Chapter 25 The East Tower Meeting
Elara's POV
"You're wrong." I force the words out. "There has to be another way."
"There isn't." Sir Marcus pockets the key. "Accept it. You've already lost."
"Then why do you need me?" I challenge. "If you have backup plans and multiple teams, why bother with me at all?"
His smile falters slightly. "Because your cooperation makes everything cleaner. Simpler. Less chance of failure."
"So you DO need me." Hope sparks. "Which means I have leverage."
"Leverage?" Sir Marcus laughs. "You have nothing. No power, no options. Nothing!"
"I could scream right now. I move toward the stairs, bring guards running, tell them everything, expose your entire plan."
"And doom your sister?" He crosses his arms. "Go ahead. Scream. Watch what happens to Lily within the hour."
My confidence crumbles. He's right. Any move I make hurts someone I love.
"But you're thinking strategically now," Sir Marcus observes. "That's good. You'll need that tonight."
"I won't unlock those doors."
"Yes, you will. Because I'm about to show you something that will change your mind." He pulls out a small cloth bundle. "Queen Morgana sent this. Arrived by messenger bird an hour ago."
He unwraps it slowly. My stomach churns.
Inside is a lock of brown hair. Lily's hair. I'd recognize it anywhere.
And it's stained with blood.
"No." The word comes out as a whisper. "No, no, no."
"She's alive," Sir Marcus says quickly. "This was just a warning. A small cut on her scalp. Nothing serious. Yet."
"You're monsters." My legs give out. I sink to the floor.
"We're practical." He kneels beside me. "Queen Morgana wanted you to understand. She's done playing games. Either you cooperate fully, or Lily's suffering begins in earnest."
I cradle the bloody lock of hair in my hands. My baby sister. Hurt. Bleeding. Alone.
"What do you want from me?" I ask through tears.
"Tonight, you unlock the balcony doors. Tomorrow, you start gathering information. Real information. About Drakenmoor's defenses, military strength, treasury location, everything."
"Why? If Drakon dies tonight, why do you need..."
"Because killing one king doesn't conquer a kingdom." Sir Marcus stands. "We need to know where they keep their weapons. Their gold. Their strategic reserves. We need to destroy their ability to fight back."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then tomorrow, Queen Morgana sends me Lily's finger. The day after, a toe. Then an ear. We can keep her alive for weeks while we slowly dismember her." His voice is clinical. Detached. "Or you can save her all that pain."
My mind races. If I help them, Drakon dies and his kingdom falls. Thousands suffer. If I don't help, Lily suffers. Either way, people I care about get hurt.
Unless I can find a third option.
"I need time to think," I say.
"You have until tonight. That's all." Sir Marcus heads for the stairs. "Oh, and one more thing. Don't even think about warning the Dragon King. We have people watching you constantly. One wrong word, and we'll know."
After he leaves, I sit alone with Lily's bloody hair. My whole body shakes.
I have to tell Drakon. Have to warn him. But how? They're watching. Listening. Waiting for me to make a mistake.
Unless I'm very, very careful.
I return to my chambers, hiding the lock of hair in my pocket. My guards eye me suspiciously but say nothing.
Hours crawl by. I can't eat. Can't rest. Can only think about tonight.
As evening approaches, servants arrive to help me prepare for dinner with Drakon. They dress me in a simple gown. Fix my hair. Add perfume.
I look like a bride preparing for romance. But I feel like an executioner preparing for murder.
Drakon's chambers are grander than mine. He waits by a small table set for two. Candles flicker. Wine sits ready.
"You look beautiful," he says softly.
"Thank you." The words taste like ash.
We sit. Servants bring food. Drakon dismisses them, wanting privacy.
We're alone.
"I want to talk about us," Drakon begins. "About what happens after we stop Queen Morgana's plot. About our future."
Our future. He thinks we have one.
"Drakon, I..." I need to warn him. Need to tell him everything. But how? "I need to tell you something important."
"I need to tell you something too." He takes my hand. "I know this marriage started as a lie. I know you were forced into it. But somewhere along the way, my feelings became real. I'm falling in love with you, Elara. The real you."
My heart breaks. "Drakon, please"
"Let me finish. I know you're scared. I know you think you don't deserve happiness because of your deception. But you do. We both do." His golden eyes are so sincere. So trusting. "After we rescue Lily and stop the queen, I want to try again. A real marriage. Built on honesty and choice."
Tears stream down my face. He's offering me everything I've wanted. Everything I can't have.
Because tonight, assassins are coming to kill him. And I'm supposed to help them.
"I can't," I whisper.
"Can't what?"
"Can't have this conversation." I stand up, moving toward the balcony doors. The doors I'm supposed to unlock.
"Why not?" Drakon follows me.
Because I love you, I think. Because you're good and kind and you deserve so much better than me.
Because if I unlock these doors, you die. And if I don't, my sister suffers.
My hand reaches for the door handle. The key Sir Marcus gave me burns in my pocket.
All I have to do is unlock it. Open it slightly. That's all.
"Elara? What's wrong?" Drakon touches my shoulder.
I spin around, decision made. "Drakon, you need to listen very carefully. Don't interrupt. Don't ask questions yet. Just listen."
"All right."
"Tonight, assassins are coming to kill you. They want me to unlock these balcony doors to let them in. Sir Marcus is behind it. Captain Reeves from the Southern Kingdom is leading the team. They have my sister's blood." My voice breaks. "They hurt Lily to make me cooperate."
Drakon's expression hardens. Scales appear on his neck.
"There's more," I continue rapidly. "They've been watching us for weeks. They know we're working together. They know you care about me. The arrow attack was a test to see if you'd save me. Everything has been planned."
"How many assassins?"
"I don't know. Reeves leads one team, but Sir Marcus said there are backups. Multiple entry points."
Drakon moves to the balcony doors and locks them firmly. Then he wedges a chair under the handle.
"Good. You warned me. Now we prepare." He strides to the door. "Guards!"
Four dragon shifters enter immediately.
"Seal the castle. No one in or out. Search every room for intruders. Find Captain Reeves and Sir Marcus. Bring them to me alive."
The guards rush off.
Drakon turns back to me. "You did the right thing."
"But Lily" My voice breaks. "They'll hurt her. They'll kill her because I told you."
"Then we move faster. I'm sending Thorne south tonight. Right now. We'll get her out before Queen Morgana can react."
A window shatters.
A figure drops into the room; Captain Reeves, sword drawn.
"Too late," he says with a cold smile.