Chapter 58 False Evidence
Drakon's POV
I ran through the castle corridors toward the dungeon. Guards followed behind me.
"How long has she been unconscious?" I demanded.
"Twenty minutes, Your Majesty. The bleeding won't stop. We've tried everything."
We reached the dungeon. Descended the stone stairs. The cold air smelled of dampness and blood.
Elara's cell was at the end. Healers surrounded her, their hands glowing with magic.
"Step aside," I ordered.
They moved. I saw her.
Elara lay on the stone floor in a pool of blood. Her chest wound where the bond had broken bled freely. Her face was white as death. Her breathing shallow.
"How long does she have?" I asked.
"Hours. Maybe less." The head healer looked at me meaningfully. "Unless you heal the bond, Your Majesty. You're the only one who can."
"I'm not healing anything." I knelt beside her anyway. "Elara. Wake up. I need answers."
Her eyes fluttered open. Barely focused on me. "Drakon?"
"Why did you do it?" I held up the letters Thorne had found. "Why did you plan my assassination? Why help Sir Marcus destroy the castle? Why all of this?"
Elara's face showed confusion. "What letters?"
"These!" I shoved them in front of her. "Your handwriting! Your plans! Instructions to kill me! Evidence you were working with Sir Marcus the entire time!"
She squinted at them. Tried to focus. "That's not... I never wrote..."
"Don't lie to me anymore!" My voice echoed off stone walls. "I have proof! Your handwriting! Detailed plans! Everything!"
"Forged," she whispered. "Marcus... he must have... forged them. I never... never planned to kill you."
"Your handwriting is distinctive. These are clearly yours."
"He practiced." Her voice grew weaker. "Weeks of watching me write. He could... copy my hand perfectly. He told me... told me he could. In case he needed... insurance."
I wanted to believe her. Wanted it desperately.
But the evidence was overwhelming.
"Why should I believe anything you say?" I asked bitterly. "You've lied about everything else."
"Because I love you." Blood bubbled at her lips. "Always did. Never wanted you dead. Only wanted... to save Lily. To save everyone."
"You destroyed everyone instead."
"I know." Tears mixed with blood on her cheeks. "I'm sorry. So sorry. But those letters... fake. All fake. Please believe me."
"I can't." The emptiness where the bond used to be screamed. "I don't know what's real anymore."
"The love was real." Her hand reached weakly toward mine. "Only real thing. Everything else... lies. But not that. Never that."
I pulled my hand away. "Love isn't enough."
"I know." Her eyes started to close. "Just wanted you... to know. Before I die. Loved you. Really loved you."
"You're not dying yet." I stood up. "You're going to live three more days. Until your execution. Until you face justice properly."
"Execute me now." Her voice was barely audible. "Please. Can't... take three more days of this pain."
"You don't get an easy death. You get to suffer like I'm suffering. Like everyone you betrayed is suffering."
"Your Majesty," the healer interrupted. "She won't survive three days. The wound is fatal. Either heal the bond now or accept she'll die tonight."
I looked down at Elara. At the blood. At her dying face.
And I realized I had a choice to make.
Let her die now and never get real answers. Never know if those letters were forged. Never understand the full truth.
Or heal the bond. Save her life. Keep her alive for execution in three days.
"Heal her," I ordered. "Just enough to stop the bleeding. Just enough to keep her alive until her trial."
"Your Majesty, that's not possible. The wound is magical. Either you forgive her completely and heal the bond, or she dies. There's no middle ground."
"Then she dies."
"Drakon," Elara whispered. "Please. Not for me. For Lily. She needs... needs to know I tried. Needs to know... I loved her."
"Lily will be told you died a traitor. Nothing more."
"No!" Elara tried to sit up. Failed. Collapsed back. "Please! She's just... just a child. Don't let her... think I abandoned her. Please!"
"You should have thought about that before betraying me."
I turned to leave.
"Your Majesty!" A guard burst in. "The prisoner's sister! She's broken into the throne room! She's demanding to see you! The guards can't control her!"
"A twelve-year old child broke into my throne room?"
"She's very determined, sir. And very loud. She's threatening to set things on fire if we don't bring you immediately."
Behind me, Elara made a sound between a laugh and a sob. "That's my Lily."
I looked back at her. At the woman who'd destroyed me. Who might be telling the truth about the forged letters. Who was dying because I refused to forgive her.
"Fine," I said. "I'll see the child. Maybe she can tell me the truth her sister refuses to."
"The truth," Elara gasped, "is that I love you. Both of you. And I'd die... a thousand times... to keep you safe."
"Then you'll get your wish," I said coldly. "Because you're dying once tonight. And that's all the death anyone gets."
I left her there bleeding. Left the healers shaking their heads. Left the dungeon behind.
And went to face a twelve-year old girl who apparently had her sister's stubbornness.
This should be interesting.
Or devastating.
Probably both.
As I climbed the stairs, I heard Elara scream behind me.
Not from pain.
From grief.
Because she knew what was coming.
Knew I was about to meet Lily.
Knew everything was about to change.
Again.
And this time, there was no going back.