The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 129

LIRA

I blinked. "Just like that?"

"Just like that." Elora's expression was troubled. "She said, well, you know what she said. The dragon. The chaos. The poison. Calista. She said she didn't feel safe anymore."

I didn't respond.

Because the truth was, I couldn't blame her.

We found the other girls gathered on the terrace. Calista stood near the railing, her long golden hair loose around her shoulders, her face carefully composed. Amara and Evadne huddled together on a stone bench, their trunks already packed at their feet.

And Vivienne, tall, strong dark haired Vivienne, stood at the center of them all, a small smile on her face that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"You're really leaving?" Elora asked.

Vivienne turned. Her gaze swept over us, Elora, then Calista, then me.

"I am."

"Just because of the dragon?" Calista's voice was mild, but I heard the edge beneath it. "That seems... stupid." 

Vivienne laughed softly. "Calista, please, I've watched many girls sent home. I've watched one be poisoned. I've watched another one poisoned. I've watched you burn Evadne's arm and I've watched a girl almost ruin her life because of this selection. And the Prince, he doesn't even notice me." 

She glanced at me, and there was no malice in it. Only exhaustion. "I didn't want to come here. I came here to represent my family, like most of you did. With each passing week, I realised I wasn't still here because I was particularly wanted by the Crown Prince, but because of how powerful my house is. I also realised I never wanted the crown. I don't think I ever wanted it, my parents tried to get me used to the idea of being Queen, but I don't think that's my path." 

No one spoke.

Vivienne picked up her box, as if she couldn't wait to be rid of the rest, and turned to face us fully.

"But I did make good memories here. I found companionship. I made friends. Female friends. It's been a real pleasure, ladies. Truly." She smiled again, and this time it reached her eyes. "I hope the one who wins is truly worthy of the fight."

"I must leave. My brother has arrived with a carriage to take me home." 

She kissed Elora's cheek and whispered to her. Squeezed Amara's hand. Nodded at Evadne. She didn't spare Calista a glance. 

Then she came to me.

"Be careful, Lira," she said quietly. "I fear you're not out of the woods yet." 

I swallowed. "I know."

She held my gaze for a moment longer. Then she turned and walked away.

The palace felt emptier without her.

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Amara and Evadne left within the hour.

Their departure was quieter, less ceremony, more resignation. Amara hugged Elora fiercely, whispered something in her ear that made Elora's eyes go wide. She nodded at me. Evadne simply curtsied to us all and walked away without looking back.

And then there were three.

Calista. Elora. Me.

I could scarcely believe it. 

I had somehow fought, clawed and wrestled my way unit the top three ladies in the selection. 

Now, even if I didn't win the Dragon Queen Selection, or marry Prince Evadne. I would have a sizeable host of suitors waiting for me. 

Because they believed I was desirable and worthy enough of their hand if I could make it this far. 

And somewhere in the palace, Vivienne's words echoed in my skull:

I hope the one who wins is worthy of the fight.

But it wouldn't be the one who was worthy that would win. 

Calista would win. 

And she was in no way worthy.

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That afternoon, Elora pulled me into an empty sitting room and closed the door.

"I can't believe it. But now we're just three left," she said without preamble. "And Vivienne has left. I hate to say it but she's right. The palace is a mess. Whatever they're searching for, the dragon flying, Calista burning people... it's not safe here." 

"I know."

"Do you know why the guards are searching everywhere? I heard them banging on your door too for a very long time. Why didn't you open sooner?" 

I hesitated.

Elora's eyes searched my face. "Lira. What aren't you telling me?"

Everything, I thought. I'm not telling you everything.

But I couldn't. Not yet. Not when the truth would put her in danger too.

"I don't know," I lied. "Maybe they're still looking for anyone connected to the dragon. Or maybe something else happened that they're not telling us." 

Elora didn't look convinced. But she didn't push.

"Just... be careful," she said finally. "Something is happening in this palace. Something big. And I don't want you caught in the middle of it. I know you can't seem to stay away from trouble. But this time, I beg you, please stay away." 

Too late for that, I thought.

But I just squeezed her hand and smiled.

"I'll be fine."

\---

That night, I sat alone in my room with Luna curled in my lap.

The palace was quiet. Too quiet. The kind of quiet that came before a storm.

I thought about Vivienne leaving. About Amara and Evadne disappearing into carriages bound for homes I'd never see. About Elora's worried eyes and Calista's careful smiles.

I thought about Cassian's hands on my face. His mouth on mine. The way he'd said I didn't do it for you like it was supposed to hurt.

Maybe it was.

Luna chirped softly, her silver eyes blinking up at me.

"I know," I whispered. "I know."

I didn't know what came next.

But I knew one thing for certain.

The selection was shrinking.

And the closer I got to the crown, the closer I got to my revenge.

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LIRA

The morning after Vivienne left, the palace felt different. We used to be thirteen girls and now just three remained. And the fact that I made it to the top three, I still couldn't believe it myself. 

I sat in the breakfast hall with Elora and Calista, just the three of us now, in awkward silence, surrounded by empty chairs and half-set tables. A servant poured tea with trembling hands. Another pretended not to listen.

"The instructors are meeting," Elora said quietly, stirring honey into her cup. "I heard them arguing in the corridor this morning."

"About what?" I asked.

"About us." She glanced toward the door, lowering her voice. "About the selection. About how it looks. Someone voluntarily leaving the selection so close to the end isn't exactly a good omen." 

Calista laughed, a sharp, brittle sound.

"How it looks? They should worry about what's happening in the palace instead. This whole selection has been crazy from the start." She set down her spoon with a deliberate clink. "It's been a disaster, Elora. That's how it looks."

"Then why are you still here?" I asked.

Calista's eyes slid to mine.

"Because I'm going to win."

The words hung in the air, pointed and precise.

I held her gaze. "Good that you're so sure of yourself. I guess the rest of us should leave and you can be handed the throne."

"No," she said softly. "It won't be fun without watching you get utterly crushed in the Dragon Trials." 

Before I could ask what she meant, the doors opened.

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