The Matchmaker (by Sophie Smith) novel Chapter 51

CHAPTER 51

Nikolis led them back in the same tearing where Saphira had transformed, de memory of that

As they stepped onto the grass, Saphira inhaled deeply, the air fresh and crisp, carrying the fleet of not post a place of change, but something familiar, Something hers

Hi The

Together, they set up the picnic, working side by side in an easy rhythm. Nikolay unfolded the klarhet, taking it out befoer spreading Saphirn adjusted the corners, usomething it down with steady hands.

Then came the food

They carefully laid out the containers, acrmging them in a causal spread, the assetment of drinks placed within easy reach. Each movement was unprie silent cooperation, the kind that required no explanatism.

Since everything was set, they settled down, sitting across from each other, the quiet between them comfortable, inforced.

Saphira picked at her food absenity, glancing up at Nikolin every so often.

He caught her eye once, lips quirking slightly in amusement.

She buffed softly, shaking her head as she took a bite, but the warmth in her chest was undeniable.

Nikolas leaned back slightly, stretching his legs out, milling his shoulders as if shedding some imisible weight

Saphira mirrored him, exhaling, allowing herself to relas

Once they had eaten what they could, Saphira found herself distracted, barely registering the lingering warmth of the afternoon sun against her skin.

She glanced at Nikolas once. Then again.

Her fingers toped with the hem of her shit absently, her thoughts cinling the pendant and the photos tucked away in her phone.

There was no easy way to say, Oh, by the way, I stumbled upon an ancient dragon graveyard.

Nikolas shifted beside her, catching the hesitation

“You can ask me anything,” he said,

d, his tome light but knowing, his golden eyes sharp as he raised an eyebrow at her

Saphira swallowed. In the short time they had been together, he was already reading her deeper than she realized

“…I….” She started, frustration curling through her as she struggled to phrase it right.

Nikolas leaned in slightly, smirking. “Is it really that bad?”

Saphira exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “It potentially could be.”

Nikolas‘ expersion shifted, his amusersent fading into something more serious

Saphira sighed, pulling out her phone, und

t with a few quick swipes before opening the folder of pictures–L.

had taken of the pillars. ⠀⠀

More specifically, of the engravings on them.

She hesitated only a second longer before speaking.

“Before I found you,” she said slowly, choosing her words carefully, “I came acre what looked a grave.” She glance klas, watching for his reaction. There were five dragon skeletal remains.

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CHAPTER 51

Master face changed his entire presence seemed to shit, though the rmation flickered too fast for her to cind

And then–ust as quickly–it was gone

He nodded, silent indication for her to

To continue

Saphira cleared her thanat glancing back at her phone before pressing forward. “Behind each one were pillars. Similar to the ones who you were.” She mort

prze. “Except.……..they were engraved.”

Carefully, she handed Nikolas the phone.

“I couldn’t make out what it meant.”

Nikolas took the device, his fingers brushing against hers for a fleeting moment before he focused entirely on the screen.

Silence stretched between them as he flicked through the photos slowly, each movement deliberate, careful

Saphira watched him closely, noting how the crease in his brow deepened the longer he looked.

Finally, after a few minutes, she spoke

Nikolas inhaled deeply, exhaling through his nose before finally answering

Saphira Blinked.

“Royal spella?” she echoed, quritinning

Nikolas modded. “Each species has a tiyal

Saphira’s stomach twisted sightly,

These look like the one my mother used when I was a child.”

val pack. T

weight of has winds settling deep inside her.

casked, her voice quieter now–more careful.

“Your mother could use

Kikolas exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening briefly against the fabric of his pants before he sat forward, staring at the engravings on her phone with a

quiet intensity

“Yes,” he murmuted, his voice carrying a weight deeper than just explanation. “She was a royal witch. My father was a Royal Dragan.”

“Saphira watched him carefully seeing the way his jaw tend–how his fingers traced over the images absently, as if trying to pull more meaning from them than what was already there.

“All of us children were born dragons,” he continued, his tone steadier now, “With a dormant witch side.

He passed, baling sharply before exhaling

by mother used spells like these to swap

more powerful ”

witch side, to make us more powerful. As the firstbum, my which

ratio was equal, which is wire

– Saphira swallowed, absorbing his words, the sheet gravity of them.

“That’s incredible,” she murmured, though the the wain’t the right word. It was me than incredible–u

a humourless chuckle, shaking his head. “Yeah. Except used splegal hack then. Especially with the Eldera”

CHAPTER 51

Hvice dipped, carrying something unspoken, something that made Saphira’s chest tighten

“Is that why they’re doing what they are?” she asked, carefully choosing her words “Why they keep trying to take your

Nikolas exhaled sharply, his grip on her hand tightening slightly as he turned to her.

“Yes. I think so” His golden eyes met hers, filled with something dark, something laced with understanding but also wariness. “They want speriet for one * He squeezed her hand once before continuing. “For two, they want to be the most powerful again.”

Saphira’s pulse thrummed as the realization settled.

“They’re royals?” she asked.

Niklas nodded slowly. “Yes. That’s why they’re so strong. And before you transformed, my powerful side was dormant–because of the mating bond.”

Saphira watched him carefully, seeing the flicker of vulnerability in his expression before it was hidden again.

“I still don’t understand how you’re my mate,” he admitted, his voice quieter now. “Me being a mixed species… but I’m so glad you are!

Something shifted in his gaze, something softer, and Saphira felt herself pulled into it, the weight of the moment pressing against her ribs.

“I hope that also meam Jed and Zafira have a tremate out there,” he added, his voice carrying something unspoken–something hopeful, even if he wasn’t sure it could be.

Saphira hesitated, biting her lip, knowing the was about to pull them into something bigger.

“Well” she began, inhaling deeply, pushing past her hesitation. “There’s something else.”

Nikolas turned to her fully, smsing the shift in her tone

She peached into her pocket. Fingers brushing against the pendant’s cool surface before pulling it out.

Carefully, the passed it to him.

The second Nikola

it, his expression collapsed.

His face paled, his breath stilled–just for a moment–beler his fingers wrapped around the pendant, his grip firm, almost too first.

Saphira’s beart pounded.

He knew this pendant

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