The Matchmaker - The Arrax Saga Book 1 Chapter 200

Morning light spilled across the stone floor, soft and golden, warming the edges of the room. Steam curled from the open bathroom door, and Saphira stepped inside, her bare feet cool against the tiles. Nikolas was already under the spray, he turned toward her with a quiet smile.

She joined him without a word, letting the water cascade over her skin, washing away the last remnants of sleep. His hand brushed her waist as she turned, and she leaned into him slightly, immersing herself in the warmth of his presence.

Then he froze.

“Saphira,” he said, voice low, almost uncertain. “Your back…”

She blinked, turning halfway. “What?”

He reached out, fingers grazing the space between her shoulder blades. “Your scars. They’re gone.”

Her breath caught. She twisted fully, stepping out of the spray, and reached for the mirror above the sink. It was fogged, but she wiped it clean with the edge of her hand, heart pounding.

He was right.

The long, jagged scars that had marked her back for years, reminders of the night Connor died, of pain, were gone. Not faded. Not healed.

Gone.

Her skin was smooth, untouched. As if they’d never existed.

“It must be Vaelora,” she murmured, eyes wide. “It has to be.”

She closed her eyes. *‘Vaelora? Was this you?’*

Vaelora’s voice came, steady and quiet. *‘You have more abilities now. This is just the beginning.’*

Saphira opened her eyes slowly, frustration prickling beneath her ribs. “She’s still being cryptic,” she said aloud, turning back to Nikolas. “It’s frustrating. She gives me pieces, but never the whole.”

Nikolas nodded, running a hand through his wet hair. “Vorthar’s doing the same. He told me these new abilities are the start, but nothing more.”

Saphira’s brow furrowed. “That’s what Vaelora said.”

Nikolas paused, then looked at her more closely. “During the battle… I heard her. Vaelora. Not just through you. I heard her in my head.”

Saphira’s breath stilled. “You did?”

He nodded. “Clear as day.”

She leaned against the counter, towel wrapped around her shoulders now, the steam still curling around them. “I think it’s the bond. The new one. I can feel it, deep inside me. It’s not like our mate bond. It’s… older. Wilder. I have no idea what it means.”

Nikolas stepped closer, resting his forehead against hers. “We’ll figure it out. I’ll search my mother’s old books again. There might be something in the archives.”

Saphira nodded, her voice soft. “Vaelora mentioned something about a true royal. If that helps.”

He pulled back slightly, thoughtful. “It might. We should also check in with Jed and Zafira. See if either of them are due for a transformation. If this is in my blood…”

“Then it’s not just us,” Saphira finished.

Nikolas nodded. “I’ll look into it. One step at a time.”

Saphira exhaled, the tension easing slightly. “One step at a time.”

They dressed in quiet synchronicity, the rhythm between them easy now, familiar. Saphira pulled on her boots, buckled her belt, and glanced once more at the mirror. Her back was still smooth. Still untouched.

She wasn’t sure what she was becoming.

But she knew she wasn’t alone.

Together, she and Nikolas stepped into the hallway, heading toward the office to meet the others.

The office was warm with morning light, the windows cracked open to let in the scent of pine and damp earth. Saphira sat near the head of the long table, fingers curled around a mug of tea she hadn’t touched. Nikolas stood beside her, arms folded. Around them, everyone gathered, tired but alert, the tension from the battle still lingering in their shoulders.

Jasper leaned forward, elbows on the table. “We’ve tracked the remnants of the Cinderwood pack,” he said. “The ones who fled during the fight. They scattered fast, but we’ve got eyes on them.”

Talia nodded, her tone calm but firm. “Most of their strength was wiped out. What’s left isn’t organized. If they stir up trouble, we’ll take care of it.”

Nikolas gave a nod of approval. “Good work. Keep tabs, but don’t waste energy chasing ghosts.”

Saphira glanced at Jasper and Talia, noting the quiet confidence in their posture. They weren’t rattled. That mattered.

Then Zafira spoke, her voice cutting through the room. “I’ve been thinking about the battle,” she said, arms crossed. “It was tough, yeah. But… it felt easy. Too easy. Even with your new abilities, it shouldn’t have been that simple to take down all the Elders.”

Saphira’s gaze sharpened. She’d felt it too. That strange imbalance. “I can’t deny it,” she said quietly. “I thought the same.”

Raven leaned forward, her fingers tracing a rune into the wood grain. “The magic they used was strong. Complex. It wasn’t like they were holding back. If anything, they threw everything they had at us.”

Nikolas exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Then we take the win for now. But keep it in mind. If something doesn’t add up, we’ll find the missing piece.”

Asher, seated near the window, raised a brow. “So what’s the next move?”

Nikolas straightened. “We take over the Matchmaker. Not destroy it, but control it. Restore it to what it was meant to be.”

Anastasia frowned. “Why not just burn it down? Isn’t it better to wipe it out completely?”

Nikolas shook his head. “The original purpose worked. It helped the supernatural world connect, stabilize. But it’s been twisted, buried under rules and manipulation. If we strip it back, we can use it the way it was meant to be used.”

Anastasia considered that, then nodded slowly. “Okay. Makes sense. But how do we take it over? It’s huge.”

Jed leaned forward, arms resting on the table. “She’s right. It’s bigger than we think. When I was working for them, while Nikolas was in there, I heard whispers. They’ve got recruits all over the world. Quiet ones. Embedded.”

Nikolas turned to him. “Can you use your old contacts? Pretend you’re looking for work again. See what you can find.”

Jed smirked. “Already thinking about it. I’ll reach out tonight.”

Nikolas looked around the room, his voice steady. “Well done, all of you. What we did yesterday, it mattered. We’re strong together. Use this time while Jed gathers intel to rest. And we need to keep working on the poison antidotes. That’s still a threat, especially from the Matchmaker.”

A ripple of agreement moved through the room. Shoulders eased. Tension softened.

Raven grinned suddenly. “Girl’s night tonight,” she said, nudging Talia and Zafira, while looking at Saphira, Amara and Anastasia. “We earned it.”

Jasper perked up. “We’re having one too,” he said, then glanced at Jed with mock sympathy. “Sorry, mate. You’ll miss it.”

Jed rolled his eyes. “Tragic.”

Saphira smiled, the warmth of the moment settling into her chest.

They were all ok and moving forward.