The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 74

LIRA

The world felt unreal as I walked back to my room.

My lips still tingled.

My heart still hadn’t decided whether it wanted to leap out of my chest or curl up and hide.

I pressed my fingers briefly to my mouth as I turned a corner, half-expecting someone to see the evidence of what had just happened written all over my face.

Cassian had kissed me.

Not politely. Not carefully.

But like he had forgotten himself.

Like I had undone him.

And worst of all, some treacherous part of me had kissed him back like I had been waiting for it. Like I was hungry for it.

By the time I reached my chambers, my legs felt unsteady. I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, exhaling shakily.

“What are you doing, Lira?” I whispered to the empty room.

I crossed to my bed, sat, then stood again. My thoughts wouldn’t settle. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his face, so close, his expression unreadable but intense, his hand holding me tight.

I had planned to use him.

To manipulate him.

To get close enough to the vault, to the truth, to vengeance.

This, whatever this was, had not been part of the plan.

I changed into my nightclothes and crawled into bed, staring up at the ceiling.

I should have felt victorious. At least I had gotten closer to him in some way.

Instead, I felt the opposite of that. It didn't feel like a victory.

Sleep eventually claimed me anyway, dragging me down despite my racing thoughts.

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

Morning came too quickly.

Sunlight spilled through the curtains, warm and insistent. I groaned softly and rolled onto my side, then froze as the memory of the night before slammed into me all over again.

The kiss.

My stomach flipped.

I sat up, rubbing my face. “Get a grip,” I muttered.

I dressed carefully, more carefully than usual. I washed my face and freshened up. I picked a simple blue gown, pale and neat. I even braided my hair in a nice updo. I found some rouge Elora left behind and applied it on my cheeks and lips. I didn’t know why I felt the need to look presentable, only that I did.

When I stepped into the hall, the first thing I noticed was the silence.

The second was the books.

Everywhere.

Girls sat on benches, leaned against pillars, even perched on the floor, parchments spread around them, lips moving silently as they read. Elora was hunched over a thick tome, brow furrowed in concentration.

It took a horrifying second for the truth to land.

“The assessment,” I whispered.

My blood turned to ice.

Elora looked up sharply. “Lira! You're finally here. You remembered to study, right?”

I stared at her.

Her eyes widened in shock. “Lira?!"

“I..." My mouth felt dry. “What… what time is it?”

She glanced at the sun’s position. “An hour before we’re called.”

The world tilted.

“I didn’t study,” I said faintly.

Elora’s expression shifted from confusion to alarm. “At all?”

“Not even a page.”

Her mouth opened, then closed. “Oh no.”

My hands started to fidget without my permission. I twisted my fingers together, pacing a step, then another.

Juliet noticed first.

“Well,” she drawled, loud enough for others to hear, “someone looks nervous!"

Amara followed her gaze, eyes sharp. “Did you forget there was an assessment? That’s odd. You’re always buried in books in the library."

A few girls glanced over.

Heat crawled up my neck. “I..."

Juliet smirked. “Come to think of it, I didn't see you in the library at all yesterday. I thought that was your favourite spot.”

Amara’s lips curved. “Too busy doing something else, perhaps?”

My pulse hammered.

Before I could respond, Calista’s cool voice cut in.

“Let’s hope,” she said lightly, “that today finally clears some… unnecessary competition. At least now you'll get eliminated like you truly deserve."

Her eyes flicked to me, dismissive and sharp.

“I’d hate for someone so clearly unprepared to embarrass herself even further.”

Something inside me snapped.

I turned away before I said something I couldn’t take back.

An hour.

If I failed, I was done. Eliminated. Sent away.

I couldn’t let that happen, not now, not when I was close.

“I need books,” I muttered, already moving.

I didn’t wait for permission. I bolted down the corridor, skirts gathered in my hands, heart pounding as I ran for the library.

I skidded inside, breathless, and immediately grabbed the nearest stack of texts on Aurelia’s history, magic, and dragon lore. I flipped pages frantically, trying to absorb anything, names, dates, treaties.

Focus, Lira. Just enough to survive. I just needed to learn the basics.

The door creaked open. I didn't care, not until I heard footsteps close to me.

I looked up and froze.

Cassian stood there, brow creased with concern.

“I saw you running,” he said quietly. “What’s wrong?”

I laughed weakly. “Everything.”

He crossed the room in long strides. “Lira.”

“There’s an assessment,” I blurted. “In an hour. I didn’t study. If I fail, I’m going to be eliminated."

He blinked. “That’s all?”

“All?” I hissed. “This is my worst fear come true.”

He smiled faintly, trying to lighten the moment. “You’re brilliant. You’ll manage. You're always here reading anyways aren't you?"

“No,” I snapped, then immediately softened. “You don’t understand. I'm not prepared for this.”

His gaze sharpened. “Really?”

“Yes really,” I said, gesturing helplessly. “And you...” I stopped myself.

“And me?” he prompted gently.

“You distracted me,” I said, half-accusing, half-breathless. “I couldn’t think after last night.”

Something unreadable crossed his face.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I didn’t mean...."

“It doesn’t matter,” I said, already turning back to the book. “I just need to study as much as I can before the clock strikes.”

He watched me for a moment, then said, “Let me handle it.”

“Cassian..."

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Before I could argue, he was gone.

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

I barely registered the passage of time after that. When I finally returned to the hall before the warning bell, heart in my throat, the girls were already gathered.

Calista looked furious.

That alone made me pause.

Elora hurried over. “Lira!”

“What is it?” I whispered.

She smiled. “The assessment’s been moved. Tomorrow morning.”

I sagged with relief. “What?”

“They just announced it.”

My first thought was immediate and undeniable.

Cassian.

I spun on my heel and rushed back toward the library.

I found him in the corridor, as if he’d been waiting.

“You did this,” I accused, breathless.

He smiled, unapologetic. “I spoke to the instructor.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because I don’t want you to leave,” he said simply.

My heart stumbled.

I hugged my books tighter. “I still need to study.”

“I can help,” he offered.

I eyed him skeptically. “You’ll only distract me.”

He chuckled. “I promise to behave. I know what will be on the assessment.”

I hesitated.

“Come,” he said. “My chambers. No interruptions.”

I shouldn’t have agreed. But I couldn't say no to him.