The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 36

CASSIAN

The news of Selene’s withdrawal reached me before dinner, whispered through the marble corridors like wildfire. By the time I reached the solar where my mother and Aveline waited, they were already deep in discussion.

“She didn’t even wait to be eliminated,” Aveline said, pacing before the hearth. “She simply walked away. Who does that?”

“Someone who knows her heart,” Mother replied calmly, her jeweled fingers folded in her lap. She looked up as I entered, her eyes narrowing with that sharp, measuring gaze of hers. “Cassian. You heard?”

“I did,” I said, crossing to them. “Unfortunately I didn't get to see her before she left. I wanted to say goodbye, but I heard she left me a note. And I can’t say I’m surprised. Selene was never made for this. She’s soft.”

Aveline scoffed. “Soft? Try spineless.” She shook her head, blonde hair gleaming in the firelight. “She had a chance to secure her family’s future and she threw it away for a merchant by the sea.”

“Not everyone craves power, Aveline,” I reminded her.

“Then she shouldn’t have entered the Selection at all.”

Mother lifted a hand, silencing her. “Enough. What’s done is done. One less girl to occupy your attention, Cassian. But it does bring us back to the matter at hand.”

I frowned. “What matter?”

“The royal assignment,” she said evenly. “You’ve delayed long enough. The Council expects you to travel to the border province before the month ends. You are to oversee the negotiations with the Eastern Envoy. It will prove you can act as king beyond these walls."

A bitter taste filled my mouth. I’d known this was coming, but I’d hoped for more time. “You expect me to leave in the middle of everything? The mating season is coming soon, Taheer will be relentless."

Mother’s gaze was unflinching. “This cannot wait I'm sorry. The assignment, that is real work. If you cannot handle both, perhaps you’re not ready. Besides, you'll be gone for a week at most only. Let's hope it's not more."

Aveline smirked. “She’s right. We've put it off long enough because of your many responsibilities.”

I clenched my jaw. “Fine. I’ll leave when the Council commands it. But don’t think I don’t see what this is. They’re watching for weakness.”

“They always are,” Mother said softly. “Which is why you must not show any.”

I didn’t answer. My thoughts were already heavy with strategy when I left them. The corridors were dim, lit only by sconces flickering against the stone, and my mind was far from the polished floors when a voice startled me.

“Your Highness.”

I stopped short. Saphira stood a few steps ahead, her gown spilling like midnight across the floor. For once, she wasn’t poised or haughty. Her hands trembled against the folds of her skirt, and her eyes were red-rimmed.

“I… I need to speak with you,” she said, her voice unsteady.

I hesitated, looking around and I found the hallway empty, then I gave a curt nod. “Go on.”

She stepped closer, her composure cracking. “I wanted to apologize. For what happened in the library. I shouldn’t have approached you like that. It was forward, shameless. It was reckless.”

Tears welled in her eyes, and she looked away, ashamed.

I exhaled slowly. “Lady Saphira.”

She flinched at the sound of her name, but I softened my tone. “I’m not angry. On the contrary, I’m… impressed.”

Her eyes flew to mine, confused.

“It takes gall to go after what you want so boldly,” I continued. “Most of the girls would never attempt that, in fact they'd do the complete opposite. You didn’t. You faced me directly. That counts for something.”

Her tears spilled then, sliding down her cheeks as she shook her head. “But it was wrong. I shouldn’t have forced myself on you that way.”

“It’s all right,” I said quietly. “Truly.”

She swallowed, searching my face as though for some hidden truth. “Then tell me… is there still hope for me? Or did I ruin everything?”

Her voice broke on the last words.

There was hope. In fact Saphira had mildly intrigued me after that night. I wanted to know her more. I wanted to know her better.

I let the silence stretch for a moment, then said, “There’s still hope. If you play your cards right this time."

The change in her was swift. She drew in a sharp breath, her tears halted by a spark of determination. Slowly, she straightened, dabbing her cheeks with a lace handkerchief.

“Then I won’t waste the chance,” she said, her voice regaining its steadiness. “You won’t regret keeping me in your sights, Your Highness.”

She dipped into a graceful curtsey, her earlier vulnerability tucked neatly behind her mask once more. Then, with the elegance only Saphira could summon after a breakdown, she turned and swept away down the corridor.

I watched her go, unsettled. She was dangerous, not because of what she’d done, but because she’d dared. And sometimes, those who dared the most left the deepest marks.

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Very early in the morning the next day, I found myself restlessly pacing the library, my arms stacked with volumes of history, trade, and customs of the Eastern province.

I’d just set a thick tome down on the table when I heard the soft scrape of shoes against the polished floor.

Lira.

She walked between the shelves with her usual quiet air, eyes drifting along the spines of books as though they might whisper secrets only she could hear. She stopped short when she saw me. Her brown curly hair framing her small heart shaped face.

“Your Highness,” she said, dipping her head.

“Lira,” I returned, with more ease than I’d expected. “Up early?”

“Earlier than I wanted,” she admitted, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “The palace has a way of waking me before I’m ready.”

That pulled a small laugh from me. “I know the feeling.”

She tilted her head, eyeing the stack of books on the table. “Preparing for something?”

“The Council has sent me to the Eastern province,” I explained. “A royal assignment. Diplomatic talks. I thought I’d better not embarrass myself by arriving unprepared.”

Her lips twitched, almost a smile. “Imagine that, the Crown Prince actually studies.”

“Careful,” I said, lowering my voice as though confiding in her. “If word gets out, I’ll ruin my reputation for effortless brilliance.”

This time she did smile, a small, reluctant curve of her mouth.

For a moment, the tension between us eased. But then my thoughts drifted to yesterday. “Tell me,” I said, leaning back against the table, “what do you make of Selene leaving?”

Her smile faded into something softer, more thoughtful. “I think she’s very brave. Everyone else mocked her, but… it takes courage to walk away. To know what you want and choose it, even when everyone says you’re a fool.”

I studied her closely. “Have you ever thought about leaving too?”

Her eyes flickered, startled. Then she lowered them, fiddling with the edge of her sleeve. “Many times,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Something tightened in my chest. I shifted, straightening.

“Then why stay?”