Disguise 83 - The Matchmaker

bCHAPTER /b83

Wings stretched wide, sunlight catching on her scales in brilliant shes of silver and indigo, Saphira soared–if a little wobbly value, the par flight had started with uneven beats, a few graceless dips that had her heart lurching, hur Vaclora steadied her with a deep, betual Rivas, Han rustle of wind and the sound of her wings, Saphira could feel it: the quiet steadiness of trust holding them aloft.

Niks flew just beside her, hisrget dragon form cutting through the sky with effortless grace. He kept pace with her rather than bleading/b, lili presen more like an anchor than a guide. Every once in a while, he let out a low, rhythmic call–encouragement, she realised and it helped her find her mischen.

Below them, the world unfolded in rich detail.

From up here, the forest encircling the territory felt almost sacred, its trees clustering like silent sentries, Dotted throughout were the rooftops of the smaller homes she hadn’t even known existed, nestled into the terrain like stones in a stream. Further out, a few squat buildings–shops, maybeat along winding path that curved between the trees. Saphira blinked at the sight, startled at how much of the park’s world had gone unseen when she was grounded

It’s beautiful, she thought.

Vaelora’s pride pulsed warmly in response.

They arced in a slow, sweeping circle, and as they veered back toward the clearing, movement below caught her attention–a vehicle rolling up the drive near the outer road.

Niks dipped his wing and angled down, and Saphira followed–awkwardly at first, her/bnce shifting too fast–but she managed to steady herself bwith /bba /brushed p. His dragon form turned his head slightly mid–flight, eyes locked on the vehicle. Then he nodded once toward the clearing below.

Got it.

Saphira angled into descent, bracing herself. Thending was… less than elegant. Her feet hit the ground in a skittering thud, bwings /bring awkwardly bto /bkeep her from toppling forward, dust kicking up around her. She exhaled sharply, amused and a little winded.

Niksnded a few heartbeatster–smooth and precise–before shifting back into his human form. Saphira followed, the pull of her shift rippling through her limbs until she stood in the grass barefoot and blinking against the sun.

“They’re back,” Niks said simply, voice low but charged with purpose. “Jed, Raven, and Jasper. Come on–we should meet them.b” /b

Saphira nodded, brushing a loose strand of hair from her bface/bb, /bstill catching her breath. bHer /bchest hummed with adrenaline band /bsomething elseb–/bsomething she was only just beginning to name.

She’d flown. Really flown.

The trees whispered as they walked beneath themb, /bthe clearing slowly falling away behind Saphira and Niks. Her hair bwas /bwindswept, bcheeks /bflushed, boots brushing through sun–dappled grass with every step. She hadn’t said anything at firstb–/bstill too full of the memory, the wind beneath her bwings/bb, /bthe wild pulse of flight. But now, with the adrenaline ebbing, her grin finally broke free.

“That was… amazing,” she breathed, turning toward him, bher /bhand brushing against his as they walked. “I didn’t think it would feel like that.”

Niks looked over, something unmistakably proud behind his beasy /bsmile. “You did better than I bexpected/b,” he admitted. “Most dragons can’t hold the air that long on their first flight. They either panic or overcorrect.”

Saphira blinked, surprised. “Really?”

He nodded. “bIt’s /ba sign. Your bond with Vaelora–it’s forming faster than most. Stronger, too.”

bHer /bheart gave a small jolt at thatb, /bnot fearb, /bbut something like quiet awe. She nced ahead, where the treeline opened toward the path. b“/bbI /bbcan /bbfeel /bit,* bshe /bsaid softly. “Like something clicked into ce today.”

Niks’s gaze lingered on her then–soft, thoughtful, knowing. “It did.”

They walked ba /bfew more paces before he cleared his throat lightly, voice dipping toward something more practical. “You should bpractice /bbmore/b. bGet /bbused /bbto /bsudden turns, rapid shifts in movement, climbing higher. That sort bof /bcontrol onlyes with timeb./bb” /b

Saphira raised a brow. Is that leading somewhereb? /b

He smirked. “Once you’re confident up there. I’ll teach you how to fight in your dragon form.

Her eyes widened slightly, the challenge sparking deep in her chest–and somewhere, Valora stirred too, eager.

b“/bAlright,” she said, that grin returning with a sharper edge now. “Let’s see what she can really do.”

And beneath the trees, with wind still brushing at her heels and the sky still echoing in her bonesb, /bSaphira walked forward–not just lighter–but drade

The pack house emerged through the trees, solid and weathered, its familiar silhouette striking a quiet chord in Saphira’s chest. bThe /bbuilding had seen battles, homings, and unspoken promises–and now it stood waiting again, stone and timber steeped in memory.

On the front steps, three figures clustered–Jed upright and unreadable, Raven leaning with arms crossed, and Jasper just behind themb, /bhalf in shadery. The crisp scent of pine was quickly overtaken by something more charged: news.

Raven was the first to notice. Her golden braid caught the sun as she smirked. “Saw you two in the sky,” she called out, eyes flicking between them bwith /bsomething like mischief. “Figured you wouldn’t be far behind.“–

Saphira nced at Niks, breath still tinged with the thrill of flight. His hand brushed lightly against hers, casual but grounding. Her bheart /bsettledb, /bbjust /ba little.

“Subtle as always,” Saphira repliedb, /bvoice dry but amused.

Niks offered a sharp nod of acknowledgment to the group, but his bgaze /bhomed in on Jed. Saphira watched the shift in bhim/bb–/bhis shoulders straightened, jaw set, instincts rising like a current beneath calm waters.

Jed didn’t miss the look. He met it without flinching. “We should talk,” he said,

No hesitation. “Office,” Niks said, already turning.

bvoice /blow and even.

Saphira fell into step beside him, their strides in sync. She noticed the slight tension in his frame–barely visible, but bthere/bb. /bSomething’s not rightb, /bbshe /bthought, the buzz of worry rising like staticb. /b

Inside, the pack house greeted them with familiar quiet–doors shut, voices muffled in distant rooms. It felt almost too still.

They moved as one down the hallway, the air thick with anticipation. Niks reached the office first, pushing the door open with a bsure /bhand. He held it for her, the touch of his fingers at her lower back bas /bbshe /bpassed through more steadying than words.

Jed took a seat at the head of the table, posture rigid. Raven dropped into ba /bchair across from Saphira with her usual effortless sprawl, while bJasper /bhovered at her side, arms folded, gaze watchful.

Niks settled beside Saphira, leaning forward with his elbows on bthe /btable, close enough that his shoulder brushed hers. His presence grounded bher/b–fierceb, /bsteady, and exactly what she needed to face whatever came next.

His eyes swept the room. “Alrighti,/ii” /ihe said, bvoice /bclipped“. “Let’s hear it.