The Matchmaker (by Sophie Smith) novel Chapter 124

CHAPTER 124

Zafira shot to her feet, the legs of her chair screeching against the hardwood like a warning. Her fists clenched at her sides, eyes blazing with frustration. “I’m not happy to just sit and wait for Damon or Ruby to drop a comment,” she snapped, voice trembling with urgency. “That could take days–weeks even. We don’t know if the team is safe. We need to act. Now.”

The tension in Zafira’s shoulders, the way her voice cracked–Saphira recognized the edge of desperation. But she’s not wrong.

Finn shifted beside Amara, arms folded tightly across his chest. His jaw ticked as he glanced toward Zafira. “I agree,” he said, voice low and steady, like a stone dropped into still water. “Waiting is smart, but it’s not what’s best for them. It’s too risky.”

Then he turned to Amara. Saphira’s gaze followed his, catching the flicker of something between them–brief, intimate, and unreadable. Her brows drew together. What was that?

Finn stepped forward, his stance firm, eyes locked on Nikolas. “I’ll go to the Silvermoon pack.”

Saphira’s heart lurched. Her hand flew to the edge of the table, gripping it hard enough her knuckles whitened. “No,” she said, the word slicing through the room before she could temper

1. it.

Finn didn’t flinch. His voice remained calm, almost too calm. “They think I’m dead. If I show up, they’ll be too distracted to react properly. It could open a window for someone else to sneak in and find them.”

Jed leaned back, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “It’s a good idea. Risky, but clever.”

Nikolas rubbed his jaw, eyes narrowing as he weighed the plan. “It is risky. How will you get out if you’re on your own?”

Amara stepped forward, her hand brushing Finn’s arm. “He won’t be,” she said, her voice steady but soft. “I’ll go with him. As his mate, we’ll request privacy. That should buy us time. We’ll find a way,”

Saphira’s heart thudded painfully, a dull ache blooming in her chest. Her fingers curled tighter around the table’s edge. I can’t lose him again. Her gaze flicked to Finn, then Amara. But it’s the best plan we’ve got. And I hate that it is.

Anastasia moved beside her, silent until her arm slipped around Saphira’s shoulders. The warmth of her touch was calming, a quiet tether to reality. She offered a soft smile–gentle, knowing.

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CHAPTER 124

Nikolas straightened, his voice cutting through the tension. “I’ll check if Damon and Ruby have said anything first. Then we’ll put a full plan together. Everyone needs to think carefully. We can’t send too many in, but we need a backup team nearby, ready to communicate discreetly.”

He scanned the room, his tone resolute. “Take an hour. Meet back here with ideas. Whoever we decide on… they leave immediately.”

A chorus of nods followed, the weight of the moment settling over them like a gathering storm.

No one spoke. No one needed to.

Saphira turned to the witches, her voice quiet but sincere. “Thank you. For everything. I

appreciate it.”

They nodded in respect, their eyes calm and unreadable, then began to file out. The others. followed, murmuring quietly as they left, the room slowly emptying of sound and heat.

Only Nikolas and Saphira remained.

She didn’t speak. Not yet. Her eyes locked on the map spread across the table, its lines and markings blurring under the pressure behind her eyes.

Nikolas stepped closer, the tension in his shoulders easing as his gaze softened. Without a word, he reached out and pulled Saphira into his arms. His embrace was firm, protective–like a shield against the storm swirling outside these walls. For a moment, she let herself sink into it, her cheek pressed against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

“How are you feeling?” he murmured against her temple, his breath warm. “With everything… especially Finn going back.”

Saphira hesitated, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. Her voice came out quieter than she expected, almost fragile. “Not great,”

Nikolas didn’t respond with words. He just held her tighter, his hand sliding up her back in slow, soothing strokes.

She exhaled shakily, her breath catching halfway. “The Silvermoon pack took Finn from me once before I don’t want them to do it again.” Her throat tightened. “Technically it was Ruby, but no one cared after it was forgotten so quickly. Like it didn’t matter.”

Nikolas pulled back just enough to meet her eyes, his own fierce with promise. “I won’t let

them harm him”

She gave a small, sad smile, brushing her thumb along the edge of his jaw. “Thank you… but

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CHAPTER 124

even you can’t promise that.”

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He didn’t argue. Just pulled her back into his chest, resting his chin lightly atop her head. His silence said everything–he knew she was right. They stood like that for a few moments, wrapped in quiet, the air thick with unspoken fears and fragile hope.

Then Saphira shifted, her voice firmer now, her resolve rising like a tide. “I want to go with

them.”

Nikolas froze. His arms loosened, and he stepped back instantly, eyes wide with alarm. “No,” he said, then again, more forcefully. “No. Absolutely not. It’s far too dangerous. Especially with you being my mate.”

Saphira didn’t flinch. Her spine straightened, her chin lifted. “I know the pack. I know the terrain. I can tap into my dragon–use the connection to Asher’s. It might be our best chance

to find them.”

Nikolas stared at her, jaw clenched, the muscle ticking beneath his skin. His voice dropped, thick with emotion. “I can’t risk losing you.”

“You won’t,” she said, steady and sure, though her heart beat a little harder at the lie she hoped would become truth.

He didn’t agree. Not out loud. But after a long pause, he stepped forward again, pulled her close, and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Saphira leaned into him, letting the moment settle before gently shifting the conversation. “We should see if Damon and Ruby have said anything.”

Nikolas nodded, his movements brisk now as he pulled his phone from his pocket. He dialled quickly, his voice clipped but calm. “Check in with Damon and Ruby. Let me know if anything’s

come up.”

The call was short. He hung up and looked at her, his expression unreadable. “Now we wait.”

Saphira turned back to the map spread across the table, her fingers tracing the borders of Silvermoon territory. Her eyes scanned every ridge, every trail, every hidden passage. I need to remember it all. If I go… I need to be ready.

Minutes passed. Then Nikolas’s phone buzzed again. He answered and put it on speaker.

Saphira looked up, her eyes sharp with focus, her hand still resting on the map.

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The warrior’s voice came through, slightly distorted but clear. “They’re friendly. Seem like they’re being cryptic, though. Nothing substantial we can use.”

Nikolas nodded. “Keep checking. Anything that might help–no matter how small–call me.”

“Understood.” The line went dead.

Saphira’s gaze returned to the map, her mind already racing ahead.

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