The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 115

LIRA

I froze.

My whole body went rigid.

This wasn’t like Cassian. I didn’t respond.

I couldn’t even if I tried.

The door opened.

“Evander…” 

Cassian’s voice.

We broke apart instantly.

I stepped back, my face burning.

Cassian stood in the doorway, his gaze sharp.

“I need a word,” he said coldly.

Evander straightened.

“Now is not the time.”

“It is,” Cassian replied.

Tension snapped between them.

“I am busy,” Evander said.

Cassian’s eyes flicked briefly to me.

Then back to his brother.

“This won’t wait.”

Evander’s jaw tightened.

“You’re interrupting my dinner.”

“And you’re being foolish.”

I sucked in a breath.

“Stop,” I said softly.

Neither of them listened.

“Whatever you need can wait,” Evander snapped.

“No,” Cassian said sharply. “It can’t.”

“Enough,” another voice cut in.

Princess Aveline.

She stepped into the room, in tunic and riding boots, she must have been out with her dragon. She looked amused. 

I rarely saw the princess, but now that I saw her, I saw the striking resemblance she bore to Cassian and her brother. They all seemed to share the same electric blue eyes. But it was Aveline who looked like Cassian the most. 

“Must you both turn everything into a spectacle?”

Neither answered.

She sighed.

“I’ll take Lady Lira back,” she said lightly. “You two can continue your… discussion.”

Evander hesitated. Then nodded.

Cassian said nothing.

Aveline turned to me.

“Come.”

***The walk back was quiet at first.***

***Then….*** 

***“You’re quite the mystery,” Aveline said.***

***I glanced at her.***

***“I don’t understand.”***

***We walked a few more steps.***

***Then she spoke again.***

***“I don’t know what it is about you,” she said. “But whatever it is… it won’t last.”***

***My chest tightened.***

***“What do you mean?”***

***“Cassian,” she said lightly. “He’s… intense. But fleeting. You don’t want to know how many women he has bed and left.”*** 

***I swallowed hard.*** 

***“And Evander?”***

***She laughed softly.***

***“Evander wants what Cassian wants.”***

***I froze.***

***“What?” I said.*** 

***She looked at me.***

***“You don’t know?”***

***I didn’t answer.***

***She continued walking.***

***“When Cassian loses interest in you,” she said calmly, “Evander will too. I suspect he’s only courting you to spite Cassian.”*** 

***The words landed like a blow.***

***“You should be careful,” she added.***

***I stared ahead.***

***“Or better yet,” she said softly, “leave.”***

***I stopped.***

***“What?”***

***She turned to me.***

***“You’re a soft fragile thing with two powerful princes fighting for your attention. My mother wouldn’t like that. If she ever finds out Cassian also has some interest in you, she’ll find a way to make you disappear,”  she said like it was the simplest thing in the world.***

***Silence stretched between us.***

***Then she smiled faintly.***

***“Goodnight, Lady Lira.”***

**The next morning felt wrong before it even began.**

**I dressed slowly, my thoughts still tangled in everything that had happened the night before, Evander’s kiss, Cassian’s interruption, Aveline’s warning.**

**Her voice wouldn’t leave me. The thought of the Queen making me disappear if she found out what was going on scared me, honestly, it rattled me and made me unsettled.** 

**A sharp knock sounded at my door.**

**I stiffened instinctively.**

**“It’s just the attendants,” came a familiar voice from outside.**

**I exhaled and opened the door.**

**Two instructors stood there, stern-faced.**

**“Lady Lira,” one of them said, “all participants of the Queen’s Selection are to report to the lower courtyard immediately.”**

**“For what?” I asked.**

**“New directives,” the other replied. “Combat training begins today.”**

**My stomach dropped.**

**“Combat?” I echoed.**

**“Due to recent developments,” he said, not elaborating further.**

**The dragon.**

**Of course.**

**“Understood,” I said quietly.**

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

**The courtyard buzzed with unease.**

**All the girls were gathered, dressed in lighter training garments instead of their usual silks and gowns. Even though it was nothing glamorous, Calista still managed to stand out in her pale pink tunic and pants.** 

**Some looked nervous.**

**Others excited.**

**Vivienne was practically glowing.** 

**“Oh, finally something interesting,” she said, stretching her arms. “I was beginning to think I’d die of boredom.”**

**Evadne laughed lightly.**

**“Careful what you wish for.”**

**Elora moved closer to me.**

**“Are you alright?” she asked softly.**

**“I’m fine,” I said.**

**Lie.**

**The instructors stepped forward.**

**“Given the recent instability within the kingdom,” one began, “it has been deemed necessary that all candidates undergo basic combat and defensive training.”**

**A murmur rippled through the group.**

**“You will learn how to defend yourselves,” he continued, “and how to react in the event of an attack.”**

**My pulse quickened.**

**Attack.**

**The word felt… pointed.**

**“Pair up,” the second instructor ordered. “We begin immediately. Anything goes. If you have powers, use them.”** 

**The courtyard shifted into motion. I knew it wouldn’t be fair. Unlike the other girls who had powers that could help, visions wouldn’t exactly help me win a fight.** 

**Vivienne’s brute strength ensured nobody was winning against her, Calista had her fire powers; Amara could use her invisibility; and even Elora could use vines and plants against the enemy. I wasn’t fully sure what Evadne’s powers were but I was the only one who was useless.** 

**Girls paired off.**

**Weapons were being handed out: light staffs and wooden blades.**

**I reached for a staff, my fingers tightening around the smooth wood.**

**‘I am here.’**

**Luna’s voice brushed my mind.**

**I froze.**

**“What?” I whispered under my breath.**

**‘Do not be afraid.’** 

**My heart started pounding.**

**“Where are you?”**

**‘Close.’**

**I swallowed hard, glancing around the courtyard.**

**Nothing.**

**No sign of her.**

**But I could feel her.**

**A faint warmth at the edge of my awareness.**

**“You shouldn’t be here,” I muttered under my breath.**

**‘I hide.’** 

**That did little to calm me.**

**If anyone saw her, if anyone even sensed her….** 

**Everything would fall apart.**

**“Focus,” the instructor barked.**

**I snapped back to attention.**

**“Begin.”**

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

The first few drills were simple.

Blocking.

Dodging.

Basic footwork.

But I could feel it.

The shift.

The tension.

Something was wrong.

Calista approached me to pair with me. 

“Shall we?” she said sweetly.

My grip tightened on the staff.

“…Of course.”

We circled each other.

Her smile never wavered.

“Ready?” the instructor called.

“Yes,” Calista said lightly.

I nodded.

“Begin.”

She moved first.

A burst of heat flared… 

I barely jumped back in time as a flash of fire licked across where I had been standing.

My breath caught.

“That was an accident,” she said smoothly.

Lie.

I knew it.

She struck again.

This time I blocked, but the heat surged up the staff, burning my palms.

I hissed.

‘Left.’ 

Luna’s voice.

I moved instinctively.

A second burst of flame shot past me, missing me by inches.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

“She’s trying to burn me,” I whispered under my breath.

‘I know.’

Calista tilted her head.

“You’re good,” she said, almost amused.

Another strike. Another burst of fire. This one was stronger. More deliberate.

I dodged again, barely.

The instructor saw us but didn’t intervene.

My pulse roared in my ears.

“She’s trying to kill me,” I breathed.