Saphira said goodbye to the girls, lingering for a moment at the doorway, bsoaking /bin the warmth that had settled in her chest. It was different–this feeling- of belonging, of having something outside of Niks and Finn anchoring her to this ce. It wasn’t just duty or survival anymore. It was connection.

There was still so much to figure out–her calling, her dragon, the tangled mess of identity y she hadn’t yet unravelled. But for tonight, she didn’t need all the answers. She just needed to take things bone /bstep at a time.

Tomorrow, she would talk to Fi

Tonight, he would be there for Niks.

She made her way to her room first, rubbing at her arms bas /bbshe /bstepped inside. The bearly /bevening air carried ba /bbchill/b, wrapping around her bas /bshe moved bto /bgrab fresh clothes. Even though she bhad /bshowered that morning, hours of games had left her hat and sticky, and she wanted to feel fresh before heading to the hospital.

The water ran warm over her skin, soothing in its simplicity. She let the steam clear her thoughts, washing away the weight of the past few days.

Once the was done, she changed into leggings and an oversized 1–shin–nothing bfancy/b, justfort

She bcan /ba brush through her damp hair, pulling it into a loose braid, then stepped toward Niks” door, knocking lightly.

at the already knew.

She hesitated, knocking once more–but theck of reports confirmed what

le was still at the hospital.

et left for for

Which grant fe likely hady’t left for food

(head slightly. Of course, he was still there. He probably wouldn’t bleave /buntil Zafira woke up.

Before heading out, she made a detout to the dining room, the set of freshly prepared food greeting her as she stepped inside,

She grabbed two take away be

hours from the stack, preparing to fill them when a familiar figare caught her attention

Aster stood by the buffet, staring at the variety of

front of him, usmasing, his expersion distant.

Saphira approached, offering a small smile. “Hey, Asher”

He turned, his own smile apprating–gemine, but bsubdued/b. “Oh, hey, Saphira Crabbing some fod

“Yeah.” bShe /blifted oor of the containers sight. “Thought I’d pack up some for Niks and I and take it to the hospital.”

Aber nodded, ncing hack at the food before picking up a container himmelf.

b“/bsame,” he said, exhaling. “Niks loved me to me and get some food.”

Saph

a shortugh. “Sounds babout /bright”

– She started filing her container, but paused when the noticed Asher hadn’t moved–hadn’t added anything to h?p màn b?n

“You not like anything?” she asked, tilting her head..

Jaher let out a slow breath, shifting his wright. “jast…don’t know what to have, It feels wrong, eating while Mum is unconscious.”

Ha voce was quiet, beavy, and the was his fingers tightened around the edge of the box made something tot to Saphira’s chest

mudging him lightly.“1 know,” bshe /bsaid, voice gentle but firm. “But you need your strength at grab a bit of everythingb, /bsee how you feel

b1/3 /b

CHAPTER b55 /b

when we get back –

Aber hesitated, his grip flexing slightly against enntajner before modding “bOkay/b”

Saphira waited as he started picking out

to the hospital was quiet, the evening air crisp against Saphira’s skin. The sun had began bits /bdescent, casting golden hors over the trees lining the path. The silence between them in’t ufortable–it was thoughtful, filled with unspoken worries and lingering exhaustion.

nced at Asher, noticing the temon in his shoulders, the way he carried himself–like his mind was elever, locked in worry.

“How are you healing?” she asked, breaking the silence gently

Asher let out a slow breath, rub bad-

hand absently over his amm as though checking for pain. “I’m good now,” he admitted. “Still a bale stiff.

Saph

odded, watching him carefully, sensing the hesitation in his tone. There was more to it.

re still worried,” she said softh

Aber’s grip flexed slightly at his side. “Yeah,” he murmured. “For

Saphira’s chest tightened.

“Wars her ranie?” thei

Auler beutated

and before replying: “Anastasia:+1

There was wright in that name–something

ng filled with history, something he didn’t need to exin for her to understand.

voce carrying that quiet vulnerability he hadn’t let slip before. “If bshe /bdoesn’t pull through He swallowed

prankutance, not forcing bwords/bb, /bjust presence

Saphira reached out, Brushing her fingers against.

“She will,” she said gently. “She’s fighting, Ashen, She’s itill here.”

His jaw clenched alightly, but he nodded, bas /bthough trying to convince

fter a pause, he let out a slow ftruth. “Thanks,” he murmured.

in before she would respond; he stepped far

pulled her into a bug.

Saphira stiffened for a second, surprised–but the instant

wrapped around her, something shiftedag

pulse of energy, deep inside her chest–inside her dragon

She inhaled sharply, her grip on his back tightening briefly before she instinctively pulled away, stepping back bas /bconfusion and inside her

His experation munoted ha–wide–eyed, startled, searching

before either of them could say a

word, ba /bvice cat through the moment,

me stood by the

cut her posture but relief in her voice

b2/3 /b

“She’s waking up.”

Asher froze

Then–without hesitation–he bolted past Saphira, his breath uneven, his entire focus redirected.

Saphira stood there for a second, heartbeat pounding–not from the news, but from what had just happened.

Whatever that was between her and Asher–she didn’t have btime /bto question it.

Not for now anyway.

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