The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 95

LIRA

The doors to the Queen’s chambers closed behind me with a heavy thud, and only then did I allow myself to breathe

The corridor was quiet, the torches flickering softly against the stone walls. Courtiers passed in the distance, their voices faint echoes in the hall, but no one paid me much attention

Which was good.

Because my heart was still racing.

I walked slowly down the corridor, trying to steady myself.

Did I say too much?

The thought crept into my mind the moment I was alone.

My fake vision had certainly captured the Queen’s attention. Perhaps too much attention.

I rubbed my fingers together nervously as I walked.

“Fire beneath the castle,” I murmured quietly to myself.

I had been careful not to say dragon.

Careful not to give away anything concrete.

But still…

If the Queen began digging deeper, asking questions....

I pushed the thought away immediately.

“No,” I whispered.

The Queen believed I was useful for now.

That was the important thing.

If she believed I could see the future, she would keep me here.

Close.

Inside the palace.

And that was exactly where I needed to be.

But even that wasn’t enough.

I knew it.

The Dragon Queen Selection would not last forever.

In a few more weeks only three girls will be left for the dragon trials.

The rest of us would leave. I would leave.

My stomach twisted.

Which meant I had to consider the one option that would guarantee my place in this palace.

Prince Evander.

The thought sat heavily in my chest as I turned down the corridor toward the girls’ wing.

I reached Elora’s room and knocked.

“Come in!” she called.

I stepped inside.

Elora sat cross-legged on her bed, a book open in her lap. Her face lit up the moment she saw me.

“There you are,” she said. “I’ve been waiting.”

“For me?”

“Yes.”

She closed the book and sat up straighter.

“You said you had something important to tell me.”

Right.

I moved slowly toward the chair near her bed and sat down.

“Elora…”

My voice faltered slightly.

She tilted her head.

“You look serious.”

“I am.”

“What happened with the Queen?”

“She asked about my visions.”

Her brows lifted.

“And?”

“I fed her some lies. You know I don't see anything useful anyway. So I gave her enough to make her believe I’m useful.”

Elora let out a quiet breath.

“That’s good, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

But I hesitated.

“There’s something else.”

She leaned forward slightly.

“What?”

I swallowed.

“Prince Evander made me an offer.”

Her eyes widened immediately.

“What kind of offer?”

“He wants to take me out of the Dragon Queen's selection and court me properly.”

The words sounded strange leaving my mouth.

Elora stared at me.

“Court you?”

“Yes.”

Her brows furrowed.

“That’s… interesting.”

“I know.”

“When did this happen?”

"He told me a long time ago.”

“And you’re only telling me now?”

“I needed time to think. I didn't want to listen to him.”

Elora studied my face carefully

“And?”

“And I’m considering it.”

Silence filled the room.

Elora slowly set her book aside.

“You’re serious.”

“Yes.”

“But why?”

I forced a small smile.

“Because I’m not foolish.”

She frowned.

“What does that mean?”

“It means,” I said quietly, “that I know I will never win the Selection.”

Elora opened her mouth to argue, but I shook my head.

“Be honest.”

She hesitated.

“I’m not from one of the great houses,” I continued. “I don’t have the influence you and the others do.”

“That doesn’t matter...”

“It does.”

My voice softened.

“I would be stupid to believe I could become the next dragon queen.”

Elora looked unconvinced.

“But Evander…”

“Yes.”

“He truly likes you, I know that.”

“I know that too.”

“And how do you feel about him?”

The question lingered in the air.

I looked down at my hands.

“I think I could grow to like him.”

“But do you like him now?”

The answer came quietly.

“As a friend, yes, but romantically, no.”

Elora’s gaze softened.

“Then why consider his offer?”

“Because it’s the safest choice.”

“For what?”

“For everything.”

She sighed.

“Lira…”

“I’m being practical here, Elora. The rest of you, after the end of this Dragon Queen selection, will go on to marry noblemen. I don't even think I have that option.”

“You’re being too hard on yourself.”

“I’m being realistic.”

Elora leaned back against the bedpost.

“Well,” she said after a moment, “if it’s what you want… then I suppose it’s brave."

“Brave?”

“Yes.”

She smiled faintly.

“Not everyone would choose certainty over hope. More than half of the girls in the selection think they could be Queen, they hope they would. You don't.”

I laughed softly.

“I’ve never been very hopeful.”

Elora studied me for a moment.

“You know you don’t have to do this. You don't even strike me as one interested in marriage."

“I do. There's a lot of things a great marriage like that can offer.”

“You could stay in the Selection, if you stay long enough your marriage prospects will improve.”

“And lose?”

“What if you win?”

I shook my head.

“Elora.”

“Yes?”

“I have to.”

She looked at me carefully.

“I just don't understand why”

I hesitated.

Because the truth was something I could never tell her.

Because I needed to stay here.

Because the crown needed to fall.

Because my vengeance had already begun.

Instead I simply said,

“It’s the right decision.”

Elora sighed.

“I suppose.”

But her expression looked sad.

“It just feels like you’re giving up.”

I forced a smile.

“Perhaps.”

She reached out and squeezed my hand.

“Whatever happens, you know I’m here for you.”

“I know.”

We talked a little longer after that.

About lessons.

About the other girls.

About how terribly dull court etiquette had become.

For a few minutes, it almost felt normal.

Until I heard it.

A whisper in the back of my mind.

Lira.

My breath caught.

The dragon.

I forced myself to stand.

“I think I should sleep,” I said quickly.

Elora yawned.

“Honestly, me too.”

She smiled as I moved toward the door.

“Good night.”

“Good night.”

The moment I stepped into the corridor, I turned in the opposite direction of my room.

Toward the hidden passageway.

************************

The tunnels were quiet.

The familiar warmth of the dragon’s chamber greeted me as I stepped inside.

Before I could even speak...

A white blur launched toward me.

“Luna!”

I laughed as the small dragon tumbled into my arms, chirping excitedly.

“Well hello to you too.”

She wriggled happily against my chest, tiny wings fluttering.

“I missed you too.”

A deep voice echoed behind us.

“She has been waiting for you.”

I looked up.

Veryraxis watched from the shadows, her massive form coiled within the cavern.

“You called me.”

“Yes.”

Something in her tone made my smile fade.

“What’s wrong?”

“I am leaving.”

The words hit me harder than I expected.

“Leaving?”

“I have regained enough strength to fly out from here.”

“So soon?”

“In the next two days. Before the other dragons come back, I have to leave.”

My chest tightened.

“Where will you go?”

“Far from here.”

“Why?”

“To recover fully.”

Her eyes glowed faintly.

“I cannot destroy the crown in my current state.”

“But you will come back?"

“Yes.”

I swallowed.

“When?”

“When the time is right. I shall send word."

She lowered her head slightly.

“You must remain patient. Our victory is eminent.”

“What should I do?”

“Continue exactly as you have been.”

“And Luna?”

The small dragon chirped in my arms.

Veryraxis gave a low rumbling sound that almost sounded like amusement.

“She will visit you, don't worry.”

“Visit me?”

“She has already bonded with you. She cannot stay far away from you.”

I looked down at the little dragon.

Her bright eyes blinked up at me.

“I’ll miss you,” I whispered.

Veryraxis’s voice softened slightly.

“Do not be sad, Lira.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

I sighed.

“Maybe a little.”

“But our vengeance is coming.”

“Yes.”

“And when it does…”

Her eyes gleamed.

“The crown will fall.”