The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 118

CASSIAN

By nightfall, I had nothing.

Nothing.

My guards had combed through corridors, servants’ quarters, storage halls, anywhere a creature could hide.

Nothing.

“Are you certain?” I asked sharply.

The captain of my guard nodded. “We found no sign of any dragon, Your Highness. No tracks. No scorch marks. Nothing unusual.”

“That’s impossible.”

“I agree, sir.”

I clenched my jaw.

Because I could feel it.

Or maybe it wasn’t me.

Maybe it was him.

‘It is here,’ Taheer’s voice echoed in my mind, low and certain. ‘I can still feel it.’ 

“Then where is it?” I muttered under my breath.

There was no answer.

Just that steady, unnerving certainty.

“Search Lady Lira’s room when she isn’t in it,” I ordered quietly.

The captain hesitated only a fraction. “Discreetly?”

“Yes.”

“No one else is to know,” I added.

He bowed. “Of course.”

***The next day, I waited. Lira has gone for her lesson, which presented my men the perfect opportunity to search her room and rearrange everything back to how it was so she wouldn’t suspect anything.***

***So I waited.*** 

***And waited.***

***And when the captain returned,*** 

***“Nothing,” he said.***

***I laughed once, low and humorless.***

***“This is ridiculous.”***

***‘It is not,’ Taheer said.***

***I pressed my fingers to my temple. “Then where is it?”***

***‘Somewhere in this palace. It knows how to conceal itself.’***

***That was not comforting.***

***Not in the slightest.***

________________________

I didn’t know where else to go.

So I went to the only place left.

The past.

The archives were quiet at this hour, dust heavy in the air, candlelight flickering across endless shelves of forgotten knowledge.

He was exactly where I expected him to be.

Bent over a table, thin hands tracing faded ink across an ancient page.

“Maester.”

The old man didn’t look up immediately.

“Your Highness,” he said after a moment, voice dry as parchment. “To what do I owe this… unexpected visit?”

“I need some answers.”

That made him pause.

Slowly, he lifted his gaze to meet mine.

“Answers are rarely given freely,” he said. “Especially not the ones you seek.”

“I don’t care about the cost.”

A faint, knowing smile touched his lips.

“They never do.”

I stepped closer. “There’s a dragon in this palace.”

“I am aware.”

“So you can sense it too then. I need to find it.”

His expression didn’t change.

“There are a few ways,” he said carefully.

“Tell me.”

He studied me for a long moment.

As though weighing something.

Then he sighed.

“Ancient kings were not as… restrained as your father,” he said. “They prepared for everything. Even betrayal from their own dragons.”

My stomach tightened.

“There is a ritual,” he continued. “A failsafe.”

“What kind of ritual?”

“Blood.”

Of course.

“Royal blood,” he clarified. “Bound to dragon magic. It allows the caster to… reach beyond the physical.”

“To do what?”

“To find what is hidden.”

My pulse quickened.

“How?”

*“It reveals the strongest dragon presence around the caster.”*

*I stilled.*

*“…And?”*

*“And,” the Maester said softly, “it exposes those bound to the dragon.”*

*Silence fell.*

*Heavy.*

*Dangerous.*

*“Where is it?” I asked.*

*He held my gaze.*

*“Some books here might have the original spell.”*

*“That doesn’t answer my question.”*

*“It was not meant to be used again. And I cannot reveal them to you without the Dragon King’s permission.”* 

*“My father can’t know about this yet. He already worries a lot. I need you to help me with the ritual.”*

*He exhaled slowly.*

*“I shall try my best.”*

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

I found Taheer in the courtyard.

Or rather, he found me.

‘You are troubled,’ he said.

“I have found something,” I replied.

That was enough.

He landed before me moments later, massive and imposing even in stillness.

“Speak.”

“There’s a ritual,” I said. “An old one. It can track the dragon.”

His entire body went still.

“No.”

“It only needs royal blood..” 

“I said no.”

I frowned. “You haven’t even heard…” 

“I know what you are describing.”

That gave me pause.

“And?”

“It is very dangerous.”

“So is everything else right now. Who knows if Veyraxis planted the hatchling to spy on us? We have to find it.” 

“This is different.”

I stepped closer. “It can expose the bond.”

His gaze sharpened.

“…What?”

“If someone is connected to the dragon,” I said, my voice lowering, “this will show it.”

Silence, then he finally spoke. 

“You will not do this.”

It wasn’t a suggestion.

“Why?” I demanded.

“Because the ritual does not distinguish between enemy and ally. The ritual isn’t as simple as you think it is.”

“I don’t care…” 

“You should.”

Something in his tone made me stop.

“If the bond is new,” Taheer continued, “it is fragile.” 

My chest tightened.

“And?”

“And forcing it into the open could break the mind. And not just the hatchling’s.” 

I swallowed.

“…Or?”

“Or kill the dragon.”

The words hit harder than I expected.

“And if Veyraxis feels it,” he added, “she will know exactly what you are doing.” 

I ran a hand through my hair.

“So what am I supposed to do?” I snapped. “Sit here and wait while everything falls apart?”

“You are supposed to be patient.”

“I don’t have that luxury.”

“You do not have a choice.”

I laughed bitterly. “There’s always a choice.”

His gaze didn’t waver.