The Matchmaker - The Arrax Saga Book 1 Chapter 233

That night, after the long hours of planning, Saphira and Nikolas finally allowed themselves rest. The quiet of their chamber wrapped around them, the fire burning low. Nikolas’s arm draped protectively across her as sleep claimed them both.

But in her dreams, Saphira found herself standing in a place of soft light, neither sky nor earth, but something in between. The air shimmered, carrying a warmth that felt both familiar and otherworldly.

Two figures approached. One was Anastasia, radiant as ever, her smile tinged with sorrow but filled with peace. Beside her stood another woman, tall and graceful, with features Saphira recognized though she had never met her.

Her breath caught. Tears welled as she rushed forward, embracing Anastasia first, clinging to her as though she might vanish. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, voice breaking. “It’s my fault you were killed. I should have done more. I should have saved you.”

Anastasia’s arms wrapped around her, warm and comforting. She pulled back just enough to meet Saphira’s eyes. “No, Saphira. It wasn’t your fault. It was destiny. My path ended where it was meant to. Yours continues.”

Saphira shook her head, tears spilling freely. “But I carry it every day. The guilt, the weight… I don’t know how to let it go.”

Anastasia cupped her face gently. “You don’t need to let it go. You need to transform it. Grief can be a chain, or it can be a fire. You’ve already turned it into hope, for them, for Nikolas, for yourself. That is your strength.”

Saphira’s chest tightened, her voice trembling. “I miss you. I miss your laughter, your light. Nothing feels the same without you.”

Anastasia’s smile softened, her eyes shimmering with compassion. “And yet, I am still with you. Every choice you make, every act of kindness, every moment you lead with love, I am there. You carry me forward.”

The other woman stepped closer, her presence luminous, her eyes filled with quiet strength. “It is nice to see you again, Saphira. I am Selene.”

Saphira blinked through her tears, recognition dawning. “I’ve seen your face… in the photos in the office drawers. You’re Nikolas’s mother.”

Selene’s lips curved faintly, her voice rich with warmth. “Yes. And I am proud to see what he has become, with you beside him. You’ve given him something, a reason to believe in tomorrow.”

Anastasia’s gaze lingered on Saphira, her voice gentle. “We are both at peace now. And that peace exists because of you and Nikolas. You’ve carried the burden, and you’ve turned it into hope.”

Saphira’s tears fell harder, her voice breaking. “I don’t feel strong enough for all of this. I’m terrified I’ll fail.”

Selene’s hand brushed her cheek, her touch like fire and water at once. “You are stronger than you know. Your dragon is from a forgotten line, one that hid itself for centuries. When I used magic to conceal it, it did more than protect your true self. It awakened it, helped it evolve, all those years, until it was ready to rise.”

Saphira’s breath trembled. “A forgotten line?”

Selene nodded, her eyes gleaming with ancient knowledge. “Yes. And there is more. A prophecy speaks of a royal dragon and an ancient dragon, bonded together, uniting the world. You and Nikolas are that bond. Together, you will bring balance where there has only been division.”

The words settled into Saphira’s heart like fire, heavy yet undeniable. She looked between Anastasia and Selene, her voice barely a whisper. “And if I fail?”

Anastasia stepped forward, pressing her hand over Saphira’s heart. Her voice was tender but unwavering. “You won’t. Because you are not alone. You have Nikolas, your pack, and us. We are with you, always.”

The dream began to fade, the light dissolving into shadow. Selene’s voice lingered, strong and certain. “Remember, Saphira. Forgotten lines awaken for a reason. And yours and Nikolas destiny is meant to change the world.”

Saphira woke with a sharp breath, her heart pounding as though the dream had followed her back into waking. Beside her, Nikolas stirred, his arm instinctively tightening around her, protective even in sleep.

He blinked, his voice rough with concern. “Saphira… what is it?”

She turned to him, her eyes shimmering with tears. Her voice broke into a whisper. “I saw them. Anastasia… and Selene. Your mother.”

Nikolas froze, his breath catching. His gaze locked onto hers, searching, almost afraid to believe. “My mother?” His voice was barely audible, as if speaking the words might shatter him.

Saphira nodded, her voice trembling. “She was there. With Anastasia. They told me they’re at peace, and that it’s because of us. Because of what we’ve done.”

Nikolas sat up slowly, his hand dragging through his hair, his jaw tight with emotion. “What did she say?”

Saphira swallowed, her chest aching with the weight of the dream. “She said my dragon is from a forgotten line. That when she used her magic to hide it, she awakened it… helped it evolve until it was ready to rise.” Her voice faltered, tears slipping down her cheeks. “And then she told me of a prophecy. A royal dragon and an ancient dragon, bonded together, uniting the world. She said… that’s us.”

Nikolas’s eyes widened, his breath unsteady. He turned away for a moment, his hand covering his mouth as if to steady himself. When he spoke, his voice cracked, raw with disbelief and longing. “My mother… she spoke to you? And she believes in us?”

Saphira reached for him, her fingers brushing his arm. “She is so proud of you, Nikolas. Proud of what you’ve become. She said she is with us, I think they are watching us from wherever they are.”

His shoulders shook as he exhaled, his eyes glistening. “I thought I’d lost her forever. To hear this… to know she’s at peace…” His words broke, and he pressed his forehead against hers, his voice low and fierce. “And this prophecy… it means everything we’ve endured wasn’t for nothing.”

Saphira’s tears spilled freely, but her voice was soft and certain. “I asked Anastasia what would happen if I failed. She told me I won’t, because I’m not alone. Because I have you.”

Nikolas’s hand cupped her face, his thumb brushing away her tears with aching tenderness. “She’s right. You’re not alone. We’ll face this prophecy together. Whatever it demands of us, whatever it costs, we’ll carry it side by side.”

Her chest steadied, her heart finding strength in his words. Not just a bond, but a promise.

They sat together in the dim light, the echoes of the dream still lingering between them.

It was the beginning of something greater than themselves.