Disguise 5Disguise 5

5 6

SHARE

POST COMMENT

ne Matchmaker

Saphira stepped into the hospital, the sterile scent of antiseptic and faint hum of machines wrapping around her as she followed Asher and the nurse toward Zafira and Anastasia’s shared mom.

The tension in the air was unmistakable heavy with anticipation,ced with hope and unbase all a

As she entered, her gaze immediately caught N?s, his golden eyes locking onto hers like a tether pulling her in

Without hesitation, he mirrored her move

elming the space between them in an instant, wrapping his arms around her in a right frugt-

Saphira melted into it for a moment, letting the warmth of his settle againt her, grounding her in ways she hadn’t realized she needed.

His breath was steady against her eat as he

ir whispered, “Her you had a good day?”

Saphira pulled back just enough to see his face, a soft smile bspreading /bacross her lips. “The best,” she admitted. “I think I have new friendsb./bb” /b

“bNiks/b” expression shifted, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I’ve heard it’s more like sisters, he mused, amnement therading

through his voice.

Saphira let out a smallugh, shaking her head. “Yesb, /bI guess.

His grip bloosened /bslightly, but the warmth of his presence remained. “I’m d,” he murmured. “You deserve it.”

Saphira felt something settle inside her at that–something secure.

But the feeling was fleeting, quickly reced by quiet concem bas /bshe fully pulled bback/b, bher /bgame shifting toward the nurses gathered around Anastasia’s bed,

She watched them carefully, noting their movements. They weren’t ruching–they were steady, formed on musing her fully.

Relief flickered through her chest, but she forced herself to breathe, to wait.

Then, her attention drifted toward Zafira.

“Any update?” she asked, her voice quieter now, more careful.

Niks followed her gaze, bis expression dimming bas /bhe sighed.

“Nothing.” he admitted, his shoulders barely concealing the weight of exhaustion pressing into him.

Saphira mailed deeply, stepping closer, her fingers brushing lightly against his forearm–a silent reassurance.

“She will wake.” she murmured, steady and retain.

Suddenly, beside them, the bdoctors /bstopped everything.

The

quiet brustle /bof equipment, the soft beep of monitors–every movement, every adjustment, every scan–halted in an instant

Saphora tensed, the shift settling blike /bstatic in the bair/b, a barely there hum of anticipation strapping around her blike /bba /bsecond skin.

Beside her, Niks bstraightened/bb, /bhis golden eyes parrowing h

his muscles coiling beneath his stance like he was bracing for something–for what?

bShe /bdidn’t know.

But something was happeningb. /b

She turned toward Anastasia, watching closely, her puls picking up speed.

A twitch in her lingerL

A faint crease between her be

Then–slowly, painstakingly her eyelids fluttered.

Saphira barely breathed, barely moved, heart pounding against her ribs like it wanted to climb out of her chest.

An uneven bshule/b.

Then

“Asher.”

The bname /bleft Anastasia’s lips as barely more bthan /ba rag–weak but unmistakable, there.

Asher sucked in a sharp breath, stepping closes, bhis /bgrip tightening around her frail hand like he was anchoring himself to the sound of it–to her

“bMum/b?” His voice cracked–hopeful, desperate, like he needed confirmation, needed her to say more, needed her to be her.

Anastasia’s gaze flickered open fully then–unfocused at first, searching, pulling toward something vital.

Until she found him.

Relief crashed into Asher so hard that his body bshook /bfrom the force of it.

Without hesitation, he copsed into her embrace, forehead pressing to her shoulder, fingers gripping her hospital gown blike /bit was the only thing keeping

Saphira felt the sharp pull in her chest, her dragen quiet but present, like it too was watching waiting.

The emotion in the room wed at her throatb, /braw and untered.

Beside her, Ns stood rigid, unmoving, merent in his silence.

Then–Anastasia pulled back slightly, ba /bbshaky /bbreath leaving her lips!

Her breathing was uneven, bbut /bher gaze was sharper now,

Her fingers curled bweakly /baround Asher’s hand. “You’re alright?” she murmured, her voice still rough but carrying something solid beneath it

Asher exhaled shakily, noddingb. /bbHe /bgrip pressing fimmer against hers. “Yes,” he assured, his voice stronger now. “We’re safe. You’re safe.”

Anast sagged slightly against the pillows, her chest rising and falling in uneven rhythm, but she held his gaze, searching

“And you?” Asher asked–cautious now, like bhe /bwasn’t sure he wanted the answer.

Saphira watched the flicker of hesitation cross Anastasia’s features–the way the tested herself, searching for the limits of her body, the edges of her

Finally, after a long, deliberate pauseb, /bshe bexhaled/b.

“I will be,” she murmured, squeezing his hand fanly more than a touch. “Now that I know you’re sale.

Asher swallowed hard, nodding quickly as if convincing himself at the sine time.

Saphics let out a slow bath, feeling the pressure in her chand ease, the tension flick away in mething softer.

But then–Anastasia moved again

Not toward Asher,

Not toward the marses.

Her gaze shifted–skipped right past Saphira-

And locked directly onto Niks.

Something in her expression changed.

Something unmistakable. Recognition. Familiarity

And then–softly, with quiet bcertainty-/b“Niks.”

Saphira freze and Niks stiffened, his breath barely moving, his jaw clenching slightly in shock.

Asher’s head snapped up, confusion shing across his features.

Saphira’s bpulse /bstammered, breath hitching in her throat.

How…?

bNiks /bhad never met her.

Yet–she knew his name.

Tension thickened, pressing into the space between them, unanswered questions colling around Saphira’s ribs blike /bwines, tightening, pipping

Chapter Comments

5