The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 67

CASSIAN

The music carried me forward whether I wanted it to or not, my feet moved but my mind was elsewhere.

Calista’s hand rested lightly in mine, her posture flawless, her movements precise. She smelled like vanilla and lavender. And she looked beautiful, perfect and regal. She was also a perfect dancer. The court adored her. I could feel it in the way eyes followed us, in the murmurs that rippled along the edges of the ballroom.

I should have been present.

I wasn’t.

My gaze betrayed me again and again, slipping past her shoulder, searching for a flash of deep blue amid the crowd.

Found her.

Lira was far from the prying eyes of the court. She was dancing with Evander, my brother’s hand at her waist, his head bent close as if the world had narrowed to the space between them. They looked like they were having a good time, Lira even chuckled. And my brother, the way his eyes looked up to her, like she meant the world to him.

Something ugly twisted in my chest.

“You’re very quiet tonight, your highness,” Calista said lightly, spinning beneath my arm. “Nervous?”

“No,” I replied, too quickly. “Just tired.”

She laughed, assuming familiarity where there was none. “Look around.Everyone seems convinced we’re perfect together.”

I forced a smile. “The court enjoys its assumptions.”

“Well, they're rarely wrong,” she said, voice warm. “They know a good match when they see it. And we just happen to be a good match."

I said nothing.

She continued anyway. “Are the dragons well? I heard rumors of unrest. I heard you had to leave abruptly."

“They’re… stabilizing,” I said carefully. “For now.”

“I’m glad,” she said. “With everything happening lately, we need them now more than ever. I hear Nowryn has been restless lately.”

I nodded, though my attention had already drifted back to Lira, her head tipped back slightly as Evander said something that made her laugh. The sound didn’t reach me, but the sight of it felt like a blade drawn slow across my ribs.

Calista kept talking.

About politics. About dragons. Just about any topic that could come to her head, she was mentioning it. I smiled politely and answered when I could.

Finally the waltz drew to its close.

Applause filled the hall.

The moment my hand left hers, I turned, intent on crossing the room,

"Prince Cassian!”

A hand clapped my shoulder.

Then another voice joined in. Then another.

My friends. Or should I say acquaintances since I'm allowed to be friends with them because they are noble.

“Well done,” Lord Christopher said. “You and Lady Calista, gods, it’s practically decided already.”

“She’s the obvious choice,” James chimed in. “Everyone can see it. Pity the other girls didn't stand a chance."

I laughed, too loudly. “Nothing is decided yet.”

They exchanged looks, amused. “You’re modest tonight. But seriously, you'd be a fool if you don't make her your wife."

Before I could disentangle myself, a familiar, dangerous voice cut through the circle.

“Cassian.”

Princess Nadine stepped forward, eyes bright with mischief and wine. Her hand slid into the crook of my arm without invitation.

“You owe me a dance,” she said.

“I don’t..." I began.

“Oh, don’t be cruel,” one of the men laughed. “You can’t refuse a princess.”

Nadine smiled sweetly. “Surely not.”

I swallowed my irritation and nodded. “Very well.”

Dancing with Nadine was like stepping into an old argument, every movement charged, every glance sharp with history. She leaned closer than necessary.

“You look distracted,” she murmured. “Thinking of someone else? Lady Calista perhaps?"

“Don’t,” I warned quietly.

She only smiled.

By the time the dance ended, I excused myself with minimal courtesy and pushed through the crowd, heart pounding with urgency.

I found Lira near the edge of the ballroom, cornered.

A noble lord, older, sharp-eyed, stood far too close, his tone insistent.

“I simply find it curious,” he was saying, “that Lord Eaton Vale hasn’t replied to my letters. Not a single one. I wrote to him many times over the years, I wondered if something had happened to him."

Lira’s fingers clenched around her glass. “My grandfather is… unwell. He will reply your letters once he's strong enough to."

“So I heard,” the man pressed. “But it is quite strange isn't it? Not much has been heard of your family in years and then you popped up. Last I heard of the Vale family, you were the one at death’s door.”

"Tell me, how did you recover from such a drastic illness?"

I stepped in without hesitation.

“That’s quite enough,” I said coolly.

The man startled. “Your Highness, I didn’t mean...”

“Lady Lira is overwhelmed,” I continued. “You’ll excuse her.”

He bowed stiffly and retreated.

Lira exhaled shakily.

“Are you alright?” I asked.

“I’m fine,” she said quickly.

“You didn’t look fine.”

She met my gaze briefly, then looked away. “I don’t like talking about my grandfather.”

“Why?” I asked gently.

Her expression closed like a door. “I’m tired, Prince Cassian. I need to leave.”

I wanted to argue. To insist.

Instead, I nodded. “Of course.”

She didn’t look back as she disappeared into the crowd.

The rest of the evening blurred.

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

Not long after as the ball neared to a close and I was retreating to my chambers, my father’s men found me.

“The King requests your presence. Immediately.”

The throne room was cold.

My father didn’t waste time. He stepped down from the dais and approached me.

His hand struck my face hard enough to snap my head to the side.

I was used to this, although it had been a long time since he last hit me. I straightened quickly, maintaining my composure.

“You sent the dragons away,” he said, voice low with fury.

“They were killing each other,” I shot back. “It was necessary.”

“Necessary?” he barked. “Do you realise what you have just done?! You have stripped this kingdom of its greatest defense!”