The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 169

LIRA

The screech tore through the sky like a blade.

I looked up.

The red streak was still there, burning across the grey clouds, twisting, turning, fighting a larger bigger dragon. Veyraxis was here in the skies and fighting and the people down below didn’t even know it yet.  They didn’t know how much danger they were in. 

And the courtyard was still singing.

Dancers twirled between the scattered flowers. Musicians played on the makeshift stage.  The crowd had grown larger since I'd been in the air, more nobles, more commoners, more people who had no idea what was happening above their heads had come in to see me on the dragon. 

"LIRA! LIRA! LIRA!"

They were still chanting my name. 

Stop, I wanted to scream. Stop dancing. Stop singing. Stop… 

The dragon circled lower, searching for a place to land. The courtyard was so packed, there was no way to land without standing too close to the room. His wings stirred the air, sending napkins and banners fluttering. People scrambled out of the way, laughing, cheering, celebrating.

They didn't see the red in the sky.

They didn't feel the magic pressing down like a fist.

They didn't know.

‘Lira.’ Luna's voice was tight. ‘They can see me.’ 

I looked down.

A cluster of people near the royal dais were pointing. Not at me,at my shoulder. At Luna. At the small white dragon who had been hidden for so long, now exposed in the grey afternoon light. I had forgotten to hide her in all the ruckus, so intent on finding Cassian that I didn’t hide her. 

"Is that…” a woman gasped. "Is that a hatchling?"

"She has a hatchling!"

"Lady Lira bonded with a hatchling too?!"

The news spread like fire.

People turned. Pointed. Shouted. The chanting shifted, no longer just my name, but something else. Something that made my stomach clench.

"MIRACLE! IT'S A MIRACLE!"

"She found a hatchling!"

"The first hatchling in decades!"

I wanted to tell them the truth. That Luna wasn't a miracle. That she was Veyraxis's daughter. That the monster in the sky was her mother, and she was here to burn them all. If they would just look up and see the red figure in the sky attacking Taheer. 

But the words wouldn't come.

The dragon landed.

\---

His claws scraped against the stone.

People surged forward, reaching, cheering, crying. Hands grabbed at my tunic, my legs and feet. Flowers rained down like snow.

I barely noticed.

‘Lira.’ The dragon's voice was deep, resonant, meant only for me. ‘My name is Kael. Remember it.’ 

"I—what?"

‘If you are bonded to the hatchling, I cannot bond with you. The magic will not allow it. His golden eye met mine. But if you ever need my help, if the darkness closes in and you have nowhere else to turn, call my name through her. Through Luna. I will hear. I will come.’ 

"Kael," I repeated.

‘Kael.’ He inclined his massive head. ‘Now go. Your prince needs you.’ 

I slid off his back.

My legs were shaking. The crowd of people closed in on me, still showering me with flowers. 

\-————————————

I looked up again, wondering if Veyraxis was visible enough for them to see now. 

I saw something else instead. 

Princess Aveline's dragon, dark blue scales, elegant wings, eyes like sapphires, was rising from the eastern tower. It moved fast, faster than I thought possible, cutting through the grey sky like an arrow.

‘Lira.’ Luna's voice was sharp. ‘Look!’ 

"Where?"

‘There. Above the clouds. I can see them, something in the sky…’ 

I looked up.

I couldn’t see Veyraxis or Taheer, it was as if they had disappeared further into the clouds. 

And then I saw it.

A figure.

Falling.

Tumbling through the air, arms and legs flailing, too far away to recognize. Too far away to save.

No, I thought. No, no, no… 

Aveline's dragon dove.

Swooped.

Caught the figure on its back.

And disappeared into the clouds again.

\-————————

The crowd was still cheering.

They hadn't seen.

None of them had seen anything. It was frustrating. There was only merriment and excitement around me. 

‘Lira.’ Luna's voice was trembling. ‘Was that..’

"I don't know."

‘ It looked like…’

"I said I don't know."

Aveline's dragon reappeared.

It was heading straight for the palace tower, fast, urgent, its wings beating against the wind. The figure was still on its back.

Cassian.

It was Cassian.

I started moving.

\---

The crowd pressed close.

Hands reached for me. Voices called my name. Someone grabbed my sleeve, demanding a blessing, demanding a lock of my hair, demanding something I couldn't give.

I pushed through them.

"Lady Lira! Lady Lira, a word…” 

"Not now please.” 

"Lady Lira, the people want to hear from you—"

"I said not now."

Luna launched herself off my shoulder.

The crowd gasped.

She flew. small and white and beautiful—circling the courtyard, her silver scales catching the grey light. People pointed at her. Some wept and while others kneeled. 

"A DRAGON HATCHLING!!! THE GODS HAVE BLESSED US!"

"The hatchling flies!"

"LIRA! LIRA! LIRA!"

‘Lira,’ Luna said. ‘I will find somewhere safe. Somewhere hidden. Come for me when the crowd thins.’

"Be careful."

‘I am always careful.’ 

She flew toward the palace tower.

The crowd watched her go in excitement. 

I ran.

\---

The palace gates were sealed.

Guards stood shoulder to shoulder, their faces blank, their hands on their swords. Behind them, the corridors stretched dark and empty.

"You cannot enter, my lady," one of them said. "The palace is on lockdown."

"I need to get inside."

"Orders from the Crown…’ 

"My lady." Another guard stepped forward, older, kinder, his eyes creased with concern. "You look unwell. Are you injured?"

I swayed.

Let my knees buckle.

"I'm... I'm going to be sick," I gasped.

The guards exchanged glances.

"Please," I whispered. "Please, I just need, I need to see the physician. Please…” 

The older guard sighed.

"Let her through."

"But…” 

"Don’t your recognize her? She's one of the candidates. She passed the trials. And she looks like she's about to collapse." He stepped aside. "Go, my lady. Quickly. Before anyone sees you."

I stumbled through the gates.

\-———-

The corridors were chaos.

Guards ran past, armor clanking, boots echoing. Servants pressed themselves against walls, wide-eyed and whispering. And at the center of it all… 

Princess Aveline.

Her dark blond hair had come loose from its pins. Her white riding shirt was torn at the sleeve. And next to her, being hoisted up by guards… 

A body.

Deep in my heart I knew who it was. The half burnt tunic still had the royal crest on it. While the face was bloodied and hidden, I could still spot Cassian’s thick black hair. 

"Make way!" Aveline shouted. "Make way for the Prince!"

The Prince.

Cassian.

I couldn't see his face.

Couldn't see anything except the blood streaking his clothes, the burns blistering his skin, the way his arm hung at an angle that made my stomach lurch.

"Cassian…” 

I reached for him.

A guard blocked my path.

"Step back, my lady."

"That's—that's Cassian…” 

"Step back please.” 

Princess Aveline looked up.

Her eyes were red. Her cheeks were wet.

She didn't say anything.

Didn't need to.

The tears said everything. 

\---

The guards carried him past me.

I followed, couldn't help it, couldn't stop, stumbling after them through corridors I didn't recognize, past doors I'd never seen. They weren’t taking him to the physicians wing. They were taking him someone else. 

"The Prince fell from Taheer," one of the guards panted. "The impact, when the Princess's dragon caught him…” 

"Is he conscious?" Another guard asked. 

"No. He hasn't woken.” 

"Burns?"

"Severe. The dragonfire must have touched him.” 

"His leg?"

"Broken. Maybe his ribs too."

They disappeared through a door.

I tried to follow.

Two guards blocked the entrance.

"You cannot enter, my lady."

"I need to see him."

"No one enters. The King's orders."

"The King…” 

"Has already arrived. Along with the Queen. And Prince Evander. The Prince had his family with him.” The guard's face softened, just slightly. "Go back to your room, my lady. There's nothing you can do here."

He closed the door.

\-————