The Matchmaker - The Arrax Saga Book 1 Chapter 178

The training session wound down with the group standing in a loose semicircle, sweat-damp and flushed, the clearing still humming with the energy of their efforts. Nikolas’s voice carried over them, steady and warm.

“You all did amazingly today,” he said. “In two days’ time, we’ll meet again. We’ll do a few more solo sessions like this, and then…” his mouth curved into a small, knowing smile, “we’ll start mixing with the witches, wolves, and vampires.”

A ripple of murmurs passed through the group, anticipation, nerves, excitement.

“Thank you, Nikolas. And you too, Jed,” Anastasia said, brushing hair from her damp forehead.

“Yeah, thanks,” Asher added, clapping Jed on the shoulder.

Zafira inclined her head, her voice quiet but sincere. “Thank you.”

One by one, they began to drift away. Zafira, Asher, and Anastasia left together, their voices fading into the trees. Jed lingered only a moment longer before disappeared into the forest.

Saphira turned and found herself immediately pulled into Nikolas’s arms. His embrace was firm, his breath warm against her temple.

“You’re excelling amazingly,” he murmured, pride threading through his tone. “I want show you something.” He added.

Her brows lifted. “What?”

“You’ll see. But we need to fly there.”

Saphira narrowed her eyes, curiosity sparking. “Alright… I’ll follow you.”

Nikolas winked, then stepped back. In the next breath, his form shimmered and expanded, his dragon unfurling in a rush of scales and wings. Saphira followed, her own shift rippling through her body until Vaelora’s form stretched into the sky.

They took off together, wings beating in rhythm. She followed Nikolas southward, flying for miles until the familiar landscape gave way to thicker forest. She tried to peer down, but the canopy was too dense, the trees crowding together like a wall.

Then Nikolas dipped suddenly, folding his wings to slip into a narrow gap in the trees. Saphira followed, heart quickening.

The world opened beneath the canopy, and she gasped. A wide, natural hot spring shimmered in the dappled light, steam curling lazily into the air. The water glowed faintly blue, ringed by smooth stone and moss.

They landed at the edge, shifting back into human form. Saphira rushed forward, her boots crunching against the stone, and crouched at the water’s edge. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed, reaching out to let her fingers skim the surface. She turned to him, eyes wide. “How come you have never brought me here before?”

Nikolas came to stand beside her, his expression soft. “Because I’ve been getting it sorted. It was neglected for months. I wanted it ready before I showed you.”

Saphira looked up at him, her chest tightening. Adoration welled in her eyes. “You did all this… for me?”

“Yes,” he said simply, his voice low and certain.

Nikolas’s arms tightened around her, his smile brushing her skin. “Get in with me,” he murmured, nodding toward the steaming pool. “But we’ll need to strip off first.”

Saphira blinked at him, then let out a soft giggle, the sound bubbling up before she could stop it. “You’re serious?”

“Completely,” he said, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Shaking her head, she tugged at the hem of her shirt, slipping it over her head. The cool air kissed her skin, and she felt her cheeks warm as she stripped down to her underwear. Nikolas’s gaze followed her every movement, hungry but reverent, and it sent a shiver down her spine.

She stepped into the water, gasping softly at the heat as it lapped at her thighs, then her waist. The warmth seeped into her muscles, loosening the tension she hadn’t realised she was carrying. She turned back toward him, water rippling around her. “Well? Are you coming in, or are you just going to stare?”

That broke him. Nikolas stripped quickly, his movements efficient, and then he was in the water with her, the surface breaking around his broad frame. He closed the distance in two strides, pulling her flush against his body. The heat of the spring was nothing compared to the heat of him.

His mouth found hers in a kiss that was deep, claiming, and utterly consuming. Saphira melted into it, her fingers curling into his shoulders, her body pressed tight to his. For a moment, the world was only steam, water, and the taste of him.

When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against hers, his voice low and rough. “I wanted you here. With me. This place, it’s ours now.”

Saphira’s heart clenched, her chest aching with the weight of it. She turned in his arms, looking out at the shimmering water. “I love you,” she whispered.

Saphira stayed pressed against Nikolas’s chest, her arms looped around his neck, reluctant to let the moment slip away. The clearing was hushed, the only sound the gentle ripple of water against stone.

Nikolas brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, his thumb lingering against her skin. “I love you too, with every part of me.”

Her chest tightened, warmth spreading through her ribs.

For a while they stood in silence, watching the steam rise. Then Saphira spoke, her voice quieter, thoughtful. “When all this is over, the battles, the training, the endless planning, what do you want, Nikolas?”

He exhaled slowly, his gaze drifting over the water before returning to her. “I want peace. For the pack. For us. I want to stop fighting for survival every day and start building something that lasts.” His hand slid down to rest against her waist. “And with you… I want a family.”

Her breath caught. She searched his face, but there was no hesitation there, only certainty. “Children?” she asked softly, almost testing the word on her tongue.

He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Yes. I want to see you with them. To raise them together. To give them a world better than the one we’ve had to fight through.”

Emotion welled in her throat, thick and unexpected. She leaned her forehead against his, whispering, “I want that too.” The admission felt like a vow, fragile but fierce.

Nikolas kissed her again, slower this time, reverent. When he pulled back, his voice was low. “And the pack, we’ll need to change things. Expand. Bring in more allies, more families. Not just to survive, but to thrive. Wolves, witches, vampires… if we can stand together, we can build something stronger than any of us alone.”

Saphira nodded, her mind already spinning with the possibilities. “A future where we’re not just reacting to threats, but shaping what comes next.” She smiled faintly. “A home where our children can grow without fear.”

He tightened his arms around her, his voice a whisper against her hair. “Exactly that.”

Saphira closed her eyes, letting herself sink into the warmth of him. *We’ll fight the battles. We’ll face what’s coming. But after… after, we’ll have this. A life worth protecting.*

She tilted her head up, her voice steady now. “Then that’s what we’ll build. Together.”

Nikolas’s answering smile was quiet but certain, and when he kissed her again, it tasted of steam, stone, and the promise of forever.