Chapter 17 Shared Secrets
Elara's POV
"Because I am someone completely different."
The words slip out before I can stop them. Drakon turns back to face me, his golden eyes widening.
"What did you say?"
I've already told him my real name. Already confessed I'm an imposter. What's one more truth? "The reports about Princess Celestia are accurate. She is cold and proud. But I'm not her. I'm Elara Moonstone. A seamstress from a poor village."
Drakon walks back and sits down. "Tell me everything. From the beginning."
So I do. The words pour out like water from a broken dam. I tell him about working late into the night, sewing to keep my family fed. About guards bursting into our cottage. About Queen Morgana threatening Lily. About two weeks of frantic training to become someone I'm not.
"They taught me how to walk, talk, eat like a princess," I say. "But they couldn't teach me how to feel like one. Because I'm not. I'm just a girl who loves books and sewing and taking care of her family."
"A seamstress," Drakon says softly. "That explains your hands. The calluses I noticed."
I look down at my hands. "I tried to hide them with creams and gloves. But you can't erase years of work in two weeks."
"I don't want you to hide them." Drakon reaches out and takes my hand, examining it gently. "These hands tell a story. They show you're not afraid of hard work. That you help your family survive. That's honorable."
His acceptance makes my throat tight. "Most nobles would be disgusted."
"I'm not most nobles." He releases my hand. "And I'm certainly not fully noble myself. I'm part dragon, remember? We value strength and loyalty over titles and bloodlines."
"Queen Morgana doesn't see it that way. She thinks magical creatures are monsters that need to be destroyed."
"Yes, you mentioned she's planning to attack." Drakon's expression hardens. "Tell me more about her plan."
"Sir Marcus is supposed to help me gather information. Details about your defenses, your army, the castle layout. Then they'll attack when you're most vulnerable."
"And you're supposed to make sure I trust you. To get close to me so I don't suspect anything."
I nod miserably. "That's why she insisted on the marriage. A wife has access to everything. Sees everything. Hears everything."
"Clever," Drakon admits. "Evil, but clever."
"I'm so sorry." Tears start falling again. "I never wanted to betray you. Every time you're kind to me, every time you smile, it makes the guilt worse."
"Stop apologizing." Drakon's voice is firm but gentle. "You were forced into an impossible situation. Queen Morgana is the villain here, not you."
"But I'm helping her!"
"Because she's holding your sister hostage. That's not the same as choosing to help her." He stands and starts pacing. "The question now is: how do we use this to our advantage?"
"What do you mean?"
"Queen Morgana thinks you're still following her plan. Sir Marcus thinks you're still cooperating. We can use that." Drakon's eyes gleam with strategic thinking. "You'll continue feeding them information. But the information will be false. We'll lead them into a trap."
"What about Lily? If they suspect I've betrayed them"
"We'll get her out first," Drakon says with certainty. "I'll send my best warriors to the Southern Kingdom to rescue her. Dragon shifters can fly in quietly at night, grab your sister, and be gone before anyone notices."
Hope blooms in my chest. "You'd really do that?"
"Of course. We rescue Lily first. Then we deal with Queen Morgana." He sits back down beside me. "But this only works if we're completely honest with each other from now on. No more secrets. No more lies."
"No more lies," I agree. "I promise."
We sit in comfortable silence for a moment. The fire crackles. Outside, dawn is starting to break.
"Can I ask you something?" Drakon says.
"Anything."
"What was your life like? Before all this? Tell me about the real Elara."
So I do. I tell him about our tiny cottage with the leaky roof. About working by candlelight because we couldn't afford oil lamps. About reading borrowed books and dreaming of adventure. About Lily's laugh and Mama's gentle voice and the life I thought I'd always have.
"It sounds peaceful," Drakon says. "Simple but good."
"It was. I didn't have much, but I had enough. I was happy." My voice breaks. "Now I don't know if I'll ever have that life again."
"You will," Drakon promises. "We'll save Lily. We'll stop Queen Morgana. And then you can go home if you want."
"If I want?" I look at him. "You'd let me leave? Even though we're married?"
"The marriage was based on deception. If you want to annul it and return to your old life, I won't stop you." But he looks sad when he says it. "Though I hope you might consider staying."
"Why would you want me to stay? After everything I've done?"
"Because in one night, talking to the real you has been more genuine than months of political conversations with fake smiles." Drakon meets my eyes. "I like you, Elara. The real you. And I think we could actually be happy together if you gave it a chance."
My heart races. "You can't mean that."
"I do." He reaches for my hand again. "I know it's fast. I know the circumstances are terrible. But there's something here. A connection. Don't you feel it?"
I do feel it. Despite everything, despite the lies and the danger, I feel drawn to him. "Yes. But..."
A loud bang echoes through the library. We both jump to our feet.
The doors burst open. Thorne stands there, his amber eyes blazing with fury and his whole body tense.
"Drakon, step away from her," Thorne commands. "Now."
"Thorne, what..."
"I said step away!" Thorne's voice carries dragon power. Scales appear on his neck and arms. "I've been tracking Sir Marcus all night. I know what he is. And I know she's involved."
My blood runs cold.
"Thorne, listen" Drakon starts.
"No, you listen!" Thorne advances into the library. "I suspected something was wrong from the moment she arrived. The way she moved. The way she spoke. And tonight, Sir Marcus met with two other spies in the east tower. They were discussing their mission. Discussing her."
"I can explain" I begin.
"Explain what? That you're a spy? A traitor sent to destroy us?" Thorne's eyes glow brighter. "I heard them talking about Queen Morgana's plan. About the attack. About how you're supposed to seduce our king and make him vulnerable."
"It's not like that!" I cry.
"Isn't it?" Thorne looks at Drakon. "And you sitting here in the dark with her, holding her hand. Have you lost your mind? She's using you!"
"She's not" Drakon tries to explain.
"She's an enemy agent!" Thorne roars. "And you're falling for her act!"
"It's not an act!" Drakon steps between Thorne and me. "I know everything, Thorne. She told me the truth."
Thorne stares at him in shock. "She told you? And you're just accepting it?"
"She was forced into this. Her sister is being held hostage"
"Oh, how convenient!" Thorne's voice drips with sarcasm. "The poor victim story. And you believe her? Drakon, she's been lying to you since the moment she arrived! How do you know any of this is true?"
"Because I can see it in her eyes"
"You're not thinking clearly!" Thorne grabs Drakon's shoulders. "Brother, please. This is exactly what they want. They want you emotional, compromised, vulnerable. Don't let her manipulate you!"
"He's right," I say quietly. Both dragons turn to look at me. "Thorne is right. I have been lying. I am part of a plot to destroy you. And you have no reason to trust anything I say now."
"Elara" Drakon starts.
"But I'm telling the truth about my sister," I continue, looking at Thorne. "Queen Morgana is holding a twelve year old girl hostage. She threatened to torture her if I didn't cooperate. I didn't want to betray anyone. I just wanted to save Lily."
Thorne studies me with those glowing eyes. His gift lets him sense lies. "That part is true," he admits reluctantly. "About the sister. I can feel it. But the rest"
"Is also true," I insist. "I told Drakon everything tonight. I'm done lying. I want to help stop Queen Morgana. But I understand if you don't believe me."
"I don't," Thorne says flatly. "I don't know what you're hiding yet, but I will find out. And when I do, if you've hurt Drakon in any way, I'll personally throw you off the highest tower."