The Matchmaker (by Sophie Smith) novel Chapter 61

A good ten minutes had passed since Finn had left to fetch paper and a pen, yet he still hadn’t returned.

Saphira shifted in her chair, glancing toward the door for what felt like the hundredth time. She leaned forward slightly, peering through the window searching the hallway, hoping for any sign of movement.

Nothing.

Her stomach twisted slightly, unease creeping in.

She wasn’t the only one noticing.

Zafira, too, kept glancing toward the door, bet expression flickering with uncertainty–still silent, but aware.

Saphira exhaled, standing. “I’ll be right back,” she assured. “I’m going to see if I can find Finn.”

Zafira nodded, her fingers curling slightly against the blanket, her brows furrowing in a way that told Saphira she felt something was off too.

Saphira left the room, stepping into the hallway.

Silence greeted her.

She frowned.

Not a single person in sight. No nurses, no doctors–just empty corridors stretching ahead.

Her steps slowed as she neared the front desk, expecting someone should be there.

But–nothing.

The unease in her chest tightened.

“Hello?” she called out, her voice carrying down the hall.

Seconds passed.

No response.

Saphira inhaled sharply, her dragon stirring faintly in the back of her mind, not alarmed, but watchful.

She turned left, following a corridor branching off the main path–then, finally, she heard voices.

Many voices.

Not just conversation.

Arguing.

Saphira picked up her pace, her pulse threading faster as she moved toward the source.

As she rounded the corner, the scene unfolded before her-

Nikolas. Jed. Raven. Finn, Talia. Jasper. A group of warriors.

All locked in tense discussion, their postures rigid, voices clipped.

Saphira froze, taking it in–the narrowed eyes, the sharp gestures, the tension so thick it practically hummed through the air.

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Nikolas spotted her first.

Immediately, he stopped talking, his expression shifting something unreadable flickering across his face

The rest followed, silence falling abruptly as their gazes flicked toward her.

Saphira inhaled carefully, stepping closer, keeping her tone cautious, “Is everything okay?”

Nikolas exhaled sharply, shaking his head lightly, brushing off the weight in his stance.

“Yes. It’s fine. Don’t worry.”

A lie.

She saw it immediately–in the way his shoulders didn’t fully relax, the way his eyes carried something unspoken.

She narrowed her gaze slightly, raising an eyebrow at him.

Nikolas sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

Then-

“She doesn’t need to be involved; this is pack business.”

The voice came from one of the warriors–someone she hadn’t met before, his tone clipped, dismissive.

Before Saphira could respond-

Raven moved first.

The slap landed so hard the warrior stumbled backward, his entire body jerking in shock.

“Show some respect to your leader,” she demanded, her voice sharp, steady, unwavering.

The warrior muttered an apology, stepping back quickly, clearly rattled.

Saphira clenched her jaw, resisting the urge to cross her arms, resisting the urge to push for answers when she knew there was something more going on.

Nikolas turned back to her, still holding something in his stance–some hesitation.

Nikolas exhaled sharply, his posture rigid, his golden eyes dark with something heavy.

“One of the warriors who controls the borders was killed,” he finally said, his voice edged with restrained tension.

Saphira sucked in a breath, the shock settling deep in her chest. “Do you know how?”

“Damon,” Raven answered before Nikolas could.

The word slammed into the space between them,

Immediately-

“Lies!” The same warrior from earlier snapped, his voice rough with anger. “He wouldn’t kill one of his own. He isn’t a trait

Jasper folded his arms; his expression hardened with something quietly calculated. “Then where is he?”

The silence pressed tight.

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CHAPTER 61

“The last information we got was half a message from James before he was killed,” Jasper continued. “He said Damon’s name

The tension twisted, thickened.

“But what if he was taken?” the wattion argued, his stance stiffening. “What if James”

was trying to tell us that?”

Saphira shifted slightly, watching Nikolas closely, reading the flicker of thought moving behind his eyes.

He inhaled deeply–then set his shoulders, his expression sharpening into something firm.

“Then we’ll find him–either way,” Nikolas said.

His tone was final.

“Raven, Jasper–organize a search,” he instructed. “No one goes alone.”

“On it,” Raven responded immediately, her movements decisive.

Nikolas glanced toward Jed. “I’m going to check on Zafira, then I’ll join the search.”

Jed nodded. “Me too.”

The group exchanged brief acknowledgments, then Raven and Jasper led the others out the urgency pressing into the space they left behind.

Finn stepped forward, his gaze flickering between Nikolas and Saphira before settling on her.

“Tell Zafira I’m sorry, but I had to run,” he said, his voice carrying something apologetic, something regretful. “I’ll visit soon.”

“I will,” Saphira replied with a small smile, offering a steady nod. “Be careful.”

Finn huffed lightly. “Always.”

Then–he left.

Saphira turned back to Nikolas and Jed, inhaling slowly.

“Come on,” she said. “Zafira is awake, and i’m sure she’s eager to see you both.”

Nikolas nodded, his movements shifting as he prepared to enter the room.

But-

Saphira stopped.

Nikolas turned to her, his brows drawing together slightly.

“I’m going to check on Anastasia,” she murmured, adjusting her stance. “Zafira was asking about her earlier–I just want to make sure she’s okay.”

Nikolas studied her for a moment, then nodded once “Of course.”

“Do you want me to join you?” he asked.

She hesitated–then shook her head.

“No… spend time with your sister,” she assured him, offering the faintest squeeze to his arm. “I’ll be back shortly.”

“They’re in room 206,” Jed supplied from behind Nikolas.

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Saphira cast him a grateful glance, giving a brief nod before turning, her pulse steady but her mind already shifting forward.

She walked away, heading toward room 200.

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