The Matchmaker - The Arrax Saga Book 1 Chapter 189

“They’re Elder-forged.”

Nikolas gave a grim nod, his eyes never leaving the runes etched into the stone walls. “Designed to suppress magic. And dragon strength.”

Saphira leaned her head back against the wall, letting the cold seep into her skin as she reached inward. Vaelora stirred faintly, a flicker of warmth in her chest, but the bond was muffled, like trying to scream through water.

*‘Still here,’* the dragon whispered, her voice strained. *‘But caged.’*

Saphira’s jaw tightened. *‘Not for long.’*

Time dragged. The cell remained cloaked in silence, broken only by the occasional groan or shifting of chains. Dax had regained consciousness, his eyes sharp but wary. Riven and Kael sat in tense stillness, their shoulders rigid. Lira and Brenna whispered quietly, their voices barely audible over the hum of enchantment in the air.

Then the door creaked open.

Saphira’s head snapped up.

Alpha James entered with slow, deliberate steps, flanked by Beta Alex and Mara. This time, James held two small vials, glass containers filled with a swirling, iridescent liquid that shimmered with unnatural light.

Saphira’s breath caught. Her stomach dropped like a stone.

She knew that glow.

James’s smile was wide, theatrical. “Ah, good. You’re all awake. I thought we’d try something… special.”

Nikolas’s eyes narrowed, his voice low and dangerous. “What is that?”

James held one vial up, letting the light catch it. “A gift from the Elders. Something new. Something potent. We’ve been asked to test its effects. And lucky for us…” His gaze slid to Dax. “You brought a wolf.”

Saphira’s blood ran cold. “Don’t.”

Nikolas surged forward, the chains jerking taut with a metallic snap. “Touch him and I’ll rip your throat out.”

James laughed, unbothered. “You’ll try.”

Without hesitation, Alex stepped forward, uncorked the vial, and forced it against Dax’s mouth. Dax snarled, twisting his head, but Mara moved fast, gripping his jaw, forcing it open. The liquid poured in.

Dax gagged, coughing violently as the potion hit his system. His body convulsed, back arching against the wall. His eyes flew open, then squeezed shut, breath coming in ragged gasps.

James watched with fascination, his voice almost reverent. “Beautiful. The reaction is immediate. We’ll see how long it lasts.”

Nikolas roared, the sound raw and furious, echoing through the stone chamber. “You bastards!”

James turned to Saphira, his smile sharpening like a blade. “Next test subject, Luna *Saphira*.”

Her heart slammed against her ribs. Her fingers twitched against the cuffs. *No.*

Nikolas’s voice was a snarl, barely human. “You won’t touch her.”

James tilted his head, mock-thoughtful. “We’ll see.”

Nikolas pulled again, harder this time, his entire body trembling with fury. The chains rattled, but the Elder-forged metal didn’t even creak.

Saphira met his eyes, her voice steady despite the fear rising in her chest. “I’m not afraid.”

Nikolas’s gaze burned. “But you should be Alpha James. Because when I get out of these chains, there won’t be a cell left standing.”

James chuckled, turning on his heel. “Then I suggest you hurry.”

The door slammed shut behind them, the lock clicking into place like a final insult.

Silence fell.

Saphira turned to Dax, who was trembling, his skin pale and damp with sweat. His breathing was shallow, uneven.

She reached out with her mind, her thoughts soft but steady. *“Hold on. We’ll get you out.”*

Nikolas’s voice brushed her mind, low and fierce. *“We need to break these. Now.”*

Saphira nodded, her jaw set.

Dax was getting worse.

His breathing had grown shallow, each inhale a strained gasp. Sweat clung to his skin, and his pulse fluttered visibly at the base of his throat. His eyes, once sharp, now flickered with confusion and pain.

Saphira knelt as close as her shackles would allow, her fingers twitching against the restraints. “Dax,” she whispered. “Stay with us.”

He didn’t respond.

Kael was beside him, panic rising in his voice. “He’s burning up. Whatever they gave him, it’s tearing through him.”

Riven swore under his breath. “We need to get it out of him. Or slow it down. Something.”

Nikolas pulled against his chains again, fury etched into every line of his body. “If we don’t do something soon, he’s going to die.”

Saphira’s heart pounded. She turned inward, reaching for the bond. *‘Vaelora,’* she pleaded. *‘Please. Is there anything you can do?’*

The dragon stirred, her voice faint and strained. *‘I’m too weak to break through the restraints. The magic is layered, old and cruel. But if I can gather enough strength… I might.’*

Saphira pressed her forehead to the stone wall, her breath shaking. *I wish I could contact the others. If they knew what was happening, if they knew the Elders were coming, they’d come.*

Vaelora’s presence pulsed faintly. *‘We can try. The mind-link is fragile at this distance, but not impossible. If you reach deep enough, if you trust me, I believe we can.’*

Saphira’s eyes opened slowly. *‘You think we can do it?’*

*‘I do.’*

She nodded once. *‘Okay. Let’s try.’*

She closed her eyes again, reaching deeper than she ever had before, past the pain, past the fear, past the walls of the cell. She focused on the bond, on the pulse of her dragon’s magic, and then on the pack. On home.

*“Arrax pack,”* she called out. *“This is Saphira. We’ve been captured at the Cinderwood Pack. The Elders are coming. Time for preparing is over. We need you. Now.”*

The silence that followed was deafening.

No response. No echo.

But Vaelora stirred again. *‘I think they heard. Even if they couldn’t answer.’*

Saphira opened her eyes, her chest tight. She turned to Nikolas. “I tried to reach the pack. Vaelora thinks the message got through.”

Nikolas blinked, surprise flickering across his face. “You reached them? Through the suppression?”

She nodded. “Barely. But I think it worked.”

He exhaled slowly, hope threading through the tension in his voice. “Then we hold. Until they come. Until our dragons are strong enough.”

His gaze shifted to Dax, whose body trembled with each breath. “And until then… we pray he can hold on.”

*Stay with us,* she thought. *Help is coming… I hope.*