30 - I've Brought Proof

**Caelan**  

I knew what I had to do and this was going to be it. 

The King had to be convinced. In as much as I needed Lysandra to come back to me, I also needed to maintain my air of control. The dragon had to be taken down. For good.  

I walked into the King’s chamber with the confidence of a man who knew he was about to win. My heart beat steadily in my chest, calm, calculated. I had everything I needed to sway him, to turn the tides in my favor.  

The Western King was seated at his massive wooden desk, the weight of his crown and the years of ruling etched into every wrinkle of his face. His eyes, sharp and cold, locked onto me the moment I entered.  

“Caelan,” he said, his voice a low growl. “You’ve returned. I trust you’ve found something to support your claims about the dragon?”  

I smiled, a thin, practiced smile. “Your Majesty, I’ve come with more than just claims. I’ve come with proof.”  

I gestured to the three figures standing behind me, their faces grim and serious. The families of the maidens the dragon had supposedly taken. The witnesses who would confirm the dragon’s crimes. They were nothing more than pawns in my game, but they would serve their purpose well.  

The King’s eyes flicked over to them, narrowing. “And what is this proof, Caelan? What evidence do you have that this creature is a threat to my kingdom?”  

I stepped forward, placing a series of papers on the King’s desk. Forged letters, written testimonies, and carefully crafted accounts of the dragon’s supposed actions. The lies were so well constructed that even I almost believed them. Almost.  

If I wasn’t the one conjuring them, I probably would have fallen for them too.

“Your Majesty,” I began, my voice steady and full of conviction. “The dragon has been terrorizing the villages near Black Mountain. He’s taken innocent maidens, killed them in cold blood, and forced the villagers to offer more as tribute. These are not just stories, these are the accounts of those who’ve suffered. The families of the victims, the ones who have lost everything.”  

I turned to the three witnesses, who stepped forward, their faces lined with grief and anger. They began their testimonies, each one more dramatic than the last. The King listened intently, his expression hardening with every word.  

“He took my daughter,” one of the men said, his voice thick with emotion. “She was just a girl, only sixteen. She was supposed to marry, to live a full life. But the dragon came, and she was gone. I saw him fly off with her myself. We begged him to let her go, but he didn’t care. He didn’t care about the lives he ruined.”  

He paused and shook his head. “He’s a complete monster, and we shouldn’t let him roam free any longer. If Your Majesty Allows, I suggest we eradicate him permanently.”

The next witness, a woman with tear-streaked cheeks, spoke of her daughter, a beautiful young woman who had been taken in the night. “We didn’t know what to do. We had no choice but to comply. The dragon said if we didn’t give him what he wanted, he’d burn the entire village. He’s been threatening us for months, forcing us to give him tribute. But when we refused…” Her voice cracked, and she broke into sobs.  

I laughed, mentally applauding her acting. The dragon obviously never came to the city, nor the village. If he did, we would’ve heard of it.

I could see the King’s eyes flicker with doubt, then settle into something more dangerous—anger.  

I knew I had him.  

“These stories… they are not the isolated ramblings of a few distraught villagers,” I said, my voice rising with passion. “They are a pattern. A deliberate campaign of terror. The dragon is not some misunderstood creature. He is a monster, a predator. And he must be stopped before more lives are lost.”  

The King stood, his fists clenched at his sides. “This is intolerable,” he muttered. “Such actions cannot go unpunished.”  

I could see the gears turning in his mind. I could see the power I had given him with these lies. The King had never been one to shy away from war. And now, with the dragon as his target, he would have the justification he needed to rally the region’s leaders.

“I will call a council,” the King said, his voice cold and resolute. “All the leaders of the region. We will discuss this… dragon problem. And we will decide how best to deal with him.”  

I nodded, a victorious smile tugging at the corners of my lips. I’ve got him where I wanted him.

“I knew you would see reason, Your Majesty,” I said. “The dragon’s palace in Black Mountain is his stronghold. If we strike now, we can destroy him before he becomes a true threat to your rule.”  

The King’s gaze shifted to the map on the wall, his finger tracing the path to Black Mountain. “I will speak with the other leaders. But we must be cautious. We do not want to start a war without provocation.”  

I bowed low, my voice smooth. “Of course, Your Majesty. But the longer we wait, the more lives the dragon will take. He’s already proven that he’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants.”  

The King turned away, dismissing me with a wave of his hand. “We’ll discuss this further at the council. You are dismissed, Caelan.”  

I left the room with a feeling of triumph coursing through my veins. The council would be mine. I would sway the leaders, make them see the dragon as the threat he was, and with their support, we would strike.  

And when we did, I would make sure Lysandra would be returned to me. No matter the cost.

“I am coming for you my love.” And finally, she will be mine alone.