Chapter 24 Investigating Enemies
Elara's POV
"Kill him?" I step back from Captain Reeves. "You're insane!"
"I'm practical." He keeps his voice low. "The Dragon King is the only thing holding this kingdom together. Remove him, and Drakenmoor collapses. Queen Morgana can conquer it without a real war."
"I won't help you murder him!"
"Then I send these reports." Reeves holds up the papers. "Queen Morgana will read how you warned Drakon about the assassins. How you're working with him against her. How you've betrayed everything."
My hands shake. "She'll kill Lily."
"She'll do worse than kill her." His eyes are cold. "She'll make your sister scream for days. Weeks. Until there's nothing left."
I want to scream. Want to run. But I force myself to think. "Why tell me this? Why not just kill him yourself?"
"Because I need you to get close to him. To make him vulnerable." Reeves steps closer. "Tomorrow night, you'll convince him to dismiss his guards. Tell him you want privacy, romance. Whatever works. Once he's alone with you, you'll unlock the balcony doors in his chambers."
"And then?"
"Then my team comes in. Fast. Clean. He won't even see it coming." Reeves watches my face. "You don't have to do the killing. Just open a door. That's all."
"That's murder."
"That's survival. Your sister's survival." He tucks the papers away. "You have until tomorrow night to decide. Help me, or I send these reports and your sister dies screaming."
Before I can respond, footsteps echo on the stairs. Someone's coming.
Reeves moves to the window. "Tomorrow night. Unlock the balcony doors. Or face the consequences."
He climbs out the window onto the ledge, disappearing into darkness. How did he...
"Elara?" Drakon's voice calls from below. "Are you up there?"
Panic floods through me. I can't let him find me here. Can't explain why I came.
But it's too late. Drakon appears at the top of the stairs, guards behind him.
"What are you doing here?" His golden eyes search my face. "Your guards said you slipped past them."
Think. THINK. "I couldn't sleep. I needed air. I didn't want guards following me everywhere."
"After someone tried to kill you today?" Drakon's voice is sharp. "That was incredibly foolish."
"I know. I'm sorry." I look at the floor. "I just felt suffocated, trapped."
His expression softens slightly. "I understand. But you can't wander the castle alone. It's not safe."
"Nothing is safe anymore." The words escape before I can stop them.
Drakon dismisses the guards. Once we're alone, he steps closer. "What's really going on? You've been terrified since the village. And it's not just about the archer."
"I'm fine."
"You're not fine. You're shaking." He takes my hands. "Talk to me. Please."
I want to tell him about Reeves. About the reports. About the impossible choice. But if I do, will he believe me? Or will he think I'm making excuses?
"I'm just scared," I say, which is true. "Someone wants me dead. Someone who knows I'm not really Princess Celestia. And I don't know who else might be watching. Waiting."
"I won't let anyone hurt you." Drakon's voice is firm. "I'll protect you. I promise."
"You can't promise that." Tears start falling. "You can't protect me from everything. You can't."
He pulls me into his arms. I cry into his shoulder, all my fear and stress pouring out. He holds me, one hand stroking my hair.
"We'll figure this out," he murmurs. "Together. I won't let anyone hurt you or your sister."
If only he knew the real danger isn't just to me. It's to him.
Eventually, we return to my chambers. My guards look ashamed for letting me escape. Drakon doesn't punish them, just orders them to be more vigilant.
After he leaves, I sit on my bed, mind racing. Tomorrow night. That's all the time I have.
I could tell Drakon about Reeves. About the plan. But what if Reeves sends the reports anyway? What if Queen Morgana hurts Lily in revenge?
Or I could unlock the doors like Reeves wants. Let the assassins in. Watch Drakon die.
No, I can't do that. I won't.
But what choice do I have?
I pace until dawn. No answers came. Just more questions, more fear.
Morning brings a formal breakfast with nobles. I sit beside Drakon, playing the perfect queen. Smiling, nodding, pretending everything is fine.
Sir Marcus sits across the table. He watches me with knowing eyes. Does he know about Reeves? Are they working together?
After breakfast, Drakon pulls me aside. "I'm doubling the investigation into the archer. Someone must have helped him. Guards don't act alone."
"What if they do?" I ask. "What if he really figured it out himself?"
"Then we need to be more careful. Make sure no one else notices." Drakon lowers his voice. "Tonight, we're having dinner. Just the two of us. Private. We need to discuss our next moves."
My stomach drops. Tonight. That's when Reeves wants me to unlock the doors.
"Tonight?" My voice cracks.
"Is that a problem?"
"No, no problem." I force a smile. "Tonight is perfect."
As Drakon walks away, Sir Marcus appears beside me.
"Nervous about something, Princess?" His voice is silk.
"I'm fine."
"Are you? You look terrified." He leans closer. "Almost like you know something bad is about to happen."
"I don't know what you mean."
"Don't you?" Sir Marcus's smile is cold. "I've been watching you. You're not very good at hiding your emotions. Every time someone mentions tonight, you flinch."
My heart pounds. "That's ridiculous."
"Is it? Because I think you know something. Something about tonight. Something about the Dragon King." His eyes bore into mine. "What are you planning, Elara?"
The use of my real name makes me freeze.
"That's right," Sir Marcus continues. "I know who you really are. I've always known. And I know you're up to something tonight."
"I'm not."
"Meet me. East tower. Noon." His voice drops to a whisper. "Or I'll tell everyone what you are. Right now. In front of all these nobles."
He walks away before I can respond.
I spend the morning in agony. Noon approaches too quickly. I slip away from my guards again, using the same servant passages.
The east tower feels different in daylight, colder, more dangerous.
Sir Marcus waits at the top, leaning against the window.
"Punctual. Good." He gestures to the window. "Did you know Captain Reeves climbed out this very window last night? Dragon shifter guards have excellent hearing. They reported a late night conversation."
My blood turns to ice. "You know about Reeves."
"Of course. I sent him." Sir Marcus's smile is predatory. "The assassination attempt. The threatening note. Reeves showing up with his reports. All part of the plan."
"What plan?"
"The assassination attempt was a test," Sir Marcus says. "We needed to see if the Dragon King truly cares about you. If he'd risk himself to save you. And he did. He caught that arrow with his bare hands. Transformed to protect you. Perfect."
"Why does that matter?"
"Because Phase Two of the queen's plan requires the Dragon King to be emotionally compromised. To love you. To trust you completely." Sir Marcus pulls out his own set of papers. "And thanks to Reeves's surveillance, we know he does. He's falling in love with you. Which makes him vulnerable."
"I won't help you."
"Yes, you will." Sir Marcus hands me a small key. "Tonight, during your private dinner, you'll unlock the balcony doors in his chambers. Reeves and his team will do the rest."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I'll expose you right now. I'll gather every noble in the castle and tell them you're a fraud. I'll send word to Queen Morgana, and your sister dies." He leans close. "But here's the beautiful part, even if you refuse, the Dragon King still dies. We have backup plans. Multiple teams, multiple entry points. Your cooperation just makes it easier."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I want you to understand something." His eyes are dead. Empty. "You can't win, you can't save him, you can't save your sister, you can't even save yourself. The only choice you have is how much you want them to suffer before they die."