The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 93

LIRA

“Fine,” she said. “But if it’s scandalous, I want every detail.”

Across the table the conversation continued.

“I’m so tired of this routine,” Amara complained.

“Lessons, dinner, smiling at the court…”

“And pretending we enjoy it.”

I listened quietly. Because they were right.

Every day felt the same.

Every round of the Selection eliminated more girls.

And the ones who remained.... 

They were powerful. Daughters of powerful noble

families. Calista's father ran the council. He was the most powerful politician in Aurelia. 

Elora came from the richest family, it was impossible that she would leave the selection any time soon.

Lady Vivienne's family was also very powerful, even though it was quite obvious she had no interest in marriage. 

Amara, Juliette, and Evadne too. All Influential families.

I stared down at my plate. Will I even make it past this round? I didn’t have their wealth. Their influence. Their training.

I was an impostor. 

“Lady Lira.”

I looked up.

Two courtiers stood at the entrance of the dining hall.

Both dressed in royal colors. Both staring directly at me.

My stomach dropped.

“Lady Lira,” one of them said.

“Yes?”

“You are being summoned.”

Cold spread through my chest.

“Summoned?”

“To the Dragon Queen.”

The room fell silent around me.

Elora grabbed my arm.

“The Queen?”

I forced my voice not to shake.

“Yes?”

The courtier nodded.

“She wishes to see you immediately.”

My heart pounded violently.

Had she discovered something? Had someone seen me in the tunnels?

Had Cassian said something?

Or worse... 

Had the dragon somehow been revealed?

“Of course,” I said quietly, standing.

Elora whispered urgently.

“What did you do?”

“Nothing,” I said quickly.

But even I didn’t sound convinced.

The walk through the palace corridors felt endless.

Every step echoed like a drumbeat in my ears.

Stay calm.

Stay calm.

The courtiers led me through the royal wing and stopped before a pair of enormous doors.

One of them knocked.

A voice answered from within.

“Enter.”

The doors opened slowly.

And I stepped inside to face the Queen.

The doors closed behind me with a heavy thud that echoed through the chamber.

My heart pounded so loudly I was certain everyone in the room could hear it.

The Queen sat near the tall windows, sunlight spilling over her silver crown and pale gown. She looked calm. Composed. Watching me the way a hawk watches a mouse.

Two ladies-in-waiting stood behind her chair.

A pair of guards flanked the walls.

I forced myself to bow.

“Your Majesty.”

“Rise, Lady Lira.”

Her voice was smooth, controlled.

I straightened slowly, keeping my expression neutral even though my stomach felt like it had turned to ice.

The Queen studied me for a long moment. Too long.

“You are from the Vale family.”

My throat tightened.

“I am, Your Majesty.”

“Yes.”

Her fingers tapped lightly against the armrest of her chair.

“I hear you have a peculiar power.”

My pulse quickened.

“The court says,” she continued, “that you are a seer.”

Ah.

So that was it.

Relief washed through me so suddenly I almost sagged.

But I kept my face carefully blank.

“My grandfather also says that,” I said quietly.

The Queen leaned forward slightly.

“And is he correct?”

I hesitated just long enough to seem reluctant.

“Yes.”

Her eyes sharpened immediately.

“You do have visions.”

Sometimes the easiest lie was simply the one people already believed.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Interesting.”

She leaned back again.

“And yet you never told anyone.”

I lowered my gaze.

“My grandfather warned me not to.”

“Why?”

I swallowed.

“Because my visions are… unpleasant.”

The Queen tilted her head.

“Unpleasant?”

“Yes.”

I let my voice soften slightly.

“They are always about terrible things.”

Silence filled the room.

The Queen’s eyes narrowed.

“Terrible things such as…?”

My mind moved quickly.

Carefully.

If I wanted to stay here, if I wanted time to finish what I had started, I needed the Queen to think I was valuable.

Necessary.

I looked up slowly.

“My visions are not always clear.”

“But?”

“But they show me disasters.”

The Queen leaned forward again.

“What kind of disasters, Lady Lira?”

I let my fingers twist together slightly, as if nervous.

“War.”

Her brows drew together.

“War?”

“Yes.”

“With whom?”

“I don’t know.”

That part was true.

“I only see flames,” I said softly. “And people running.”

The Queen’s fingers stilled against the armrest.

“And when did you see this?”

“Few nights ago.”

One of the ladies behind her shifted uneasily.

“Really?” the Queen repeated.

“Yes.”

I took a slow breath.

“And there was something else.”

Her gaze sharpened.

“What?”

I let the silence stretch just long enough to build tension.

“There is something beneath the palace.”

The room grew very still.

The Queen’s voice lowered slightly.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not sure.”

Another lie.

“I only saw shadows.”

Her eyes searched my face.

“Shadows?”

“Yes.”

I looked toward the stone floor beneath us.

“Something ancient and huge.”

The Queen didn’t move.

“Ancient how?”

“Like… something that has been waiting.”

The words made a shiver crawl up my spine.

Because that part wasn’t entirely a lie either.

The Queen’s expression hardened slightly.

“And this thing beneath my castle… what does it do?”

I swallowed.

“I saw fire.”

One of the ladies gasped softly.

“Fire spreading through stone,” I continued quietly.

“Through the palace?”

“I don’t know.”

The Queen rose slowly from her chair.

“Why,” she asked carefully, “did you never tell anyone about these visions?”

I lowered my head.

“My grandfather told me not to.”

“And you obeyed him?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I forced my voice to tremble slightly.

“Because every time I told someone about my visions when I was younger… they looked at me differently.”

The Queen studied me closely.

“Differently?”

“Like I was cursed.”

“My grandfather said people fear what they don’t understand.”

“And yet you joined the Selection.”

I hesitated again.

“I was afraid if anyone knew… they might send me away.”

The Queen’s lips pressed together.

“So you kept silent.”

“Yes.”

“And what changed now?”

I met her gaze.

“You asked me directly, your Majesty.”

Silence settled across the room again.

The Queen began pacing slowly across the chamber.

“You claim to see visions of war,” she said thoughtfully.

“Yes.”

“And something dangerous beneath my castle.”

“Yes.”

“And yet you have no proof.”

I forced myself not to react.

“No, Your Majesty. I only have my dreams."

“Tell me something, Lady Lira.”

“Yes, your Majesty,"

“Do you know what happens to people who lie to the crown?”

My pulse slammed against my ribs.

“I am aware, your majesty.”

“And yet you stand here telling me these… extraordinary things.”

“Yes, your majesty."

The Queen studied me for what felt like an eternity.

Then she spoke again.

“Very well.”

Relief fluttered faintly in my chest.

“If you truly possess this gift,” she continued, “it would be foolish of me to ignore it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You will remain in the palace for now.”

My breath caught.

“And if you experience another vision…”

Her eyes locked onto mine.

“You will come directly to me.”

“Of course.”

“Immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

She studied me one last time.

“Until then, you may return to your duties.”

My legs nearly gave out from relief.

I bowed deeply.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

As I turned to leave, her voice stopped me again.

“Lady Lira.”

I froze.

“Yes, your majesty.”

“If your visions prove to be true…”

I glanced back.

“…you may find yourself very valuable indeed.”

“I only wish to serve the kingdom,” I said softly.

She nodded once.

“You may go.”