks watched Saphira closely, sensing the hesitation still clinging to her, wrapping around her like an binvisible /brestraint.

She had pictured it, had felt the fast hum of energy beneath her skin–but still, she hesitated.

He stepped forward, his voice low, steady, but firm. You can do this.”

Saphira swallowed hard, staring at him, uncertain flickering across her face.

bNiks /breached for her hand again, gripping it just enough to ground her, enough to reming but she wasn’t alone in this.

“I know you’re scared,” he continued, his thosh brushing lightly against -uckles. “But you’ve balready /bdone it once. You survived it. And now? Now, you

She let out a

let out a shaky breath, her

er pulse bquickening/b.

Niks gave her hand one final squeeze before stepping back, gising key space.

“This time, you’re shifting for yourself,” he said, his golden eyes unwavering. “Not out of desperation. Not had other hire these

His words struck something deep inside her–something unspoken, something trur

Saphira closed her eyes, inhaling sharply.

she reached for the energy again, picturing the shill–the moment after the pain, the surge of power, the freedom that hade with t

She embraced it

Thro

The change began

Her body trembled as the magic soiled, heat rushing beneath her skin. A sharp jolti reforming in rapid session

But this time–she felt the difference.

ran through her spine, her muscles tenning, shifting, braking and

The pain was still there, sharp and unforging–but it wasn’t controlling her

She wasn’t drowning in it. She was riding it.

And when she finally opened her eyes, she wasn’t standing in her human form anymore