Saphira took ba /bdeep breath, feeling the lingering hum of egy still sheating beneath her scales,

But now—she was teady.

She focused, reaching for the thread of magic that connected her to her human form, letting it roll and her, shifting, reshaping–til her body began to change

The transformation was smoother this time.

Less pain. Les resistance

And when she opened her eyes, she was standing on two legs again, her breath steady, her senses still heightened but settling rapidly.

Saphira stood in front of Nik, the weight of her dragon’s name still settling deep within her. She felt the remnants of her shift lingering in her miscles, the residual hum of energy vibrating faintly beneath her skin.

She took

took a slow breath, rolling her shoulden, grounding herself, forcing her pulse to steady.

“I learned her name,” she finally said, voice quiet but fimm.

Niks gaze flickered, something ancient and knowing settling into his expression. His Tips tugged slightly at the corner–proud, approving

“Good,” he murmured.

Then, with a step forwaril, be reached for her hand, wrapping his fingers around hers with a deliberate steadiness

“Because we are mates,” he continued, his voice dipping lower, indre Intimate, we bcan /bknow each other’s dragon’s name.” His thumb brushed lightly against her knuckles, a silent reassurance. “But aside from that no one the should ever hear it

Saphira swallowed, the weight of his words settling deep imide her

“bIt’s /bbsacred/b,” bNiks /bcontinued, his voice bbarely /babove a murmur. “It’s for you. For her. A name is a bond, an identityb–/bba /bconnection unlike anything else

bSaphira /bnodded slowly, understanding now.

Va wasn’t just her dragon’s name.

She was her dragon’s soul

bNiks /bwatched her carefully, gauging the emotions shifting across her face. Slowly, he bexhaled/b, and then–without hesitation–he spoke.

“My dragon is called Verthan.”

Saphira blinked, feeling the same settle into her mind

And then—she realized it.

The nritie

Varlora

The dragons weren’t just

banded to them. They were bonded to beach /bother.

bShe /binhaled sharply, meeting Niks bgaze /bwith newfound understanding. He smirked slightly, catching her reaction.

“Our dragons reflect us,” he murmured. “In more ways than

Saphira exhaled, the tension inside her easing just enough.

Then–she let herself say bit/b.

“Her name in Varlora ”

Niks” smirk softened, his fingers tightening around hers briefly before his expression shifted into hing warmer–ething fell.

“I knew it would be

ld be perfect-

His thumb brushed against her hand me more before he finally released his grip, letting her take in the moment for herself.

And just like that, Saphira felt the band settle.

Not just with her dragon, but with Niks too.

The night had stretched long, pressing heavily into Saphira’s limbs, the weight of everything settling deep into her bones. The lingering him of her transformation still buzzed faintly beneath her skin, ba /bquiet reminder of what she had just embraced–but exhaustion was creeping in, slow and steady, wrapping around her like the night itself.

Niks rolled his shoulders, ncing up toward the sky. His golden eyes reflected the stars above, shimmering fairly as he exhaled

“We should head backb” /bhe murmured, his volce steady, carrying that quiet authority she had grown so familiar with “ra gettingte, and we need int

Saphira shifted, rolling her own shoulders, feeling the ache settle into her muscles. The adrenaline had faded, leaving only the pull of fatigue weaving its bway /bthrough her body,

Niks remained still for a moment, bhis /bgame sharpening slightly. “I’ll be my turn bsoon /bto watch over Zafira.”

His voice bwas /bcalm, but she heard the weight beneath it–the quiet strain, the unspoken concem. He was protecting her, ensuring she was bsafe/b, making sure that this time, she stayed.

Saphira btook /bba /bstep closer, closing the space between them. “I’lle with you.”

bNiks /bbesitated, his expression unreadable as he studied her face, searching for something in her eyes.

Then bhis /bfeatures softened.

“You don’t have to

Saphira offered a smallb, /btired smileb, /breaching for bhis /bbhand/bb, /bgiving it a brief squeeze. “I want to ”

– Niks” lips tagged up slightly, the warmth behind bhis /bgaze breaking through the exhaustion for bjust /ba fleeting second.

His thumb brushed gently against her knuckles, fingering there for a beat longer than necessary. Then, he exhaled, nodding

“Alright,” he murmured. “Then let’s go.”

Together, they walked bback /bin afortable silence the tool night bair /bwrapping around them like a quiet heavier with each step, but Saphira stall bfelt /blighter somehow–like something had settled within her afte

When they reached the house, she slowed, turning toward Niks.

urance, bThe /bexhaustion was meeping in now,

*I’m going to go bback /bbto /bmy room, if that’s okay,” she bsaid/b, though the word gh–oddly hesitant on her tongue. She wasn’t sure why she fell nervous sing it–it wasn’t like he’d stop her.

Nik gaze flicked toward her, reading something in the slight tension of her shoulder. But instead of questioning it, be simply nodded. “Of course ” Then, after ba /bbeat, he added, “I cane out you once it’s time to head to the hospital?”

The nervous edge inside her eased slightly.

“Perfect. Thank you,” she said, offering a small, tited smile,

They walked together to the floor where both their rooms were, their steps slow, reluctancecing the air now that they had to part

Saphira stopped at her door, turning back to him. “Speak to you soon.”

Niks‘ lips tagged into something softer something knowing. Then, without hesitation, he leaned in, one hand cupping her face, the touch warm, atrak familiar.

The kiss was quick but full–a flecting promise pressed against her lips.

“See you soon,” he mused, his thumb hushing lightly against her cheek befine pulling away.

Saphira smiled as she opened her door, still smiling when she closed it behind her.

She couldn’t believe this bwas /bher life now.

After everything she endured at the Silvermoon bpack/b–after the bpain/b, the fear, the loss–this moment felt surnal. Like something she never allowed hersel to hope for

She stepped further into her room,

Her bpack/b.

She inhaled sharply.

her eyes catching on something familiar.

She hadn’t seen it since she found Niks, and with everything that had happened after, she had forgotten it even existed.

Heart hammering with unexpected nostalgia, she moved toward bit/b, kneeling down as she carefully opened bit/b.

Inside, she found her phone, some leftover snacks–things she barely registered before her fingers brushed against something cold.

The pendant. The dragon’s gemstone.

She lifted it slowly, turning it over in bet palm testembering the engraved name. Tracing the carved name with her fingers the read the name nut loud.

“Araxius

pulse quickened. Niks‘st name was Arrak

Herp

That… couldn’t be coincidence.

Shr

swallowed ihard/i, then reached for her phonei, /iremembering the photos she took of the pirs. Flipping through the pictures she had taken af Inscriptions she noticed something she hadn’t before.

Were these… spells?

She needed to talk to Niks about this. But not noy

For now–she bineeded /i/btest. So she ilet /ithe exhaustion ifinally /iitake /iover

The Matchmaker