The Matchmaker - The Arrax Saga Book 1 Chapter 145

Nikolas stood, the chair behind him scraping softly against the stone floor. His voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it. “Raven, where are they? The Silvermoon pack, how close?”

Raven straightened, brushing a leaf from her shoulder, her cloak still damp from the night air. Her boots left faint prints across the stone, and her breath still carried the chill of the outside. “Northern side of the pack,” she said. “Not too close. They’re holding position just beyond the outer ridge.”

Saphira stepped forward, her fingers tightening around the edge of the table. Her pulse quickened, but her voice remained steady. “Who did you see?”

Raven’s gaze flicked to her, sharp and certain. “Lupus. Cassandra. And a couple of warriors.”

Saphira’s jaw clenched. “How many?” she asked, her voice low, almost a growl.

“Five,” Raven replied. “That we’ve seen.”

Jed leaned forward, arms crossed, his brow furrowed. “Then either they’re here to negotiate the release of Ruby and Damon… or there are more coming. They’re not stupid enough to try and take us on with that number.”

Nikolas nodded, his jaw tight, eyes narrowing as he processed. “We increase scouts. Quietly. No alerts. I want eyes on them at all times. If they move, we know.”

Amara, still seated near the hearth, spoke up. Her voice was fragile but clear, like glass held together by sheer will. “Is their witch with them?”

Raven shook her head. “No. I haven’t detected any magic. The other witches are keeping tabs on the surroundings. If anything shifts, they’ll feel it.”

Saphira glanced at Amara, catching the flicker of fear in her eyes, the way her fingers curled tighter around the edge of the shawl draped over her shoulders. She’s bracing for the worst. But she’s still here. Still fighting. Still trying to believe we’ll protect her.

The group nodded, tension thickening like fog. Jasper stepped forward, his voice steady and firm. “I’ll make sure the warriors are ready. We’ll choose the best plan based on their next move. But we stay sharp. Ready to fight.”

Jed looked around the room, his tone shifting to command. “Do what you need to do. Eat. Change. But be ready.”

One by one, they agreed, the weight of the moment pressing into their shoulders like armor. The room began to empty, Zafira and Asher heading out together, quiet but focused. Sam and Jasper exchanged murmured words as they left, already strategizing. Anastasia lingered a moment longer, then stepped toward Saphira and wrapped her in a firm, encouraging hug.

“You’ve got this,” she whispered, her breath warm against Saphira’s ear.

Saphira held her for a beat, her arms tightening briefly around her. “We all do.”

Anastasia gave her a final squeeze and slipped out the door, her footsteps fading into the corridor.

The silence returned, but it was different now. Saphira turned toward Nikolas, her heart steady but loud in her chest. Her fingers brushed the edge of the map again, tracing the ridge where Raven had seen them. They’re here. And everything we’ve built is about to be tested.

She met his eyes, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. They didn’t need to. The war had already begun.

The room was quiet again. The map lay abandoned on the table behind them, its inked lines like scars waiting to be reopened. Saphira stood near the window, arms folded loosely, her gaze fixed on the moonlight spilling across the treetops. The forest looked peaceful from here, but she knew better. Her reflection shimmered faintly in the glass, tired eyes, tense shoulders, a storm beneath the surface.

Nikolas stepped beside her, close but not crowding, his presence steady. “How are you feeling… now that Lupus is here?”

She didn’t answer right away. Her fingers drifted to the windowsill, tracing the worn grooves in the wood. *How do you explain the ache of facing someone who should have protected you, but instead became the threat?*

She turned to him slowly, her voice quiet but raw. “Honestly? As much as I’m ready to tear him a new one… I’m nervous. The confrontation, it’s not just about strategy. It’s personal. And that makes it messy.”

Nikolas nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. “It’s okay to be nervous.”

Saphira gave a small, humourless smile, her arms tightening around herself. “I hate that I am. I want to walk out there and face him like he’s just another enemy. But he’s not. He’s the shadow I grew up under. And now he’s here, and I have to decide what part of me still flinches.”

Nikolas reached for her hand, his thumb brushing gently across her knuckles. “You won’t be alone. I’ll be by your side the whole time.”

She looked up at him, her chest tightening. *He means it. Every word. Every step.*

“You’re the strongest person I know,” he said, voice low but sure. “From the moment we met in the Matchmaker, you were determined. Fierce. You didn’t flinch then, and you won’t now. That’s your strength, Saphira. It’s never been about not feeling fear, it’s about what you do with it.”

Her throat tightened, emotion rising like a tide. She leaned into him, forehead resting against his, her breath catching. “Thank you,” she whispered.

He kissed her, slow, passionate, full of quiet promise. Her hands slid up to his shoulders, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. The kiss deepened, not rushed, but threaded with urgency beneath the calm. His hand cradled her jaw, thumb brushing her cheek as if to remind her, *You’re here. You’re safe. You’re not alone.*

When they pulled apart, Saphira exhaled, steadier now. Her heart still beat fast, but it no longer felt like panic.

“Alright,” she said, voice firmer. “Let’s go get ready.”

Nikolas nodded, his hand still in hers. “Together.”

And they turned from the window, side by side, stepping into the storm they’d been preparing for. *Whatever comes next, I won’t face it alone.*