The Matchmaker (by Sophie Smith) novel Chapter 33

CHAPTER 33

Saphira stepped closet, the eerie silence of the ruins pressing in around her. The skeletal remains of the dragons lay motionless, they russed i around their bones like remnants of an unbroken curse. She had come here searching for something for Nikolas. But as the searched due area,

twisted with unease.

There was nothing.

No scent. No footprints. No trace of him at all.

Her pulse thrummed with frustration. He had led her here. The trail had pointed to this place. And yet, there was no sign he had ever stepped fait bolide,

She exhaled sharply, forcing herself to focus, to look deeper. Her gaze swept over the broken stone, the tangled remains of time worn rains. Then- something caught her eye.

Near the largest skeleton, half–buried in the dirt, was a pendant.

Saphira crouched, brushing away the dust, revealing a gemstone–a deep, rich red that shimmered even in the dim moonlight. It was unlike anything she had ever seen, its brilliance undiminished by age or decay.

A dragon’s gemstone.

Her fingers curled around it, a strange reverence settling over her as she turned it over in her palm. The craftsmanship was delicate, precise, and there–just barely visible–was an ancient engraving along the metal edges. A marking. A name.

This had belonged to one of them. One of the fallen dragons still trapped in their chains.

She swallowed hard, dread creeping through her spine. What had happened here? Why were they left to rot, still bound even in death?

She had been so sure she was following Nikolas‘ trail. But now, standing amidst the ruins of something far older, far more sinister, she realized-

She had uncovered something else entirely.

And Nikolas was nowhere to be found.

Saphira moved cautiously, scanning the space around her with sharp, deliberate focus. The towering pillars loomed overhead, their ancient stone cracked with age, casting long shadows in the dim moonlight. She inhaled slowly, listening–waiting–but the forest beyond remained still.

She wasn’t taking any chances.

Her fingers tightened around the hilt of her weapon as she circled the clearing, checking behind each pillar for any sign of movement, any lurking presence hidden in the ruins. Her breath came steady, controlled, though tension coiled in her chest, ready to strike if she needed to.

But as she completed her sweep, she exhaled, forcing herself to relax. Clear. At least, for now.

With caution still lingering in her movements, she turned her attention back to the pillars themselves. The towering structures bore markings–faint, hidden beneath layers of dust. Frowning, she stepped closer, reaching out carefully to brush away the thick layer of time–worn debris. The dust stirred into the air, making her cough as she uncovered the designs beneath.

Symbols. Names. Or something close to them.

Each pillar was different, etched with unique inscriptions that reminded her of gravestones–silent tributes to whatever had once existed here.

Her pulse quickened. What did they mean? Who had carved them?

She traced her fingers over the rough stone, frustration growing as the symbols remained unreadable. But she wouldn’t leave then.

would know.

cumented. Nikolas

Pulling out the phone he had given her, she quickly began snapping pictures, careful to capture every detail. If these markings held answers, she was going to find them.

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CHAPTER 33

Whatever had happened here—whatever had led her to these bones, these chains, this rain–it wasn’t just history,

Saphira secured the phone in her pack, ensuring the photos were safe before she stepped away from the pillers She had gathered all de but still, there were no signs of Nikolas—no trace that he had ever set foot in this place. Frustration burned beneath her skin, but she forward. She wasn’t done searching.

She climbed to the opposite side of the ruins, her boots scraping against the worn stone as she pulled herself up to the highest vantage poise. If its left her a trail, then maybe–just maybe she could see something beyond these ancient walls.

She scanned the horizon, trying to sharpen her focus, though it did little to help. If only she had the eyes of a werewolf. The thought gnawed at her bitter and unforgiving. If she had been born different, if she had shifted like she was supposed to, maybe she wouldn’t feel so blind in moments like this. Maybe tracking wouldn’t be such a struggle.

Her heart clenched at the thought, but she forced it down. It wouldn’t help her now.

Just as she was about to admit defeat, ready to climb back down, something flickered in the distance.

A spark. Then–gone.

Saphira held her breath, waiting, watching. A fire. Faint, quick, disappearing almost as

fast as

it appeared–but unmistakable.

Someone was there.

A fresh surge of determination filled her. She didn’t know who had lit that fire, but right now, it was her only lead. And she wasn’t about to ignore it.

She climbed down, steadied herself, and set off in its direction.

She would find out who was waiting beyond the ruins–and whether they had answers she desperately

needed.

Saphira moved swiftly, careful to keep her steps light as she followed the direction of the fire she had glimpsed moments ago. The darkness pressed around her, thick with silence, broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves beneath her boots. She strained her ears, listening, waiting for any signs of movement–voices, footsteps, anything to confirm she wasn’t alone.

But there was nothing.

Just the emptiness of the forest stretching before her, quiet and unyielding.

Still, she pressed forward, the memory of that flickering flame driving her deeper into the unknown. It had been brief, almost too quick to catch, but she had seen it. That meant someone–or something–was nearby.

She glanced upward, searching between the dense canopy for the sky above. Clouds had begun to roll in, dimming the few stars that had managed to peek through earlier. If she wasn’t careful, she would lose her way.

Then–a second flicker.

Her breath hitched as she spotted it again, faint but unmistakable, the glow of fire barely visible beyond the thick treeline.

And that’s when she heard it.

A sound so deep, so primal, it made the ground beneath her vibrate.

A roar.

Not human. Not anything natural she had ever encountered.

A dragon.

Saphira froze, heart slamming against her ribs as the echo of the beast’s cry thundered through the trees. She stood there for half a second, gripping her blade tightly, pulse hammering as she tried to process what she had just heard.

CHAPTER 33

Had she found him? Was it Nikolas? Or was this something else entirely?

She swallowed hard, pushing down the spike of fear crawling up her spine.

There was only one way to lind out.

Steeling herself, she forced her feet forward, toward the fire. Toward the roar. Toward whatever waited for her in the darkness. And she would not turn back.

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