The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 124

LIRA

The smell of burnt flesh lingered long after we left the physician’s chambers.

It clung to my throat, to my skin, to my thoughts.

I couldn’t shake it.

Amara’s screams still echoed in my ears as Elora and I walked down the corridor in silence, our steps slow, heavy. Evadne had remained behind, unwilling to leave Amara’s side, though I suspected guilt weighed on her just as much as fear did.

“She’ll never forgive her,” Elora said quietly.

I glanced at her. “Would you?”

Elora didn’t answer immediately.

Her lips pressed together, her gaze distant.

“…No,” she admitted at last. “I wouldn’t.”

We turned a corner, the torchlight flickering against the stone walls, casting long, trembling shadows.

“She meant to hurt her,” Elora continued, her voice tight. “You saw it. We all did.”

“I know.”

“And yet…” She hesitated. “Do you think anything will happen to Calista?”

I let out a quiet, humorless breath.

“No.”

Elora stopped walking.

“No?” she repeated, stunned.

I turned to face her fully now, the weight of everything pressing against my chest.

“She won’t be punished,” I said firmly. “Not in any real way.”

“But, Lira, she burned her. Her entire arm..."

“I know what she did,” I cut in, sharper than I intended.

Elora flinched slightly.

I softened, just a little.

“I know,” I repeated more quietly. “But Calista is protected. You’ve seen it. Everyone has. The Queen will do nothing."

Elora’s brows furrowed.

“You think the Queen would overlook something like this?”

“I think,” I said slowly, “that the Queen sees Calista as too important to lose.”

Elora shook her head.

“That’s not right.”

“No,” I agreed. “It isn’t.”

We stood there for a moment, the silence stretching between us.

Then Elora stepped closer, lowering her voice.

“And you?” she asked. “You’ve been in her path more than anyone. Do you think she’ll stop?”

My stomach twisted.

Images flashed in my mind, the fire in her eyes during the match.

“No,” I said again

This time, there was no hesitation.

Elora’s expression hardened.

“Then we need to do something.”

I looked at her sharply.

“Elora...”

“No,” she insisted. “You were right. She’s dangerous. If we stay quiet, she’ll just keep going.”

“And what do you propose we do?” I asked, my voice low but urgent. “March up to the Queen and accuse her without proof?”

Elora faltered.

“I… I could testify,” she said. “I saw what happened today. We all would. It's a start."

“And she’ll say it was an accident,” I replied immediately. “And everyone will believe her because she cries well and smiles even better.”

Elora clenched her fists.

“That’s not fair.”

“Nothing here is fair.”

The words came out harsher than I intended, but I didn’t take them back.

Because they were true.

Elora exhaled shakily.

“…Then we watch her like we plan to,” she said after a moment. “We wait. And the next time she tries something, we make sure she doesn’t get away with it.”

I studied her face.

She meant it.

She was scared, but she was also determined.

“I just don’t want you getting hurt,” I said quietly.

Elora gave me a small, sad smile.

“I won't.”

That shut me up.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then I straightened. I had left Luna at the courtyard. I wonder if I she was still hidden.

“I need to go,” I said.

Elora blinked. “Now?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“My room,” I lied smoothly. “I have a headache.”

She studied me, clearly unconvinced.

But she didn’t press.

“…Alright,” she said softly. “Come find me later?”

“I will.”

Another lie.

But she nodded anyway, reaching out to squeeze my hand briefly before turning and walking down the corridor.

I waited until she disappeared from sight.

Then I turned in the opposite direction, and ran.

My heart pounded as I hurried through the halls, Luna.

The thought of her alone in my room sent a sharp spike of panic through me.

What if someone had discovered her.

“No,” I whispered under my breath. “She’s fine. She has to be.”

I quickened my pace.

The corridors blurred around me, servants and guards stepping aside as I passed.

By the time I reached my door, my chest was tight, my breath uneven.

The guard stationed outside straightened immediately.

“My lady.”

“Thank you,” I said quickly, already pushing the door open.

I stepped inside, the window was opened. I froze.

“Luna?” I whispered.

Silence.

My stomach dropped.

“Luna?” I called again, louder this time.

Nothing.

The room was empty.

Too empty.

Panic surged through me.

“No, no, no…”

I rushed forward, dropping to my knees beside the bed and yanking up the covers.

“Luna...?”

Nothing.

I scrambled to my feet, checking behind the curtains, the wardrobe, the hearth.

“Luna!”

My voice cracked.

Where was she?

Where could she have...

A soft sound.

Barely audible.

A tiny, familiar huff.

I stilled.

Slowly, I turned toward the far corner of the room.

There.

Curled behind the trunk.

Relief crashed over me so hard my knees nearly gave out.

“Luna,” I breathed, rushing toward her.

She lifted her little head, golden eyes blinking sleepily.

'You’re loud', her voice echoed faintly in my mind, tinged with amusement.

I dropped to my knees in front of her, pulling her into my arms.

“Don’t do that,” I whispered fiercely. “Don’t hide like that, I thought..."

'You thought I was gone.'

I swallowed hard.

“Yes.”

Luna shifted slightly, pressing her head against my chest.

'I would not leave you,' she said simply.

Something inside me tightened.

I held her closer.

“You scared me.”

'You were scared long before you came in,' she observed.

I let out a shaky breath.

“I was.”

Luna pulled back slightly, her gaze dropping to my arm.

'You are hurt.'

I frowned.

“What?”

She nudged my sleeve.

I followed her gaze, and stilled.

My arm.

The fabric was singed. I pushed the sleeve up slowly.

And there it was. Angry red skin.

A burn. My breath caught.

“When...?”

The memory hit me. Calista had hit me in the fight.

The moment her fire had brushed past me.

I had been too focused.

Too determined to stay standing.

“I didn’t even feel it,” I murmured.

'You felt other things more', Luna said softly.

I let out a weak laugh.

“Apparently.”

The burn stung now that I noticed it.

“She did this,” I said quietly. “She tried to hurt me. Again.”

Luna’s eyes darkened.

'I do not like her.'

“Neither do I.”

I reached for a cloth, dampening it slightly before pressing it gently against the burn.

I hissed under my breath.

“That’s going to scar,” I murmured as I pressed the damp cloth on the burned skin.

Suddenly, the door opened.

I froze.

Slowly, I turned.

And my breath caught in my throat.

Cassian stood in the doorway.

His presence filled the room instantly, sharp, overwhelming, impossible to ignore.

His eyes locked onto mine.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

My heart began to pound.

Had he seen Luna?

Had he heard....

“Lira,” he said, his voice low, controlled.