The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 63

LIRA

As if by fate, I stumbled upon something shocking.

I had gone to the east gallery under the pretense of returning a book to the smaller archive there. In truth, I wanted to see the secret entrance my brother had privately mentioned in his last letter to me. The one that led to the outer wall. I had strayed too far from the main palace and to the outer palace which was more secluded. It was also the part of the palace where the royal physician had his rooms. Staffs, courtiers with serious illnesses were often sent there to recuperate, far away from the main palace where they couldn't contaminate the rest.

I had barely turned the corner when I heard voices.

“…you must be certain,” the Queen was saying.

I froze.

The Queen? What was the Queen doing here?

Her voice carried unmistakably through the half-open door to the antechamber. I pressed myself closer to the wall, heart thudding.

“I am very certain now, Your Majesty,” came the low reply. A man's voice. Calm. Professional. “There is no doubt. Lady Saphira is with child.”

My breath caught.

“So it is true,” the Queen murmured. Not shocked. Not angry. Thoughtful.

“It's still early, so there's still a chance,” the physician continued carefully. “Her constitution is delicate. The stress of the selection...”

“It won't go farther than it ought to,” the Queen said sharply. “That much is clear.”

I heard the rustle of fabric, footsteps pacing.

“And the girl?” the Queen asked. “Did she say anything?"

There was a pause.

“She is frightened,” the physician admitted. “She has been trying to talk to the Prince. I intercepted all the letters she tried to send to him. She claims she wants to see her family."

The Queen exhaled. “No. We will not make a spectacle of this. Give her the potion.”

My stomach dropped.

“The… potion, Your Majesty?” the physician asked, hesitating.

“Yes,” the Queen said coolly. “The calming one. The one that dulls the nerves. The one that halts things. This cannot continue."

My hands clenched into fists. I understood what was going on clearly, very clearly. But my ears, they refused to believe it.

“That mixture is strong,” the physician said. “It may..”

“I know what it does,” the Queen cut in. “And I know what I require. She will drink it every day until it does its job.”

I felt something cold and vicious unfurl in my chest.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the physician said at last.

Their footsteps moved closer to the door.

I didn’t think. I simply moved, retreating silently, heart pounding so hard I was certain they could hear it. I turned the corner just as the door opened behind me, my pulse roaring in my ears.

By the time I reached the gardens, my hands were shaking.

They were going to give her something to kill the bsby.

Not to heal her. Not to protect her.

To silence her.

I had known the Crown was cruel. I had known it with the quiet certainty that came from watching my father stripped of everything he was, piece by piece. But this, this was different. This was calculated. Cold. Neat.

Efficient.

I swallowed hard, anger burning behind my eyes.

I needed to find Cassian.

I didn’t know why, whether it was because he was the Crown Prince, because he was involved, or because some foolish part of me believed he might care, but I needed answers.

I turned toward the main corridor leading to his chambers, only to stop short when I heard two guards speaking in low voices.

"Princess Aveline sent word from the keep,” one said. “Another altercation. Worse than before. A dragon is seriously wounded. Taheer finally snapped."

“And His Highness?”

“Already left. Took the fastest route. You know how Taheer gets once he starts."

My shoulders sagged.

Of course he was gone.

I stood there for a moment, torn between frustration and something dangerously close to anger. If Cassian wasn’t here, I couldn’t confront him, I couldn't ask him to save Saphira.

I ran back to the place where I found the Queen talking. I tried the lock but it wouldn't budge, when I finally opened it, it was empty.

I couldn't find Saphira. I went back to our chambers to check, asked the other girls, secretly asked the servants, still no sign of her.

By noon, after hours of searching, it was clear to me Saphira had been moved somewhere secret where no one could interfere with their plans.

Dinner that evening was anything but. I only joined because of Elora's insistence.

The girls were already seated when the doors burst open.

Princess Nadine of Norwyn stumbled in, laughter spilling from her lips, cheeks flushed deep crimson. She wore a beautiful mint green gown, her dark hair piled on top of her head in an elaborate bun, several long curly strands frames her face. A goblet dangled from her fingers. She staggered a bit, like one who was drunk.

I heard of the Princess of Norwyn and that she was in Aurelia, I just didn't expect her to take interest in us.

“Well,” she drawled, eyes sweeping the room, “isn’t this cozy?”

The hall fell silent.

“Insolent,” Calista muttered under her breath.

Nadine laughed, clearly hearing her. “What did you say?! Don't look so shocked. I’ve dined with royalty before. With your prince, no less.”

Amara stiffened. “Your highness, this is a private hall. It's reserved for the ladies of the Dragon Queen Selection."

“So I'm not welcome because I'm not Aurelian?! I wonder what Cassian thinks about that. He didn't seem to mind that I'm Norwyn royalty when he was in my bed,” Nadine replied sweetly, taking a long sip of wine.

Gasps rippled through the room.

I felt my stomach twist.

“Your highness,” Calista snapped, rising from her seat. “Please refrain from making false claims against Prince Cassian. And you're drunk, perhaps it'd be best if you go back to your room."

Nadine tilted her head. “Am I? Ask him how loose he was with his promises. How warm his arms were when the nights grew long.”

Vivienne looked genuinely stunned, her hand flying to her mouth. “Princess Nadine, this is highly inappropriate.”

Nadine’s eyes flicked to her. “Oh? You’re competing for a man like Cassian Valemont. Thought you should know a few things about him."

Amara’s face burned red. “Princess Nadine pleass leave. I'm afraid the guards will escort you out if you don't leave."

“Let them,” Nadine laughed. “I’ve said my piece.”

She staggered back, blowing a kiss before disappearing down the hall, her laughter echoing long after she was gone.

The room erupted.

“Did you hear that?” Calista hissed. “She's embarrassing.”

“She’s trying to sabotage us,” Amara snapped.

Vivienne sat slowly, her expression pale. “If any of that is true…”

I barely heard them, my mind was still on Saphira. I decided I would check her room again.

I rose quietly and slipped out while the others argued.

The hallway to Saphira's room was dim, guarded only at the far end. I moved quickly, heart hammering. As I turned the corner...

“Saphira?” I whispered.

She stood there, leaning against the wall.

Her face was ashen. Her hands trembled.

And there was blood on the floor.

Not a lot, but enough.

“Saphira,” I breathed, rushing forward.

She looked at me with unfocused eyes. “I—Lira—I didn’t mean..."

“What happened?” I demanded softly, gripping her arm to steady her.

“It hurts,” she whispered. “They said it would help. The drink. They said it would help.”

Rage flared so hot I could barely see.

“I need to get you help,” I said.

“No,” she whimpered. “Please. Don’t tell. I'm scared. I'm scared of her."