bCHAPTER /bb68 /b

Niks charged, his energy rippling through the clearing like ba /bviolent storm, the sheer force of his fury crackling in the air armand bene,

Saphira moved, instinct driving her forward, desperate to stop him, to make him understand but the second she tried, satsething stapped her

A force, it was invisible. Unyielding.

It pressed against her with terrifying strength, an unseen barrier locking her out, holding her back as if the very air had solihfied against her will

Her pulse spikedi, /ibreath hitching.

She had heard the stories—whispers of his power, warnings of his dangerous nature–but she had never seen this side of him.

Not when she rescued him. Not even when he fought for his sister.

But now–now she understoodi. /i

Niks was dangerous and very powerful.

“Niks, it isn’t what it looks like,” she pleaded, her voice slicing through the charged air, desperate.

Nothing. He didn’t hear her–didn’t icare/i.

His focus was locked onto Asher, movements sharp, predatoryb, /bunwavering in their intent.

Saphira’s breath grew shallow, panic wing its way through her chest.

Asher didn’t flinch; he just stood firm–not intimidated in the slightest. He even had the nerve bto /bsmirk.

Saphira tried again, voice stronger, edged with desperation.

“Niks!” Still–no response.

Then-

Niks reached him.”

A blur–then his hand wrapped around Asher’s throat, lifting him into the air without effort.

Saphira squealed, fear surging through her like ice.

She tried–tried to get to them, tried to break through the force surrounding Niksb, /bbut it held, pressing against her, keeping her away. And it was getting undeniably stronger.

Her heartbeat hammered, pulse racing so fast she felt lightheaded.

The mist around them thickened, curling in unnatural tendrils, wrapping itself around both Niks and Asher like ba /bpredator iclosing /iin for the ikill/i.

Asher’s lips moved–he was trying to say something-

But she couldn’t hear a single word, her panic spiked. She couldn’t stop this and waspletely powerless.

Her breath became thin, chest tightening, every instinct screaming for her to do something–anything.

There was only one thing left.

She reached inward, gripping for the only force that could rival Niks‘ current state.

CHAPTER b68 /b

biVaelora/i/b–bplease /bhelp me

bShe /bbwaited/b, for a bresponse/b, a shift, a presence,

Then- Vaclora pushed forward, energy surging through Saphira, merging into her not a full shift, but something bigger, something deeper

And then she felt the power build. A force unlike anything she had ever felt. And there was only one way to let it out.

With Vaelora pressing through her, still in human form-

Saphira roared.

It ripped through the clearing, splitting the air with wild, untamed strength.

The trees shook violently, leaves tearing from their branches.

Wildlife scattered, bolted, disappearing into the depths of the forest in sheer terror.

And–finally-

Niks stopped.

The mist vanished–yanked away in an instant, dissolving into nothing.

Niks dropped Asher, his entire body seizing before he copsed to his knees, his hands clutching his ears, breath raggedb, /bexpression wild.

The force within Saphira settled, the intensity releasing all at once.

The clearing was silent.

Still.

iThank /iiyou/ii, /iiVaelora/ii, /iSaphira whispered inwardly, exhaling deeply, grounding herself.

Her dragon responded–not with words, but with warmth, with presenceb, /bwith quiet, steady eptance.

Saphira felt it, the bond, it was present and very real.

They had be ione/i.

Saphira red at Niks, frustration burning in her chest as she stepped toward Asher, who was still coughing, his body tense bfrom /bthe lingering effects of Niks attack.

She reached for his arm, helping him steady himself, the weight of his grip pressing against her palm as he found his footing.

Niks‘ rage hadn’t faded–it radiated off him in waves, thick and suffocating. His golden eyes burned, flickering dangerously as he looked between them.

“Oh, so it’s like that now, is it?” he seethed, his voice edged with something sharp, something icold/i.

Saphira straightened, her fingers tightening against/Asher’s forearm before she dropped her hand, turning fully toward Niks.

“No, it isn’t like that. Like bI /btold you before.b” /bHer/voice was firm, clipped, frustration threading through every syble. “Why don’t you believe bme/bb?/bb” /b

Niks‘ expression hardened, his muscles tensing as he took a step closer, heat rolling off him like bfire/bb. /b

“It’s hard to believe there isn’t something going on between youb./b” His words wereced with raw anger, his body stiffb, /bbarely contained. “F connect, and now you’re here alone, having a moment.”

Saphira opened her mouth, ready to argue, ready to force him to bsee /breason, but before she could-

ur dragons

bCHAPTER /bb68 /b

bAsher /bbughed/bb. /b

A bsharp/bb, /bamused chuckle that sliced through the charged atmosphere like a de.

Niks‘ expression darkened instantly, his stance tightening, his anger spiking.

b“/bSeriously?” His voice dipped lowerb, /bdangerously quiet. “You find it ifunny /ito be making advances on my mate?”

He stepped forward, movements deliberate, the tension between them thickening.

b“/bAnd after I weed you into my pack?”

Asher rolled his shoulders, shaking his head,pletely unbothered by Niks‘ fury.

“Get a grip, man.” His tone was blunt, dismissive, his lips twitching in irritation. “You are so jealous and ridiculous.”

Niks‘ eyes shed, his body shifting as if preparing tosh out again.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” His voice was sharper now, carrying a warning.

Asher took a step forward, his posture calm but his words cutting.

“You’re so consumed by the anger and jealousy,” he snapped, “that byou /baren’t listening to what your dragon already knows.”

Niks‘ muscles tensed–but for the first time, hesitated.

“Before you start on me, or Saphira,” Asher continued, his bvoice /bsteady, unwavering. “Bloody stop and listen for bonce/bb./bb” /b

Saphira’s breath caught in her throat, confusion settling deep in her chest.

She nced between them, watching the sharp shift in Niks‘ expression.

He stilled–his jaw tightening–but his face went nk as hemunicated with his dragon.

The clearing fell into silence.

Seconds stretched unbearably long, tension crawling beneath Saphira’s skin as she waited.

Niks‘ eyebrows furrowed, his gaze flickering between them, but this time–he was really looking.

His posture shifted, the anger fading just slightly, reced with something else.

Something uncertain. Something shocked.

“Your isiblings/i?” Niks‘ voice was barely above a whisper, disbelief thick in his tone.

Saphira froze.

Her pulse stopped, breath catching painfully in her throat.

“What?” Her voice came out more as a squeak, cracking slightly.

She turned to Asher, eyes wide, body stiff.

“Siblings?” she echoed, trying to grasp the word, to make bsense /bof it.

She searched Asher’s face, her heart hammering against her ribs.

1

“As in-” her voice lowered, something fragile threading through it-“you’re my brother?b” /b

bChapter /bbComments /b