Chapter 48 Thorne's Discovery
Thorne's POV(Earlier that day, before the festival)
The raven landed on my study window just after dawn. It carried a sealed letter from my contact in the Southern Kingdom.
My hands shook as I broke the seal. I'd been waiting days for this response.
"Lord Thorne,
Regarding your inquiry about Princess Celestia, I have shocking news.
The princess never left the Southern Kingdom. She's been here the entire time. I personally saw her at a court banquet three days ago. She looked healthy, happy, and very much NOT married to your Dragon King.
Queen Morgana has been telling everyone that Celestia is visiting distant relatives. But the truth is, whoever married King Drakon is NOT Princess Celestia.
I don't know who this imposter is or why Queen Morgana allowed the deception. But your king has been married to a fake for months.
Be careful. Whatever game Queen Morgana is playing, it's dangerous.
A Friend"
I read the letter three times, my blood growing colder with each reading.
Not Princess Celestia. An imposter. A fake.
But who? And why?
I pulled out all my notes. Every inconsistency I'd documented about "Elara." Every strange behavior. Every gap in her story.
She didn't know royal protocols.
She couldn't speak languages Princess Celestia supposedly knew.
She looked at books like she'd never seen a library.
She thanked servants, something no real princess would do.
The wedding ring burned her hand, a sign of deception.
The pieces fit together now. Perfectly. Horribly.
Drakon hadn't married a princess.
He'd married a commoner pretending to be one.
But why would anyone agree to such a deception? What leverage did Queen Morgana have?
I remembered something Elara had said during her breakdown: "They have my sister."
A sister. A hostage.
Queen Morgana was blackmailing her. Using family to force cooperation.
Which meant Elara wasn't evil, just trapped.
But that didn't change the fact that she'd been lying to Drakon. Betraying him. Helping his enemies.
I had to tell him. Before the festival. Before whatever Queen Morgana had planned happened.
I found Drakon in his chambers, preparing for the ceremonies.
"We need to talk," I said, closing the door firmly. "Now. Before the festival begins."
"Can it wait? I'm already running late"
"No." I spread my evidence across his desk. Letters. Notes. Documentation. "It can't wait. Because the woman you married isn't who you think she is."
Drakon's expression darkened. "I know. Elara already told me everything. She's not Princess Celestia, she's a seamstress forced to take her place."
"You know?" I was shocked. "Since when?"
"Since last night. After Faye's rescue mission." Drakon sat down heavily. "She confessed everything. The blackmail. Her sister. The impossible choices."
"And you're still going through with the festival? Still pretending everything is normal?"
"Because we have a plan." Drakon explained quickly, the rescue, the trap for Sir Marcus, the public exposure.
I listened with growing dread.
"Your plan won't work," I said when he finished.
"Why not?"
"Because the rescue mission was fake. The girl Faye rescued wasn't really Elara's sister." I pulled out another letter. "This arrived an hour ago. From a different contact. She says Queen Morgana deliberately let them take a changeling. A magical copy."
Drakon went pale. "You're certain?"
"Completely. Queen Morgana planned this. All of it. She wanted us to feel safe. To drop our guard." I leaned forward. "Whatever she's planning for tonight, it's bigger than we thought. Much bigger."
"Then we cancel the festival. Lock down the castle. Prepare for attack."
"Too late." I pointed at the window. The festival had already begun. Crowds filled the courtyard. "If we cancel now, it'll cause panic. And Queen Morgana might accelerate her plans."
"So what do we do?"
"We proceed as planned. But carefully. Watch for her real move." I gathered my evidence. "And Drakon, be prepared. The woman you love has been lying to you for months. Even if she had good reasons, that changes things."
"The mating bond is real," Drakon said stubbornly. "I feel it. That can't be faked."
"Are you sure?" I challenged. "Queen Morgana is powerful. Dark magic can mimic many things."
"Not true mate bonds. Those come from the soul."
"Then why is it deteriorating? Why does it cause you both pain?" I pressed. "Real bonds don't break down like yours is."
"Because of the lies. Faye explained..."
"Or because it was never real to begin with. Because it's dark magic designed to blind you to the truth."
Drakon stood up angrily. "You're wrong."
"I hope I am. But think about it, what better way to control you than to make you fall in love with a spy? To make you defend her even when evidence piles up against her?"
"Elara isn't..."
An explosion cut him off.
We ran to the window. Smoke rose from the south gate.
Soldiers in Southern Kingdom colors poured through.
The invasion had begun.
Hours early. During the festival. While everyone was distracted.
"It's happening," I breathed. "She knew. Queen Morgana knew we'd be ready after midnight. So she attacked now instead."
Drakon transformed partially, scales covering his arms. "Sound the alarm. Mobilize the guards. Protect the civilians."
"What about Elara?"
"I'll find her. Make sure she's safe." Drakon headed for the door.
"Drakon, wait." I grabbed his arm. "What if this is part of the plan? What if Elara was supposed to make sure you'd be distracted right now? Away from your command post? Vulnerable?"
"She wouldn't."
"Wouldn't she? To save her sister?" I held his gaze. "You said yourself, she's been making impossible choices. Betraying people to keep her family alive. Why would today be any different?"
Doubt flickered across Drakon's face.
The bond between them pulsed. I could see the golden glow under his shirt.
"I have to trust her," he said finally. "Even if you're right. Even if this is a trap. I have to trust that the woman I fell in love with is real."
He left.
I stood alone in his chambers, surrounded by evidence of deception.
And I realized we were all about to find out the truth.
Either Elara was a victim forced into terrible choices.
Or she was the perfect spy, playing the role of loving wife while helping destroy the kingdom from within.
Either way, by tonight, everything would change.
The golden glow from Drakon's bond suddenly flared brighter through the walls.
Then flickered.
Then started to break.
I ran toward the great hall, where the light was coming from.
And I heard Elara scream.