The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 114

LIRA 

I barely made it back to my room before my thoughts began to spiral again.

The spy’s words still echoed in my head, clashing with the lingering warmth of Luna’s presence somewhere beneath my bed.

I closed the door carefully behind me and leaned against it for a moment, pressing my palms into the wood.

“Get a hold of yourself,” I muttered.

A soft, familiar warmth brushed against my mind.

*‘You are loud,*’ Luna’s voice chimed gently.

I exhaled shakily.

“Sorry,” I whispered.

A knock sounded on the door.

My entire body stiffened.

Another knock.

“Lira? It’s me.”

Elora.

Relief flooded me. but it didn’t erase the tension.

“Hide,” I whispered urgently, dropping to my knees.

Luna was already moving.

The small white dragon slipped silently beneath the bed, her pale scales blending into shadow with surprising ease.

*‘Gone,*’ she said proudly.

I swallowed.

“Stay that way for a while,” I murmured.

Then I stood, smoothed my dress, and opened the door.

Elora stepped in, smiling.

“I was beginning to think you were avoiding me again,” she teased lightly.

“Never,” I said quickly, forcing a smile.

She stepped further into the room, glancing around casually.

“You look better,” she said. “Truly. It was frightening, seeing you like that.”

“I feel much better,” I replied.

Not a lie.

Just not the whole truth.

She sat on the edge of my bed.

“So,” she said, kicking off her shoes lightly, “tell me something normal. I am exhausted from hearing about dragons and poison and council meetings. It’s all anyone can talk about.” 

I let out a small laugh.

“Normal,” I echoed. “I’m not sure I remember what that feels like.”

Elora smiled.

“Then we’ll pretend.”

I sat beside her.

“Alright,” I said. “What did we learn today again?”

She groaned dramatically.

“Politics. Again.” 

I laughed softly.

“What about?”

“Ruling during a crisis,” she said. “And how grain shortages in the north affect alliances in the south.”

I tilted my head.

“That sounds… useful.”

“It sounds very boring,” she corrected.

I smiled.

“Well, if you ever rule a kingdom, you’ll need to know it. You never know.” 

She nudged me lightly.

“And you? What do you remember of our lesson?@ 

I hesitated.

“History,” I said.

“Of course,” she said knowingly. “Your favorite.”

I nodded.

“It’s easier,” I admitted. “The past doesn’t change. And it can teach us about the future.” 

Elora studied me for a moment.

“That’s not entirely true,” she said softly.

I looked away.

We fell into easier conversation after that, talking about instructors, about the other girls, about small, meaningless things that felt like a fragile shield against everything else unraveling around us.

For a moment, I almost felt normal again.

Almost.

A knock interrupted us.

I stiffened.

Elora glanced at the door.

“Expecting someone?”

“No,” I said quickly.

I stood and opened it.

Evander stood there. He looked handsome as ever in a grey and gold tunic. 

“Lady Lira,” he said warmly.

My stomach tightened.

“Lady Elora,” he greeted with a polite nod.

“Your Highness,” she replied, rising.

“I hope I’m not interrupting,” he said.

“Not at all,” Elora said quickly, though she glanced at me curiously.

Evander’s eyes found mine.

“I came to invite you to dinner,” he said.

My breath caught slightly.

“Dinner?”

“A private one,” he added. “Tonight. Just the two of us.”

Elora’s brows lifted slightly.

“How… lovely,” she said.

I forced a small smile.

“That’s very kind.”

Evander stepped closer.

“I would like to begin our courtship properly, I know we don’t have enough time with everything going on. But I hope this will at least lift your spirits,” he said.

My chest tightened.

“That sounds… thoughtful,” I said carefully.

He chuckled.

“When something is right, why delay?”

I hesitated.

Elora looked between us.

“I should go,” she said softly. “I’ll see you later.”

I nodded.

“Of course.”

She squeezed my hand briefly as she passed, her eyes lingering on mine as if searching for something.

Then she was gone.

The door closed.

And I was alone with Evander.

“So,” he said, smiling. “Will you join me?”

I swallowed.

“…Yes.”

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

After he left, I locked the door quickly.

Then I rushed to the bed.

“You can come out now,” I whispered.

Luna emerged immediately, bounding up onto the bed with surprising energy.

“You heard all that, didn’t you?” I muttered.

*‘Male wants you’,* she said simply.

I huffed.

“It’s not that simple.”

She tilted her head.

*‘You do not want male?’*

I hesitated.

“I… don’t know.”

That was the most honest answer I had.

I moved to the small napkin I had hidden earlier, pulling out the piece of steak I had taken from dinner and the other scraps. 

Luna’s eyes lit up.

“I found you some food,” I muttered, handing it to her.

She devoured it eagerly.

“Listen to me,” I said seriously. “I have to leave soon. You cannot come out. You cannot make a sound. Do you understand?”

She paused.

Then nodded.

*‘Hide.’*

“Yes. Hide. I’ll bring you more food.” 

I took a steadying breath.

Then I began to get ready.

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

A Dinner after dinner was ridiculous. But I indulged Evander. Although I made it clear I wouldn’t eat too much. He didn’t mind. He just wanted my company. 

Evander had chosen a smaller dining room, lit with soft candlelight, the table set elegantly between us.

“You look beautiful,” he said as I entered.

“Thank you,” I replied. I had worn one of the dresses Elora gifted me. I tried to make an effort. 

He pulled out my chair.

I sat.

He took his seat across from me, watching me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.

“I’ve been thinking about this,” he said.

“About what?”

“Us.”

My fingers tightened slightly around my glass.

“We don’t have to rush,” I said carefully.

“I want to,” he replied simply.

I looked up at him.

“Why?”

He smiled.

“Because I know what I want.”

“And you think that’s me?”

“I know it is.”

My chest tightened.

“Evander…” 

“I will marry you,” he said.

The certainty in his voice unsettled me.

“You don’t even know me,” I said.

“I know enough. And the King and Queen have been informed. We’re only keeping it quiet for the sake of the Dragon Queen Selection.” 

I shook my head slightly.

“This is too fast.”

“It doesn’t feel fast to me.”

“It does to me,” I insisted.

He leaned forward.

“Then trust me.”

I hesitated.

Before I could respond, he stood.

Moved around the table.

And before I could react, he leaned down and kissed me.