bA /bgood ten minutes had passed since Finn had left to fetch paper and a pen, yet he still hadn’t returned.

Saphira shifted in her chair, ncing toward the door for what felt like the hundredth time. She leaned forward slightly, peering bthrough /bthe window searching the hallway, hoping for any sign of movement.

Nothing.

Her stomach twisted slightly, unease creeping in.

She wasn’t the only one noticing.

Zafira, too, kept ncing toward the door, bet expression flickering with uncertainty–still silent, but aware.

Saphira exhaled, standing. “I’ll be right back,” she assured. “I’m going to see if I can find Finn.”

Zafira nodded, her fingers curling slightly against the nket, her brows furrowing in a way that told Saphira she felt something was off too.

Saphira left the room, stepping into the hallway.

Silence greeted her.

She frowned.

Not a single person in sight. No nursesb, /bno doctors–just empty corridors stretching ahead.

Her steps slowed as she neared the front desk, expecting someone should be there.

But–nothing.

The unease in her chest tightened.

“Hello?” she called out, her voice carrying down the hall.

Seconds passed.

No response.

Saphira inhaled sharply, her dragon stirring faintly in the back of her mind, not rmed, but watchful.

She turned left, following a corridor branching off the main path–then, finally, she heard voicesb. /b

Many voices.

Not just conversation.

Arguing.

Saphira picked up her pace, her pulse threading faster as she moved toward the source.

As she rounded the corner, the scene unfolded before her-

Niks. Jed. Raven. Finn, Talia. Jasper. A group of warriors.

All locked in tense discussion, their postures rigid, voices clipped.

Saphira froze, taking it in–the narrowed eyes, the sharp gestures, the tension so thick it practically hummed through the air.

Niks bspotted /bher first.

Immediately, he stopped talking, his expression shifting something unreadable flickering across his face

The rest followed, silence falling abruptly as their gazes flicked toward her.

Saphira inhaled carefully, stepping closer, keeping her tone cautious, “Is everything okay?”

Niks exhaled sharply, shaking his head lightly, brushing off the weight in his stance.

“Yes. It’s fine. Don’t worry.”

A lie.

She saw it immediately–in the way his shoulders didn’t fully rx, the way his eyes carried something unspoken.

She narrowed her gaze slightly, raising an eyebrow at him.

Niks sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

Then-

“She doesn’t need to be involved; this is pack businessb./bb” /b

The voice came from one of the warriorsb–/bsomeone she hadn’t met before, his btone /bclipped, dismissive.

Before Saphira could respond-

Raven moved first.

The pnded so hard the warrior stumbled backward, his entire body jerking in shock.

“Show some respect to your leader,” she demanded, her voice sharpb, /bsteady, unwavering.

The warrior muttered an apology, stepping back quickly, clearly rattled.

Saphira clenched her jaw, resisting the urge to bcross /bher arms, resisting the urge to push for banswers /bwhen she knew there was something more going onb. /b

Niks turned back to her, still holding something in his stanceb–/bsome hesitation.

Niks exhaled sharply, his posture rigid, his golden eyes dark with something heavy.

“One of the warriors who controls the borders was killed,” he finally said, his voice edged with restrained tension.

Saphira sucked in a breath, the shock settling deep in her chest. “Do you know how?”

“Damon,” Raven answered before Niks could.

The word mmed into the space between them,

Immediately-

b“/bbLies/bb!/b” The same warrior from earlier snapped, his voice rough with anger. “He wouldn’t kill one of his own. He isn’t a trait

Jasper folded his arms; his expression hardened with something quietly calcted. “Then where is he?b” /b

The silence pressed tight.

CHAPTER b61 /b

“bThe /bbst /bbinformation /bbwe /bgot was half a message from James before he was killed,” Jasper continued. b“/bHe said bDamon’s /bname

bThe /btension twisted, thickened.

“But what if he was taken?” the wattion argued, his stance stiffening. “What if James”

was trying to tell us that?”

Saphira shifted slightly, watching Niks closely, reading the flicker of thought moving behind his eyes.

He inhaled deeply–then set his shoulders, his expression sharpening into something firm.

“Then we’ll find him–either way,” Niks said.

His tone was final.

“Raven, Jasper–organize a search,” he instructed. “No one goes alone.”

“On it,” Raven responded immediately, her movements decisive.

Niks nced toward Jed. “I’m going to check on Zafira, then I’ll join the search.”

Jed nodded. “Me too.”

The group exchanged brief acknowledgments, then Raven and bJasper /bled the others out the urgency pressing into the space they left behindb. /b

Finn stepped forward, his gaze flickering between Niks and Saphira before settling on herb. /b

“Tell Zafira I’m sorry, but I had to run,” he said, his voice carrying something apologeticb, /bsomething regretful. “I’ll visit soon.”

“I will,” Saphira replied with a small smile, offering a steady nod. “Be careful.”

Finn huffed lightly. “Always.b” /b

Then–he left.

Saphira turned back to Niks and Jed, inhaling slowly.

“Come on,” she said. “Zafira is awake, and i’m sure she’s eager to see you both.”

Niks nodded, his movements shifting as he prepared to enter the room.

But-

Saphira stopped.

Niks turned to her, his brows drawing together slightly.

“I’m going to check on Anastasia,” she murmured, adjusting her stance. “Zafira was asking about her earlier–I just want to make sure she’s okay.”

Niks studied her for a moment, then nodded once “Of course.b” /b

“Do you want me to join you?” he asked.

She hesitated–then shook her head.

“No… spend time with your sisterb,/b” she assured him, offering the faintest squeeze to his barm/b. “I’ll be back shortlyb./bb” /b

“They’re in room 206,” Jed bsupplied /bfrom behind Niks.

CHAPTER b61 /b

bSaphira /bcast him a grateful nce, giving a brief nod before turning, her pulse steady but her bmind /balready shifting bforward/bb. /b

She bwalked /baway, heading toward room 200.

bChapter /bbComments /b