The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 139

LIRA

A guard stood in the corridor.

But he wasn't like the other guards.

His uniform was standard, the same dark leather, the same silver crest. But his face... his face was wrong. Too sharp. Too knowing. His eyes were the color of winter storms, and when he looked at me, I felt something cold slither down my spine.

"Lady Lira," he said. His voice was low. Careful. "I apologize for the late hour."

"Who are you?" I kept my hand on the door, ready to slam it shut.

‘Lira.’ Luna's voice was urgent in my mind. ‘I do not like him.’ 

I know, I thought back. Stay hidden.

"That's not important," the guard said. His gaze flicked down the corridor, checking for witnesses. "What's important is that you listen."

"I'm not…” 

"The old oak," he said. "At the edge of the gardens. Where the wall crumbles. Come now. Alone."

My heart stuttered.

"Why?"

"Because there are people who want to help you. People who share your... goals." His eyes met mine then his voice dropped dangerously low. "People from Norwyn."

The word hit like a blade.

Norwyn.

The enemy kingdom.

‘Lira.’ Luna's voice was sharp now. ‘Do not go.’

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said.

"Yes, you do." He stepped closer, close enough that I could see the scar beneath his jaw, the tension in his shoulders. "Clock is ticking and we’re waiting Lady Lira.” 

My blood turned to ice.

‘Lira, please. Do not go.’ 

"Get out," I whispered.

"Tonight. The old oak. Come alone." He stepped back, melting into the shadows. "Or don't. But if you want to finish what you started…” 

"Get out."

He bowed, a shallow, mocking gesture and disappeared down the corridor.

I closed the door.

Locked it.

Pressed my back against the wood and slid down until I was sitting on the floor.

‘Lira.’ Luna's voice was soft now, worried. ‘You are not actually considering…’ 

"Luna, I need you to listen to me."

‘No.’

"Luna…” 

‘No. I can feel what you are thinking. It is dangerous. It is STUPID.’ 

"I don't have a choice."

‘You ALWAYS have a choice.’ 

I pulled my knees to my chest and pressed my forehead against them.

"If Norwyn is here, then they’ve already started moving in place. I have to know what they’re planning.” 

‘Or they could be lying. Or they could be using you. Or they could kill you the moment you step outside your room.’ 

"Maybe, but they won’t. They need me. I’ve been feeding them information for weeks they won’t just discard me like that.” 

‘LIRA.’ 

"I have to go, Luna."

She was silent for a long moment.

‘Then I am coming with you.’

"You can't. They said alone…” 

‘I do not care what they said. I am a dragon. I go where I please.’ 

"You're the size of a…” 

‘If you say rodent one more time, I will set your pillow on fire.’ 

I almost laughed.

"Fine," I said. "You can come. But you stay hidden in my cloak. No matter what."

‘Agreed.’

"And if anything goes wrong…” 

‘ I will protect you.’

I looked down at my chest, at the small white dragon who had somehow become the most important thing in my life.

"Promise me."

‘ I promise.’

\---

The gardens were dark.

The moon was hidden behind clouds, and the only light came from the distant torches along the palace walls. I moved through the shadows like a ghost, silent, careful, my heart pounding so loud I was sure someone would hear.

Luna was hidden in my cloak, curled against my chest. Her warmth was the only thing keeping me from turning back.

‘There are two of them, she murmured in my mind. I can sense them. Waiting.’ 

"The old oak. Where the wall crumbles."

I found it.

The tree was ancient, massive, gnarled, its roots breaking through the stone wall that surrounded the palace grounds. Beyond the wall, the forest stretched dark and endless.

Two figures stood in the shadow of the oak.

Both were masked.

Heavily masked.

Cloaks pulled low. Faces hidden. Not a single inch of skin visible.

I stopped a few feet away.

‘Be careful,’ Luna whispered.

I know.

"You came," one of them said. His voice was muffled by the mask, but I could tell it was a man. Older. Maybe forty.

"You said you wanted to see me.”

"Yes. We had to see the person who has helped our cause a great deal.” 

My throat tightened.

"Why are you here? You do know the palace is tightening security? I already wrote my brother detailing what is happening in the palace. This in no time for an attack.” 

The two figures exchanged a glance.

Then the taller one reached up.

Pulled off his mask.

And the world stopped.

\---

Callum.

My brother stood before me, his dark hair disheveled, his face pale in the darkness. His eyes, his eyes, the ones that had looked out for me my entire life, were red-rimmed and exhausted.

"Callum?" My voice broke. "Callum, what are you, how did you…”