The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 51

LIRA

I stared at the dragon. Unable to comprehend what it was saying.

"You knew my father?" I whispered.

The cavern pulsed with heat. “He was the last to enter the vaults.”

My breath caught. “But you knew him, didn’t you?”

The dragon’s eyes flickered. “He came to me seeking truth. He found something else.”

“What truth?”

It exhaled smoke. “The truth of the Valemonts. Their lies and their secrets."

My throat tightened painfully. “What happened to him? What did they do?”

The dragon’s gaze sharpened. “He saw what he should not have seen.”

“What?” I demanded. “Tell me...”

“He asked questions,” the dragon continued, ignoring my shaking voice. “Questions he shouldn't have asked. They killed him to protect themselves."

Cold swept through me. “Some guards told us they executed him for treason.”

“No,” the dragon said softly. “They executed him for knowing the truth.”

I staggered back, gripping the cavern wall.

“That’s not..." My voice cracked. “That doesn’t make sense. If he knew something, why didn’t he tell anyone? Why didn’t he warn us?”

“He tried.”

I stopped breathing.

“What do you mean ‘he tried’?” I whispered.

The dragon shut its eyes. “He sought someone to protect you. To protect your mother, you and your brother. To protect what evidence he gathered. But he failed. He was betrayed before he could speak.”

“By who?” I demanded. “Tell me who betrayed him!”

The dragon opened its eyes slowly.

“When you find the egg,” it said, “I will tell you everything.”

Fury and hurt collided inside me.

“That’s not fair,” I whispered.

“Life never is,” the dragon murmured. “Choose your path, Lira Vale. Will you help me, or will you abandon your father’s legacy as the Valemonts abandoned truth?”

I stared at its glowing eyes.

And I knew.

I needed answers.

I needed justice.

I needed revenge.

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll find your egg.”

The dragon leaned closer. “Swear it.”

I swallowed hard. “I swear.”

Its voice curled around me like smoke.

“Then I will give you the revenge you desire."

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

I tried to push the dragon’s words aside as we gathered for our lessons. Our lessons had fully resumed now, we were back to competing, like nothing had happened. The instructors stood before us with their polished smiles, pretending nothing was wrong in the palace.

Elora nudged me. “Your vision,” she whispered. “So what was it about?”

I forced a shrug. “Oh nothing useful. Bits and pieces of some odd boat. Nothing to worry about."

“You always say that.”

Before I could respond, Amara’s voice cut across the room.

“Oh look,” she said sweetly, “It's the seer that doesn't see any visions. I wonder how you'll fare in today's lessons."

Juliette added, “Do you suppose she's lying? What if she doesn't actually see any visions.”

A few girls murmured in what seemed to be agreement.

“Elora,” I murmured, “don’t..."

Too late.

Elora’s voice sharpened. “What's it to you? Leave her alone. You have no idea what her gift is like.”

Amara smirked. “What useless gift?”

That was when the doors slammed open.

Two guards marched inside, armored and grim.

Everyone went silent.

Their eyes locked onto me instantly.

“Lady Lira Vale,” the taller guard said. “You are to come with us.”

My stomach dropped.

Elora spoke quickly. “For what reason?”

The guard replied, “A palace servant has reported seeing Lady Lira wandering the halls late last night near restricted areas.”

A gasp rippled through the room.

Amara whispered, “I knew it!"

My heart pounded, but I kept my voice steady. “I wasn’t near any restricted area.”

“Nonetheless,” the guard said, “you will answer a few questions.”

Elora grabbed my hand. “Lira, I’ll get the Crown Prince...”

“No,” I whispered urgently. “Please don’t.”

Cassian couldn’t find out. Not now. Not when I was this close to everything unraveling.

The guards flanked me and began escorting me toward the door.

“Lira!” Elora called after me, her voice shaking. “I’ll help you. I promise.”

I looked back at her once, then the door shut behind me.

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

"Lady Lira, do your know that you're under suspicion for treason and attempted murder," the lead guard announced coldly.

"What?" I exclaimed, my voice shaking slightly.

"Multiple staff have reported you sneaking around the palace at odd hours, and now you were caught close to the forbidden west wing. It's enough to warrant an investigation, especially with a killer still at large," he said.

My stomach churned. I knew I had no proof to clear my name without exposing my true mission.

"You're making a mistake," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I've done nothing wrong."

"That remains to be seen," the guard replied, gesturing for me to follow.

I was escorted to a private chamber for questioning. The interrogators, led by a steely-eyed captain, bombarded me with questions about my movements, my motives, and my knowledge of the poison.

"Why were you in the halls at such a late hour?" the captain demanded. 

"I couldn't sleep," I repeated dully, my voice firm despite my hands shaking.

"And the West Wing? Did you 'stumble' upon that, too?"

My silence was damning, and I knew it. The longer the questioning dragged on, the more I felt the noose tightening around me.

Suddenly, I heard a voice outside the room. It sounded like Cassian's. Then I heard a guard's voice after.

"She's a suspect in the investigation, Your Highness," the captain replied, his tone cautious.

Cassian barged into the room, his hair was tousled and his shirt was unbuttoned. He looked like he had been yanked out of bed. I had no doubt Elora had something to do with that.

Cassian's eyes narrowed as he looked at me. I couldn't look at him without feeling deep embarrassment and shame.

"Release her," he ordered, his voice icy.

The captain hesitated. "Your Highness, we have reason to believe..."

"Reason isn't proof," Cassian snapped. "And what good would it be interrogating her without my permission?! I won't have you treating one of the candidates like a common criminal without evidence. Do you understand me?"

Reluctantly, the captain nodded, and the guards stepped back.

Cassian approached Lira, his voice softening. "Are you all right?"

I nodded weakly, but my mind raced. I knew I was on borrowed time. I couldn't continue sneaking to see the dragon. It was going to get caught sooner or later.

As Cassian escorted me back to my chambers, he glanced at me with an unreadable expression. "I hope, for your sake, that you're telling the truth, Lira. Because if you're not, I will find out."