The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 32

CASSIAN

The palace gardens were quiet, bathed in the soft glow of twilight. The roses had opened fully, releasing their fragrance into the cool night air. I had chosen this place for a reason, it was one of the few corners of the palace where I could breathe. If I was going to test the waters with Lady Calista, see if she could truly be the queen my parents demanded, I needed somewhere I felt in control.

She arrived precisely on time. Of course she did. Every step, every detail of her appearance, was immaculate. Her golden hair gleamed under the moonlight, her gown catching the faintest shimmer as she walked toward me with measured grace.

“You chose a lovely evening for a stroll, Your Highness,” she said smoothly, her voice even but pleasant.

I offered her my arm. “I thought it might be a good chance to get to know you better.”

She accepted without hesitation, sliding her hand over my sleeve with practiced elegance. As we walked, she filled the silence with stories of her upbringing, her ambitions, her vision for Aurelia. Every word was polished, deliberate, and exactly the sort of thing my mother would adore.

“A queen must be a pillar of strength,” she said at one point, her chin lifting. “Not only for her king, but for the entire kingdom. Every word, every action, must reflect the dignity of the crown.”

I nodded, though my thoughts drifted. She was saying all the right things. She always did. But the perfection of it all grated at me. It was too smooth, too clean, like a performance rehearsed a hundred times.

“Do you ever tire of always saying the right thing?” I asked suddenly, halting on the path.

Her blue eyes widened for a fraction of a second before the mask slipped back into place. “No, Your Highness. It isn’t tiring. It’s necessary.”

We reached a quiet alcove framed by ivy, the moonlight spilling down over us. I turned to her, studying her. There was no doubt she was beautiful, intelligent, the very image of what a queen should be, why did I then feel so empty?

“You’re very good at this,” I said quietly. “Always poised. Always perfect.”

Her lips curved faintly. “I take that as a compliment.”

I lifted a hand to her cheek, brushing lightly against her skin. She didn’t flinch. Didn’t falter. She only looked at me, steady and composed, as if waiting to see what I would do next.

So I kissed her.

Her lips were soft, her breath warm, but the kiss felt… wrong. Empty. I tried to deepen it, searching for some spark, some fire, but it wasn’t there. Not for me. She kissed like she did everything else, measured, restrained, calculated.

After only a moment, she pulled back, her breathing as calm as ever. “That’s enough for tonight, Your Highness.”

Frustration flared in my chest. “Why stop?”

Her smile was cool, composed. “Because I won’t give you everything so easily. A queen must always remain a step ahead.”

I said nothing more. We walked back to the palace in silence, her arm still looped through mine as if nothing had happened. When we reached the steps, she dipped into a graceful curtsy.

“Thank you for the evening, Your Highness,” she said, her tone polite but distant. “I look forward to our next conversation.”

I nodded, watching her retreat into the palace. She was everything my parents wanted: disciplined, elegant, strong. And yet, as I stood there in the cooling night air, I couldn’t shake the hollowness inside me.

Later, alone in my chambers, I poured a glass of wine and sat by the window, staring out at the gardens where the kiss had happened. I replayed it in my mind again and again, hoping to feel something more than I had in the moment.

But no matter how I twisted it, the truth remained: there had been nothing. No spark, no pull, no fire.

And against my will, my thoughts slipped to Lira, her sharp tongue, her unpolished defiance, the way her gaze seemed to see straight through me. She was everything Calista wasn’t. Raw. Untamed. Real. But I couldn't pick her.

No, Lira couldn't be Queen.

I cursed under my breath and drained the wine. I couldn’t afford to think of her. But gods help me, I couldn’t stop.

.............................

LIRA

Elora and I had claimed a quiet corner of the training yard, away from the eyes of the other girls. The defense trials loomed over us, and I could feel the nerves buzzing under my skin. Elora stood across from me, her pale blue eyes wide as I demonstrated a simple block.

“Here,” I said, stepping closer and gently adjusting her stance. “Your arms are too stiff. If you lock them like that, whoever’s coming at you will just knock you over. Think… flexible but firm.”

She nodded, biting her lip as she tried again. This time, when I pretended to strike, she managed to deflect my arm without stumbling back.

“Better,” I said, a grin tugging at my mouth. “See? You’re getting it.”

Elora let out a shaky laugh. “I still feel like I’m going to break in half. You’re much stronger than me.”

“You don’t need strength,” I reminded her, showing her a sidestep. “It’s about using their force against them. Think of it like… redirecting water. Like you do when planting."

She copied me, moving with more confidence this time. I couldn’t help feeling a flicker of pride. She wasn’t a fighter by nature, but she listened, she tried.

After an hour of practice, both of us were sweaty and flushed, but Elora looked brighter than when we’d started.

“Come on,” I said, hooking my arm through hers. “We’ve earned lunch.”

The dining hall was alive with chatter when we walked in. Platters of roasted chicken, fresh bread, and fruit filled the long tables, the air thick with the mingling scents. Elora and I took seats at the far end, just in time to catch the loud laughter spilling from the group at the center of the room.

Lady Calista was talking.

She sat with perfect posture, her golden hair gleaming under the lantern light, and her voice carried easily over the table. “The gardens were breathtaking last night,” she said, her smile deliberate. “Prince Cassian was most attentive. We spoke for hours."

A ripple went through the girls seated near her. Some leaned closer, eager to drink in every word. Others stiffened, their smiles tightening.

Saphira, seated a few places down, set her cup down with a sharp clink. “How fortunate you are, Calista,” she said, her tone smooth but her eyes like ice. “The prince finally has your time.”

Calista’s smile widened just enough to show teeth. “Well, I suppose one must have something worth saying to hold his interest.”

The words landed like a blade. Several of the girls shifted uncomfortably, while a few looked outright furious. I caught Amara whispering something to Evadne, both of them glaring daggers at Calista.

Beside me, Elora sighed softly. “She knows exactly what she’s doing,” she murmured.

I stabbed my fork into a piece of bread harder than necessary. Calista’s boasting didn’t surprise me, but it still knotted something hot and unpleasant in my stomach. She made it sound as though she already wore the crown, as though the rest of us were just background noise.

“She enjoys ruffling feathers,” I muttered back to Elora. “And it’s working.”

The tension at the table grew as Saphira leaned forward, her voice cool but edged. “Well, the prince has plenty of time to spend with many of us. I’m sure you’ll forgive me if I don’t consider one evening to mean much.”

I watched Calista's face darkened as Saphira shrugged.

"It was simply just your turn dear Calista. Nothing else."