The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 56

LIRA

I watched in shock as the two princes started glaring at each other.

Cassian stepped closer to his brother. "My problem is you undermining authority.”

“By talking?” Evander scoffed. “Or by helping someone when the guards hauled her off like a criminal?”

I stiffened.

“That was being handled,” Cassian snapped.

“By me,” Evander said quietly. “Because someone had to.”

Silence stretched between us, taut as wire.

“You overstepped,” Cassian said.

“And you’re letting your suspicion cloud your judgment,” he shot back.

Cassian's hands curled into fists before I realized it.

“Cassian,” I said carefully, “this isn’t...”

“Stay out of it,” he snapped at me. I stepped back.

Evander took a step forward. “Don’t speak to her like that.”

For a heartbeat, I thought they would start fighting. I looked around and there was no sign of anyone that could help.

Not even a guard.

Then, I saw Cassian grudgingly take a step back.

“This conversation is over,” Cassian said coldly. “Lira, you’re dismissed.”

For a moment, my mouth opened in surprise. “Your Highness, I'm still waiting for Elora."

Evander’s mouth twitched.

Cassian turned away and left us alone, leaving Evander and I to stand in shock.

Cassian’s boots faded down the gravel path, sharp and angry, the sound cutting clean through the quiet of the gardens. For a long moment after he was gone, neither of us spoke. I stood there wondering how something so simple, laughter, had turned into something so volatile.

Evander broke the silence first, exhaling slowly. “Well,” he said lightly, though there was tension beneath it, “that went… poorly.”

I didn’t laugh.

My thoughts were still tangled in the way Cassian had looked at us, at me. Not anger alone. Something sharper. Something unsettled.

“I think,” I said carefully, “it’s probably best if we don’t spend so much time together in public anymore.”

Evander turned to me, surprised. “Lira...”

“I mean it,” I said, keeping my voice low. “I don’t want to cause problems for you. Or your brother.”

He studied my face, searching for something. “Is this because of Cassian?"

“No,” I replied. “Not just him."

Before he could respond, footsteps approached from the other side of the hedges.

“Elora,” I muttered, straightening instinctively.

She approached us, her brow furrowed in concern as her gaze flicked between Evander and me.

“I thought I heard raised voices,” she said softly. “Is everything alright? I'm sorry I took so long."

Evander stepped back, all princely charm reassembled in an instant. “Perfectly fine, Lady Elora. Just a conversation.”

Elora’s eyes lingered on me. “You don’t look fine and I thought I heard the Crown Prince's voice .”

“I am,” I said quickly. Too quickly. “Just… tired. I've been waiting for a while."

Evander inclined his head. “I should go. Duty calls and all that."

He hesitated, then added quietly, “We’ll speak later. When it’s less… complicated.”

I nodded. “Yes. Later.”

He left without another word.

Elora waited until he was well out of sight before turning back to me. “What just happened?”

“Nothing,” I said.

She gave me a look. “That wasn’t nothing. And what was that noise earlier."

“It was just… a misunderstanding,” I said vaguely. “Between brothers.”

She frowned but didn’t press further. “Were they arguing? What was that about?"

“Don't worry yourself about that,” I said, softer now. “It wasn't anything serious. A petty squabble really.”

She didn’t look convinced, but she let it go.

As we walked back toward the palace, my mind drifted, back to before Cassian had arrived, before laughter had turned sharp.

Evander and I had run into each other while I was waiting for Elora. We were the only ones in the gardens so I asked him about the vaults.

“I found something interesting while reading,” I’d said casually, tracing the flowers with my fingers. “About the Valemont vault.”

Evander had glanced at me, intrigued. “That’s not light reading.”

“I stumbled upon it,” I lied smoothly. “In a history volume. It said the vault predates even the earliest recorded reigns.”

“That’s true,” he said. “It’s older than the palace itself in some parts. Passed from king to king. Some of the artifacts in there are centuries old.”

“Artifacts?” I’d echoed. “Like what?”

He smiled faintly. “Treaties written in dragonfire ink. Relics from the first riders. Weapons that no longer exist anywhere else.”

“Really?” I’d asked, careful to keep my tone curious, not desperate. “Who can enter? I'd love to see it!"

Evander’s smile faded. “Very very few.”

“The King?” I’d ventured.

“Yes. And Cassian.”

“Only Cassian? What about you?!"

He nodded. “The vault responds to the Crown Prince. It’s… bound.”

“Has anyone ever tried to break in?” I asked.

He laughed outright. “Impossible. Although many have tried. But Cassian’s power protects it.”

That had made my heart stutter. “His power? I don't understand."

Evander shot me a look. “Careful."

“Sorry,” I said quickly. “I didn’t mean..."

“It’s not something we discuss,” he said gently. “Members of the royal family don’t reveal their abilities unless absolutely necessary. It’s an added advantage.”

I hesitated. Then asked, softly, “What about yours?”

He studied me for a long moment. “If I tell you, you can’t tell anyone.”

“I swear it,” I said without hesitation.

He leaned closer, voice low and conspiratorial. “I can compel truth. Not perfectly. Not for long. But enough.”

My eyes widened. “That’s..."

“Dangerous?” he supplied. “Yes. Useful? Also yes.”

I’d laughed then, a real laugh. “You’re full of surprises.”

“So are you,” he’d said.

That was when Cassian had arrived, when he heard us laughing.

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

Now, seated at dinner hours later, the long table alive with chatter and clinking cutlery, I barely tasted my food.

The mood was lighter than it had been in days. Lenora’s withdrawal had paused eliminations for the week, and relief rippled through the girls like a collective exhale.

“Did you hear?” Isla said brightly. “They’re decorating the eastern square already.”

“For the Sunwake Festival,” Juliette added. “It’s my favorite.”

Calista lifted her chin. “The Queen announced there will be a formal ball.”

“And a contest,” Amara said eagerly. “The three girls who win will attend the ball."

“And the overall winner,” Saphira added with a sharp smile. “Will win a dance with the Crown Prince.”

Eyes glittered as the girls murmured.

Calista smiled, satisfied. “A first dance is… symbolic.”

“Of course you’d say that,” Vivienne muttered.

I pushed peas around my plate, uninterested.

Elora leaned toward me. “Aren’t you excited?”

“Not particularly,” I admitted.

She blinked. “You don’t want to dance with the Crown Prince?”

“I don’t feel like competing for it,” I said honestly.

Amara overheard and scoffed. “That’s convenient.”

I met her gaze calmly. “Is it?”

Calista’s eyes flicked to me, assessing. “Whether you care or not, participation will be expected.”

“Then I’ll participate,” I said.

Saphira laughed softly. “Everyone here wants something. Even you who pretends not to be interested."

"Perhaps she's interested in the other Prince." Amara added slyly.

The other girls turned in shock and surprise.

"Prince Evander?!?!"

Calista asked in shock.

Amara locked eyes with me before turning to the other girls.

"Prince Evander was the one who rescued her from questioning."

"Did you not hear? Lady Lira has decided that since she cannot catch the attention of Prince Cassian, she'd settle for his brother!"