The Matchmaker - The Arrax Saga Book 1 Chapter 64

Anastasia sighed, running a hand through her hair before shaking her head lightly, pushing away the weight of everything she had just shared.

“It’s been too long since I’ve had a normal conversation,” she murmured with a small, tired smile. “Tell me, Saphira, how is Nikolas handling everything? I imagine leading a pack isn’t exactly a peaceful occupation, especially with something strange going on out there.”

Saphira chuckled, the tension that had sat heavy in her chest easing slightly. “You can say that again. He’s always dealing with something, but I think he’s… adjusting since coming out the matchmaker.”

“Adjusting is good,” Anastasia said, nodding approvingly.

Saphira exhaled, glancing toward the door. As much as she wanted to stay, she needed to return to Zafira.

“I should head back,” she announced, straightening in her seat. “I’ll send her your best.”

Anastasia smiled warmly. “Please do.”

Saphira turned to Asher, offering him a nod as well. “And thank you, for letting me be here.”

“You’re always welcome,” he assured, his voice carrying a sincerity she wasn’t quite expecting.

With that, she stood and stepped into the hallway, inhaling deeply as she prepared to return to Zafira’s room.

She didn't get far when she heard footsteps behind her.

“Asher?”

He had caught up to her, his expression somewhat uneasy, fingers curling slightly at his sides.

“I, uh, just wanted to ask you something.”

Saphira tilted her head slightly, sensing the hesitation in his tone. “Go ahead.”

“The thing we felt before,” Asher admitted. “Through our dragons. That, pulse, it hasn’t gone away for me.”

Saphira froze for a fraction of a second, then exhaled slowly. She knew what he was talking about becuase she was feeling it too.

And it still sat somewhere inside her, in the back of her mind, faint but present.

“I’m not sure why,” Asher continued, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “But… I know it’s there.”

Saphira opened her mouth, about to respond, before she could, Nikolas rounded the corner.

His eyes locked onto Asher immediately, his posture rigid, his expression darkening as he caught just enough of the conversation to send a surge of irritation through him.

“What’s going on?”

His voice carried weight.

Saphira could sense the under tone in his voice, it was jealously, sharp, demanding answers.

Asher straightened slightly, his own expression shifting, but before either of them could say more, Saphira moved.

She reached for Nikolas’ arm, fingers curling firmly around his wrist.

“Not here,” she whispered, pulling him away, stepping back toward an emptier section of the hallway.

Nikolas didn’t resist, but his glare lingered on Asher, barely masked.

Saphira tightened her grip. “Do not make a scene in the hospital.”

Nikolas inhaled sharply, turning toward her fully, his expression still the same.

Saphira softened, pressing a hand against his chest.

“I’ll tell you everything,” she promised. “Just not here.”

Nikolas exhaled, his muscles slowly easing. “Fine.”

Saphira tightened her grip on Nikolas’ wrist, guiding him away from the hospital and toward the back of the building, her stomach twisting slightly.

She knew this wouldn’t be easy, especially after how he just acted now.

Nikolas stopped abruptly, turning to face her, his eyes burning with barely contained anger.

“What you heard...” Saphira started, keeping her voice soft, but before she could continue, his gaze snapped to hers, sharp and full of heat.

“What I heard...” his voice was low, edged with something raw “Was you and another dragon talking about some sort of pulse you felt together.”

Saphira inhaled deeply, readying herself before speaking.

“Yes, we felt something,” she admitted.

Nikolas stiffened, his jaw clenching.

She immediately regretted phrasing it like that. *Not my best choice of words.*

“Before you blow this out of proportion,” she added quickly, “it wasn’t anything romantic.”

Nikolas’ eyes didn’t soften.

Instead, he took a deliberate step closer, the tension in his stance thickening.

“Then what way?” His tone was clipped, demanding.

Saphira swallowed, meeting his gaze.

“I don’t know exactly,” she admitted, frustration curling at the edges of her own voice.

Nikolas’ expression darkened.

“Then how do you know it isn’t romantic?” he snapped.

The accusation pressed into her, but she didn’t shrink away.

Instead, she stepped toward him.

“Because the only person I get that feeling with is you!” she snapped back, her voice cutting through the charged space between them.

Nikolas froze. A flicker of something unreadable passed across his face before his expression shifted slightly, but he said nothing.

Saphira exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through her hair before crossing her arms tightly.

“I don’t know what it is,” she continued, her voice quieter now, but no less firm. “Because I still don’t fully understand my dragon’s emotions or feelings.”

Nikolas inhaled deeply, his posture not as rigid as before, but the weight of his emotions still there.

Saphira watched him carefully, waiting, hoping, for him to let go of some of his anger.

Nikolas exhaled sharply, running both hands through his hair, his fingers tightening briefly as frustration coiled through him.

“Then we need to do more training,” he muttered, his voice edged with firm determination.

But even as he said it, his eyes flickered with something else. He hesitated for a fraction of a second before his gaze locked onto hers again, sharp and searching. “Are you sure it isn’t romantic?” His voice dipped lower, carrying a clipped edge. “Even from his end?”

Saphira inhaled slowly, then reached out, her fingers brushing against his arm.

“No,” she murmured, her tone unwavering. “Not at all.”

She stepped a fraction closer, making sure he felt the truth in her words.

“You are my mate,” she continued, the certainty in her voice cutting through the tension. “My true mate.”

Nikolas didn’t move, but the tightness in his shoulders remained.

“There must be a reason,” she admitted, sighing softly. “I just need to understand my dragon first.”

Her words sat between them, heavy but honest.

Nikolas studied her for a moment, his eyes searching hers, his posture still rigid.

Then without warning he pulled her into hum. The hug was tight, his arms locking around her as if he was holding onto something vital.

Saphira felt it, the desperation threading through him, the raw fear curling beneath the surface.

His breath was warm against her ear as his voice lowered, dipping into something fragile.

“Tell me I won’t lose you…”

The words carried more weight than she expected.

“I can’t lose you,” he whispered, his grip pressing firmer for just a second, like he needed her to say it, to confirm it, to make sure it was real.

Saphira pressed closer, her fingers curling slightly against the fabric of his shirt, she needed to support him just as much as herself.

She could feel the fear lingering beneath his words, the unspoken weight behind why he was so worried.

But she wouldn’t let it spiral.

She wouldn’t let him doubt.

She exhaled softly, her voice steady as she whispered. “You won’t lose me… I promise.”

Nikolas stiffened briefly, then exhaled, his body melting just slightly into hers.

The tension broke.

And for now it was enough, it had to be.