The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 91

LIRA

I’m sorry. The words left my lips as little more than a whisper, barely sound at all.

Cassian didn’t stir.

Moonlight spilled across the bed, turning the tangled sheets silver. His arm lay across the place where I had been moments ago, fingers curled slightly as if still holding me.

I forced myself not to look at him too long.

If I did, I might not leave.

My body ached in unfamiliar ways. My legs trembled when I stood. The blood between my thighs had already begun to dry against my skin, a reminder of what I had done, what I had chosen.

What I had used him for.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured again, softer this time

Then I slipped out of his chambers.

The palace corridors were silent at this hour. Torches flickered against the stone walls, their flames bending gently in the draft as I hurried past.

My heart pounded.

Every step echoed with the memory of the dragon’s voice.

His blood can break the chains.

The memory pulled me backward in time, to the chamber beneath the palace where the air smelled of ash and old magic.

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

Earlier that night.

The dragon’s great body lay coiled within the cavern, scales gleaming faintly in the torchlight like dark rubies. Chains of blackened stone wrapped around her limbs, embedded deep into the rock beneath her.

Her eyes glowed as I approached.

“You said you had a way to free yourself," I whispered.

Her massive head tilted.

“I do.”

The small dragon curled near her claws lifted its head, blinking sleepily.

I swallowed.

“What must I do?”

For a moment, the great creature simply watched me.

Then she said quietly, “The chains that bind me were forged in blood. Blood of the old and blood of the new.”

My stomach tightened.

“New… blood?”

“Yes.”

Her gaze burned into mine.

“The blood of the king’s line is the blood of the new. Crown Prince Cassian is the strongest. His powers are an exact match of King Gavin."

Cassian’s face flashed through my mind.

“No,” I whispered.

Veryraxis continued anyway.

“The magic that holds me here requires two things to break it. The union of both bloods."

Her claws scraped softly against the stone.

“His blood,” she said.

“And yours.”

I stared at her.

“My blood?”

“You carry the blood of the old. The blood of the first and true magic wielded along before the first pact was formed.”

My father.

My throat closed.

Veryraxis lowered her head slightly.

“If you bring me even a drop of the prince’s blood, your blood, and smear it upon the stones that hold my chains, and mix it with your own blood, the spell can be broken.”

I stood frozen.

“How would I even...”

The dragon’s eyes flickered knowingly.

“You are clever, little one.”

My heart pounded painfully.

“Even a drop,” she repeated softly.

..........

Now.

I hurried through the narrow tunnel of the secret passage, my hands trembling.

The air grew warmer as I descended deeper beneath the palace.

The cavern appeared before me moments later.

Veryraxis lifted her head as I entered.

“You have returned.”

Her voice echoed through the chamber.

The baby dragon chirped softly from beside her.

I stepped forward slowly.

“I did what you asked.”

Her massive eyes sharpened.

“You have the blood?”

My fingers shook as I reached for the hem of my dress.

“Yes.”

I peeled the fabric away from my skin. The inner lining was stained dark.

Cassian’s blood.

From the scratches my nails had carved into his back.

Veryraxis inhaled slowly.

“I can smell it.”

Heat crept up my neck.

But I forced myself to stand straighter.

“You said even a drop would be enough.”

“It will.”

My hands moved slowly as I removed the rest of my clothes.

The cold air of the cavern brushed against my bare skin.

Veryraxis watched silently.

I swallowed hard.

“There’s more,” I said quietly.

I lifted my arm, turning it so the torch's light revealed the dried streaks across my skin.

Cassian’s blood.

Mixed with mine.

The dragon’s eyes gleamed.

“Yes,” she murmured.

“That will do perfectly.”

She extended one massive claw toward a small stone near the base of her chains.

Resting on it was a dagger.

The blade was thin and dark.

“Take it.”

My fingers closed around the hilt.

It felt heavier than it looked.

“Cut yourself where the blood has already mixed,” Veryraxis instructed gently.

My throat tightened.

I pressed the blade to my belly.

Then dragged it across my skin.

Pain bloomed instantly.

I bit back a gasp as blood welled to the surface.

“Good,” the dragon murmured.

“Now smear it across the stones.”

I knelt beside the chain embedded in the rock.

My blood dripped onto the ancient black stone.

I spread it with shaking fingers, mixing it with the dark stains of Cassian’s blood already there.

“Now speak the words,” Veryraxis said.

Her voice lowered.

Ancient.

Powerful.

She spoke the spell slowly so I could repeat it.

The language felt strange against my tongue.

Old.

Heavy.

The air in the cavern began to hum as I spoke the final words.

“…let the chains of blood be broken.”

Silence fell.

Then Veryraxis said quietly,

“Step back.”

I rose quickly.

“And take the child.”

The baby dragon blinked at me as I lifted him into my arms. He was warm and surprisingly heavy.

I stepped away.

Veryraxis drew in a slow breath.

Then she opened her jaws.

Fire exploded from her throat.

The flames struck the blood-soaked stone.

The rock screamed.

Cracks split through it like lightning.

Then...

It melted.

The large chain snapped free.

Veryraxis let out a low, rumbling sound that shook the cavern walls.

“I am free.”

I stared in awe.

“You did it,” I whispered.

The dragon stretched her wings slightly, testing the absence of the chains.

Then she looked down at me.

“You did it.”

I hesitated.

“Are… you leaving?”

Veryraxis lowered her head.

“Not yet.”

Her wings shifted slowly.

“The magic that held me weakened my strength for decades.”

“So you’ll stay?”

“For a time.”

Relief flickered through me.

“I will tell you before I leave.”

I nodded slowly.

“Thank you.”

The dragon studied me carefully.

“You are brave, Lira.”

My chest tightened.

“Brave… or foolish. I can hardly tell these days.”

“Both often look the same."

Her golden eyes softened slightly.

“But bravery rarely comes without sacrifice.”

Her gaze drifted to my face.

“You are sad.”

I stiffened.

“I’m not.”

“Do you mourn the loss of your innocence?”