The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 151

LIRA

The morning light was pale and cold.

I had not slept.

Could not sleep.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw fire. Every time I drifted toward unconsciousness, I heard Veyraxis's voice slithering through my skull, promising death and destruction and blood.

You don't have a choice.

You won't be able to stop me.

Every Valemont will die.

Luna was curled on the pillow beside me, her small body rising and falling with each breath. She had stayed awake most of the night, her eyes watching me in the darkness, her mind brushing against mine with soft, wordless comfort.

'You should rest', she had said, more than once.

I can't, I had answered.

'You will need your strength.'

For what?

She hadn't answered.

Neither had I.

Now the sun was climbing over the horizon, painting the sky in shades of rose and gold. It should have been beautiful.

It looked like blood.

\---

The knock came at mid-morning.

Lira. Luna's voice was sharp. Someone is at the door.

"Hide."

She didn't argue. She slid beneath the bed, disappearing into the shadows I had come to think of as hers.

I smoothed my nightgown, ran my fingers through my tangled hair, and crossed to the door.

"Who is it?"

"Servants, my lady. With your gown. And water for your bath."

I opened the door.

Three women stood in the corridor, two carrying buckets of steaming water, one holding the silver dress I had barely looked at since it arrived. Behind them, two more servants carried baskets of oils and flowers and brushes.

"The Queen instructed us to help every lady prepare, my lady," the eldest said. "The ball begins this evening."

The ball.

The attack.

The end of everything.

"Of course," I said. "Come in."

\-——————————

The bath was hot.

Almost too hot.

I sat in the copper tub while the servants worked, scrubbing my skin with lavender soap, pouring rose-scented oil into the water, washing my hair with something that smelled like honey and jasmine.

They were gentle. Efficient. They didn't ask questions about the shadows under my eyes or the tremor in my hands.

They didn't know that I was preparing for war.

'You are quiet', Luna observed from her hiding place beneath the bed.

I'm thinking.

'About what?'

About how to survive the night.

'And Cassian?' 

I closed my eyes.

And Cassian.

\---

After the bath, they dressed me.

Not in the silver gown, not yet. That would come later, when the sun had set and the guests had arrived and the ballroom blazed with candlelight.

For now, they wrapped me in a simple robe of pale blue silk and brushed my hair until it shone.

"You have beautiful hair, my lady," one of the younger servants said.

"Thank you."

"So thick. So dark. And the curls, so pretty."

I said nothing.

They finished their work and curtsied and left, promising to return at sunset.

I stood alone in the middle of my room, surrounded by the scent of roses and lavender, and wondered how many more sunrises I would live to see.

Lira. Luna crept out from beneath the bed, her silver eyes soft. 'You are thinking dark thoughts again.'

"I'm always thinking dark thoughts."

'Today is the ball. You should be excited.' 

"I should be a lot of things."

'You should eat something.'

"I don't think hungry. I'm too nervous." 

'You should eat something anyway.'

I looked down at her, at this small, fierce creature who had become my closest confidant, my only friend, my conscience when I had none.

"You sound like my mother."

'Was she smart?' 

"Yes."

'Then I am honored.' 

I almost smiled.

\---

Breakfast was quiet.

The dining hall was nearly empty, just me and Elora, scattered across a table that could have seated fifty. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting golden patterns on the white linen cloth.

Calista's chair was empty.

Of course, I thought. She's probably been getting ready since dawn.

Elora sat across from me, buttering a piece of toast with unusual enthusiasm. Her brown hair had been pinned back in an elaborate style, with pins still in it and her dress, not the ball gown, just a simple morning dress, brought out the warmth in her cheeks.

She looked... happy.

"Good morning," I said, sliding into my chair.

"Good morning!" Elora beamed. "Isn't it a beautiful day?"

I glanced at the window. At the sky that looked like blood.

"Beautiful," I agreed.

Elora didn't seem to notice my lack of enthusiasm. She tore into her toast with the energy of someone who had actually slept.

"You're in a good mood," I observed.

"Why wouldn't I be?" She swallowed. "The ball is tonight. I get to see my entire family again. My mother, my father, my brothers." Her smile softened. "I haven't seen them in months."

"That must be nice."

"It is." She set down her toast. "And I get to see all the other girls too. The ones who left. Lady Vivienne. Lady Elenora. Even Lady Saphira, though she barely spoke to me." She laughed. "It's like a reunion."

"You sound excited."

"I am excited." She tilted her head, studying me. "Aren't you?"

I thought about the attack. About what might happen. I hoped my brother had at least gotten my letter and stalled the attack he was planning. 

"Thrilled," I said.

Elora's smile flickered.

"Lira, what's wrong? You've been pale all week. You barely eat. You barely talk. Something is bothering you.” 

"I'm fine."

"You're not fine."

"I'm just tired. The selection has been... a lot."

She nodded slowly, clearly unconvinced.

"After the selection is over," she said, "you should come stay with me. At my family's estate. We have gardens, and libraries, and the quietest little stream you've ever seen. You could rest there. Recover. My father will send a letter to your grandfather informing him about it.”

I shook my head. "I couldn't."

"Why not? Is it because of your grandfather? We’ll ask for his permission don’t worry about that…” 

"Because…” Because I might be dead. Because I might be in hiding. Because I might be running for my life. "Because I don't want to impose."

"You wouldn't be imposing. I’ve been thinking about it for weeks. I'm inviting you."

"Elora…” 

"Please." She reached across the table and took my hand. "Just think about it. After everything we've been through, the poison, the lies, the chaos, I don't want to lose touch with you. You're my friend."

Friend.

The word hit harder than I expected.

I had not let myself think of Elora as a friend. Even though she was the closest thing I had to a friend in years. I could not afford to. Friends were liabilities. Friends were people who got hurt when my secrets came to light.

But she was sitting there, holding my hand, looking at me with those warm eyes, and for the first time in months, I felt something other than rage and fear.

I felt seen.

"I'll think about it," I said.

Elora's smile returned. "That's all I ask."