The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 59

LIRA

I watched while Elora paced the length of our chamber, counting her steps under her breath.

“One, two no, that turn is wrong,” she muttered, spinning too sharply and nearly knocking into the chair. “Lira, watch me. Did I lift my chin too early?”

“Yes,” I said calmly, tightening the ribbon at the end of my braid. “And your left hand floated. Keep it lower. Controlled. Like this.”

I demonstrated with my own hand, smooth and precise.

Elora stopped pacing and stared at me. “You’re not even dressed yet. Aren’t you nervous?”

“No.”

She frowned. “That wasn’t convincing.”

I tied off the braid and stepped back to inspect my work. “You look fine. More than fine. You’ll pass.”

“That’s not what I asked,” she said. “Aren’t you nervous?”

I shrugged and reached for my cloak. “I’m helping you. That’s enough."

Elora crossed her arms. “You haven’t practiced once.”

“I know.”

“And you’re just… fine with that?”

“I am.”

She studied me for a long moment, suspicion knitting her brows. “You’re impossible.”

“Yet you love me,” I said mildly.

She huffed. “Unfortunately.”

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

The contest hall buzzed with excitement, silk skirts whispering against polished stone, laughter bouncing off the high ceilings. Instructors stood at the edges, tablets in hand, eyes sharp and expectant.

Calista swept past us, resplendent in a gray ballgown with a suspiciously low bodice, her expression was haughty. Amara followed close behind, her gaze flicking between Elora and me like she was measuring competition.

“Good luck,” Calista said sweetly. “Some of us will need it more than others.”

“I’m sure you’ll survive either way,” I replied.

Amara snorted. “And you won’t.”

I didn’t bother responding.

The first test was dance.

We were called forward in pairs. Music filled the hall, measured, elegant, unforgiving. Elora stepped into position, shoulders back, breath steady.

“You’ve got this,” I whispered.

She squeezed my hand quickly before moving away.

I took my place when my name was called, standing opposite Vivienne. Her expressionless face and stiff body told me all I needed to know, she would be even worse than me.

The music began.

I missed the second step.

Not because I couldn’t do it, but because my mind wasn’t there.

The instructor raised an eyebrow.

I missed another, and another, finished the sequence, bowed when it ended.

“Thank you,” the instructor said politely. “You may step aside.”

Elora, meanwhile, was flawless. Her movements were graceful, confident, her smile natural. When she finished, a few girls even clapped before remembering themselves.

She hurried back to me, eyes bright. “I did it. I think I actually did it.”

“You did,” I said. “Your turns were perfect. I think you've passed this round!"'

The second test was a game of wits.

Riddles. Logic puzzles. Questions on court etiquette hypotheticals.

I answered the first question with deliberate vagueness.

The second, I paused too long.

By the third, the instructor sighed softly.

“Eliminated,” she said, making a mark on her slate.

I stepped back without protest.

Elora stared at me. "You didn’t even try.”

“I did,” I said. “Just not hard enough.”

She opened her mouth, then closed it. “You’re infuriating.”

“I know.”

Around us, the competition sharpened.

Calista and Amara advanced with fierce determination, their rivalry was evident. Evadne watched from the sidelines, her hands clenched, jealousy radiating off her in waves, she had been eliminated right after me, also in the game of wits. Juliet whispered furiously to Isla, who looked like she might cry as the instructor told her to leave too.

Vivienne was already gone, she was in the corner looking bored, waiting for everything to end. Isla followed soon after.

Saphira’s absence hung heavy.

“She’s really not here,” Evadne murmured.

“That’s strange though,” Juliet said. “She wouldn’t miss this for anything. A chance to dance with the Crown Prince."

“Maybe she received bad news from home,” Amara suggested, not bothering to hide the satisfaction in her voice.

Elora leaned toward me. “I think she’s sick.”

“Maybe,” I said, though unease curled faintly in my stomach.

The final test was announced just before midday.

Elora, Calista and Amara were the only three girls left. Amara was so angry she had stormed out of the hall.

“A single question,” the instructor said. “On dragons.”

A ripple of tension moved through the room.

Elora swallowed. “Oh no.”

“You’ve studied this,” I whispered.

“Not enough,” she hissed back.

The instructor’s voice rang out. “What is the primary reason dragons of old chose to bind themselves to royal bloodlines?”

Calista’s hand shot up.

So did Elora’s.

They spoke at the same time.

“To ensure..." Calista began.

“..a balance,” Elora said.

The instructor raised a hand. “One at a time.”

Calista smiled tightly. “Dragons bound themselves to royalty to ensure dominance and protection of their territories."

A murmur of approval followed. The instructiors were elated.

Elora hesitated.

I leaned closer and whispered, so softly only she could hear, “Not dominance. Guardianship.”

She nodded once, then lifted her chin. “Dragons bound themselves to royal bloodlines to ensure balance, between power and restraint. They chose rulers not for conquest, but for guardianship.”

Silence.

Then the instructor smiled.

“Well answered,” she said. She glanced between them, then down at her slate. “Their scores are equal.”

Calista’s smile faltered.

The instructor continued, “As such, both Lady Elora and Lady Calista will attend the Sunwake Ball. And both will share their first dance with the Crown Prince.”

Gasps rippled through the hall.

Elora turned to me, eyes wide. “Both?”

I smiled. “Both of you."

Calista looked like she’d swallowed something bitter. She rolled her eyes and walked away.

As the hall slowly emptied, Elora grabbed my hands. “You helped me win."

“You earned it,” I said.

“I wouldn’t have known the answer without you.”

I shrugged. “Now you do."

She searched my face. “You really didn’t care about being eliminated. Is it because you don't want to see Prince Cassian?"

“No,” I admitted. “I didn’t care. It's not because of Cassian."

She sighed, then smiled softly. “I’ll dance for both of us.”

I laughed quietly. “Just don’t step on the prince’s toes and meet lots of handsome noblemen."