The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 138

LIRA

"Evander, stop."

He blinked.

The joy in his face flickered.

"What?"

I stepped back. Put distance between us.

"You're talking about marriage like it's already decided. Like I don't have a say."

"Of course you have a say..." 

"Do I?" My voice was sharper than I intended. "Because it feels like you've already planned everything without me."

Evander stared at me.

For a long moment, he didn't speak. His hands dropped to his sides. His expression shifted, confusion, then hurt, then something harder that I couldn't name.

"You don't want to marry me?" 

"That's not..." 

"Is there someone else? My brother?" 

The question hit like a slap.

"Of course not," I said.

But even as the words left my mouth, an image flashed through my mind.

Cassian's. 

A voice that said choose me.

I crushed the thought immediately.

Evander was still watching me. Still searching my face for something I couldn't give him.

"I just think we're moving too fast," I said carefully. "The Selection isn't over yet. The trials haven't happened. There's so much that's happening around us."

"I know enough." He stepped closer again, reaching for my hands. "I know I love you, Lira. I know I want to spend my life with you. What else matters?"

Love.

He said it so easily.

Like it was nothing.

Like it didn't mean everything.

"Love isn't always enough," I whispered.

Evander's jaw tightened.

"It is for me."

He kissed my forehead, softly, gently, and stepped back.

"Think about it," he said. "That's all I'm asking. Think about what kind of life we could have together."

Then he walked away.

The door closed behind him.

And I stood alone in the fitting room, surrounded by silver silk and crystal beads, and wondered how I had gotten myself into this mess.

\-------------------------

The candles had burned low.

I sat cross-legged on the floor, my back against the bed, my knees drawn up to my chest. The room was dark, darker than I liked, but I didn't have the energy to light more candles.

Luna curled in my lap, her small white scales glowing faintly in the dim light. Her silver eyes blinked up at me, patient and unblinking.

‘You are sad again.’

Her voice slid into my mind like silk, soft, warm, tinged with something that might have been concern. She had been speaking more often lately, the bond between us deepening with each passing day.

"I'm always sad these days," I whispered.

I do not like it when you are sad.

"I don't like it either."

Luna shifted, crawling higher onto my chest until her face was level with mine. Her silver eyes searched my expression, ancient and childlike all at once.

‘Tell me what is wrong.’

I laughed, a hollow, brittle sound. "How much time do you have?"

‘All the time. I am a dragon.’

"Fair point."

I leaned my head back against the bed frame and stared at the ceiling. Luna settled against my collarbone, her warmth seeping through the fabric of my dress.

"Your mother," I said finally. "Veyraxis."

‘What about her?’

"She's going to attack. On the day of the Dragon Trials. When the palace is full of people. When everyone is there."

Luna was quiet for a moment.

I know.

"You know?"

‘I can feel her. Sometimes. When the bond is strong.’ Luna's voice grew softer, almost hesitant. ‘She is angry. Always angry. It burns inside her like a fire that never goes out.’ 

"I know the feeling."

‘But she is also scared.’ 

I blinked. "Scared? Veyraxis?"

‘She has been alone for so long. Trapped beneath the mountain. Listening to the world move on without her.’ Luna pressed her head against my jaw. ‘She does not want to hurt everyone. She wants to hurt the ones who hurt her.’ 

"The crown," I said. "The King. The royal family."

Yes.

"But she'll also hurt innocent people too. There’s no way they won’t be hurt. The other girls. The servants, the staff. People who had nothing to do with what happened to her."

Luna didn't answer.

"She told me to choose," I continued, my voice cracking. "Stand with her or burn with them. What kind of choice is that?"

‘A cruel one.’

"Exactly."

Luna crawled higher, wrapping herself around my neck like a living necklace. Her tail curled beneath my chin, and I felt her mind brushing against mine, not intruding, just... there. Present.

What will you do?

"I don't know." I closed my eyes. "I don't have an army. I don't have any magic. I have you…” I held her up, looking into her silver eyes. "And you're the size of a large rodent."

Luna's tail twitched indignantly.

I am NOT a rodent.” 

"You're very small."

‘I am GROWING.’

"You can fit in my palms.” 

‘That is TEMPORARY.’ 

I couldn't help it. I laughed, a real laugh, the first one in days. Luna preened, clearly pleased with herself.

‘See? Less sad now.’

"A little," I admitted.

I pulled her back to my chest, holding her close. Her scales were warm against my skin, and I could feel her heartbeat, tiny, rapid, alive.

"And then there's Evander."

Luna's tail twitched again.

‘The persistent prince.’ 

"He wants to marry me. Marry me. Like, before the end of the year. He's already planning the wedding."

‘Do you want to marry him?’ 

"I don't know." I stared at the ceiling. "He's kind. He's attentive. He looks at me like I'm something precious. I’d be more than comfortable if I married him.” 

‘But?’

I was quiet for a moment.

"But he doesn't know me. Not really. He knows the girl I'm pretending to be. The dead girl. The one with the noble name and the pretty dresses and he doesn’t know the real me.” 

‘And if he knew the truth?’

"He would hate me."

‘You do not know that.’

"Yes, I do." My voice hardened. "My father was executed for treason. His crime was standing against the crown. Evander is the crown. He's a prince. His family destroyed mine. How would like me when I’ve been plotting their downfall this whole time?” 

Luna was silent.

‘Revenge is a heavy thing to carry.’

"I know."

‘But you will not let it go.’

It wasn't a question.

"No," I said quietly. "I won't."

Luna sighed, a soft, almost human sound.

‘Then I will carry it with you.’

I looked down at her.

"You don't have to..”

‘I am bonded to you. Your burden is my burden. Your fire is my fire.’ Her silver eyes gleamed. ‘Besides, someone needs to make sure you do not do anything stupid.’ 

I laughed again. "You're bossy for a rodent."

‘I am a DRAGON.’

"Prove it."

Luna opened her mouth.

And a tiny puff of smoke, barely visible, barely there, drifted from between her tiny sharp teeth.

I stared.

‘See?’ She sounded smug. ‘Dragon.’

"Luna, that's, that's amazing." I grabbed her, holding her up to eye level. "You can blow smoke now?” 

‘I can do many things. I am very talented.’ 

"When did you learn to do that?"

‘This morning. I have been practicing.’

"Practicing?"

‘In the wardrobe. Under the blankets. I may have singed one of your sleeves.’

I looked down at my robe. Sure enough, the left sleeve had a small, dark burn mark near the cuff.

"Luna!"

‘I said I was talented. I did not say I was careful.’ 

I shook my head, but I was smiling. Actually smiling.

"Thank you," I whispered, pulling her to my chest. "I needed that."

She nestled against me, her warmth spreading through my chest.

‘You are welcome. Now stop being sad. It is exhausting.’

"I'll try."

‘Try harder.’

\---

The knock came at midnight.

Three sharp raps.

Then silence.

I froze.

Luna had been sleeping on my pillow, curled into a tight white ball. At the sound, her head shot up, her silver eyes gleaming.

Someone is at the door.

"Hide," I whispered.

‘I am already hidden.’

"Hide better."

She slithered beneath the bed, disappearing into the shadows I had carefully arranged for exactly this purpose. I heard her mind brush against mine one last time, Be careful, and then she was silent.

I stood.

Pulled my robe tighter around my shoulders.

Crossed to the door.

Another knock.

"Coming," I called, keeping my voice steady.

I opened the door.