The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 113

LIRA 

I pressed my back against the door after Cassian left, my breath still uneven, my pulse refusing to settle.

For a long moment, I didn’t move. I just listened. Footsteps fading. Armor shifting.

Silence returning.

Only when I was certain he was gone did I finally exhale.

“He’s gone,” I whispered.

There was a small rustle from the folds of my blankets.

Then, a soft, curious chirp.

Luna.

I rushed to the bed, pulling the covers back.

“There you are,” I breathed, relief flooding through me.

The little white dragon blinked up at me, her pale eyes shimmering like moonlight. She tilted her head, studying me in a way that felt far too knowing for something so small.

“You nearly got us both killed,” I muttered, though my voice softened as I scooped her into my arms.

She let out a soft trill and nuzzled into my neck.

And then, something shifted.

It wasn’t physical.

It was… inside of me.

A sudden pulse. A presence.

I froze.

“…Luna?”

A voice brushed against my mind.

‘Lira.’

I gasped.

My grip on her tightened slightly.

“Did you—did you just—”

‘You hear me,’ the voice said again, clearer this time. ‘You hear me now.’ 

My heart began to race.

“I… I can hear you,” I whispered. “Gods… I can hear you.”

Luna made a pleased sound, her small tail curling around my wrist.

‘Bond’, she said simply.

I stared at her.

“Bond?” I echoed.

Images flickered in my mind. Glimpse of the sky through Luna’s eyes. Then, another presence.

Older but familiar. 

My breath hitched.

“Veyraxis…” I murmured.

Luna’s eyes gleamed.

‘She speaks.’ 

And then… 

A voice, deeper, sharper, threaded with power and distance, cut through my thoughts.

‘You feel it now.’ 

I stiffened.

“Veyraxis,” I whispered aloud.

‘The bond has deepened,’ she said. ‘Through the hatchling, you touch me.’ 

I swallowed.

It felt… strange.

To hear her without being in that dark chamber. To not hear her in my head but as though she was inside of me. 

To feel her without standing before her.

“Where are you?” I asked softly.

For a moment, there was only wind.

Then… 

‘Far,’ she replied. ‘Beyond their reach. Beyond their chains.’ 

Relief washed through me.

“You’re safe?”

A pause.

Then, almost amused… 

‘Safer than I have been in centuries.’ 

I let out a shaky breath.

Luna shifted in my arms, her claws lightly pressing into my sleeve.

‘She worries,’ Luna said.

I huffed weakly.

“I do.”

‘Good,’ Veyraxis replied. ‘Fear keeps you alive.’ 

I shook my head slightly.

“You’re not exactly comforting.”

‘I am not meant to be.’ 

I hesitated.

“…What now?” I asked quietly.

There was a long silence.

Then… 

‘I gather strength’, Veyraxis said. ‘I watch. I wait.’ 

My stomach twisted.

“And then?”

Her voice sharpened.

‘And then we burn them.’ 

A chill ran through me.

Even now, even after everything… 

Hearing it spoken so plainly made something in my chest tighten.

Luna shifted again, pressing closer.

‘Not yet,’ the hatchling murmured softly.

Veyraxis’s presence receded slightly.

‘Not yet,’ she agreed. ‘But soon.’ 

The connection faded.

Not completely, but enough that I was alone again. Or as alone as I could be with a dragon in my arms.

I looked down at Luna.

She blinked up at me innocently.

I let out a breath.

“If you’re going to stay here,” I said quietly, “you have to listen to me.”

Her head tilted.

“You cannot make a sound when others are around. You cannot wander. You cannot be seen. I wil bring you food and whatever you need but you cannot leave this room.” 

She blinked.

Then… 

Hide, she said.

“Yes. Hide.”

She nodded, or at least did something close enough.

I managed a small, tired smile.

“Good.”

************************

At dinner I tried to steal as much of food as I could. I managed to snag a huge cut of steak into a napkin for Lira. 

I sat beside Elora, trying to focus on normalcy and eyeing a big piece of chicken Luna would enjoy. 

“You look so much better,” she said to me. “Thank the gods.”

“Oh stop your fussing. I’m fine.”

She studied me for a moment, then nodded.

“Good.”

Across the table, Amara leaned forward dramatically.

“I still cannot believe there was a dragon,” she said. “An actual dragon.”

Evadne scoffed.

“That’s what you’re focused on? Not the fact that one of us was poisoned? And the killer is still out there?” 

Amara waved a hand.

“Well, she didn’t die, did she? And whoever it is would be caught anyways.” 

Vivienne shot her a look.

“That doesn’t make it any less serious.”

“I’m just saying,” Amara continued, “a dragon is far more interesting.”

“The news of the dragon has made everyone on edge though. Prince Cassian is busier than ever. He barely pays attention to us.” Amara added with a soft sigh. 

Calista sighed softly, shaking her head.

“Prince Cassian has far more important things to worry about now,” she said smoothly. “You can hardly expect him to hover over us when the kingdom may be at risk.”

Evadne smirked.

“Oh? Defending him now?”

Calista lifted her chin slightly.

“I’m just being realistic. You expect him to cater to us when he has to deal with the dragons, our safety and Lady Lira’s attempted murder?”

I visibly stiffened when she mentioned my name. I couldn’t understand how she could talk so casually about it. When she was the one who tried to kill me. 

Vivienne leaned toward me slightly.

“How are you feeling, truly?” she asked.

“I’m fine,” I said again.

She didn’t look convinced at all.

“I still think whoever did it should be found and punished,” she muttered.

“Oh they will be. Prince Cassian told me he’s working on finding the killer,” Calista said calmly.

I glanced at her.

She met my gaze. And smiled.

Something cold twisted in my stomach.

I looked away.

Amara leaned back in her chair.

“I heard Juliette is already halfway home,” she said. “Crying the entire way, apparently.”

Evadne laughed.

“Good for her. She never truly fit in here. Perhaps she’d find some Lord who would entertain all her whims and wiles.”

Elora frowned.

“That’s unkind.”

“It’s the truth,” Evadne replied lightly.

I barely heard them anymore, because as I looked up, I saw a man standing just outside our hall. His eyes fixated on me. 

Unblinking.

My stomach dropped.

“Lira?” Elora nudged me gently. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I said quickly. “Sorry. I got carried away.” 

But my eyes kept drifting back.

The man didn’t move, he didn’t look away, he just kept looking at me. 

***************************

I waited, until the girls began clearing out one by one. Calista left with Evadne and Amara. Vivienne wanted to ask Elora something about the lessons so they left together. I remained at the table until the servants began clearing plates.

Then I stood.

I moved slowly, casually.

Toward the side corridor.

Toward the man that wouldn’t stop staring at me.

He turned before I reached him.

And began to walk.

My pulse quickened.

I followed.

Through one corridor.

Then another.

Until we were alone.

He stopped.

I stepped closer.

“Who are you?” I asked quietly.

He turned.

Up close, his face was unremarkable, but he had sharp eyes.  I wondered if he was one of the staff but I had never seen him before. 

“You don’t look like you belong here,” I said.

He smiled faintly.

“Neither do you,” he replied.

My breath caught.

“Who sent you?”

He leaned slightly closer.

“Your brother sends his regards.”

The world seemed to tilt.

“No…” I whispered.

“Yes.”

My heart began to race.

“It’s too soon,” I said quickly. “I already sent him a letter… this is a bad time…” 

“There will never be a right time,” he said simply.

“You need to stop it,” I insisted. “It’s not safe. The palace is on edge. There was a dragon…” 

“We know.”

My stomach dropped.

“You don’t understand…” 

“We understand enough.”

I shook my head.

“No, you don’t, this is bad timing…” 

He stepped closer.

“The timing,” he said softly, “is perfect.”

My hands trembled slightly.

“I sent a letter,” I said. “To delay…” 

“The plan is already in motion, the letter won’t stop anything.”

My chest tightened.

Panic began to creep in.

“This is moving too fast,” I whispered.

His gaze hardened slightly.

“Perhaps,” he said, “you are the one slowing down.”

I froze.

“What?”

He studied me.

“Have you forgotten why you are here?”

“No,” I said quickly.

He tilted his head slightly.

“Then remember.”

“We move soon.”

My breath hitched.

“How soon?” I asked.

But he was already stepping back, and he was gone.