Chapter 206 Silver lining
Chapter 206 Silver lining
LIRA
"Stop," I said again. "Just stop for a moment. Listen to me."
He stopped.
He looked at me.
"You are not going to lead the army out," I said. "You are not going to leave the palace. You are not going to put yourself in danger."
"I have to."
"No, you do not." I stepped closer. "You are the king, Cassian. You have generals. You have advisors. You have an army. You do not have to lead it yourself."
"Yes, I do."
"Why?"
"Because I am the king. It's what I must do."
"That is not an answer."
He pulled his arm free.
"You do not understand," he said. "You cannot understand."
"Then make me understand."
He stared at me.
"I need to do this," he said finally. "I need to prove to them, to everyone, that I am not weak. That I can lead them."
"Cassian..."
"I need to prove it to myself."
I felt my heart break.
"You do not have to prove anything to anyone," I said softly. "You are already worthy, Cassian. You have always been worthy."
"That is not enough."
"It has to be."
He shook his head.
"I am going," he said. "I have to prepare soon. I'm meeting with several advisors and general to discuss the best strategies forward."
He walked toward the door.
"Cassian, wait."
He did not wait.
I ran after him.
"Cassian, please." I grabbed his arm again, spinning him to face me. "Please, do not do this. Do not leave. Do not put yourself in danger."
"Lira..."
"I cannot lose you." My voice cracked. "I cannot lose you, Cassian. You are all I have. You are everything."
He went still.
"I cannot lose you," I repeated. "I cannot watch you ride off to war and wonder if you will come back. I cannot..."
He kissed me.
His lips were desperate, full of all the fear and grief he had been holding inside. I kissed him back with equal fervor, my hands fisting in his tunic, pulling him closer.
"Lira," he breathed against my lips.
"Cassian."
"I am sorry. I am so sorry. I did not mean..."
"I know." I pressed my forehead to his. "I know you did not mean it. I know you are scared. I know you are trying to protect everyone. But you do not have to do it alone. Please reconsider this..."
"Lira..."
"You do not have to carry this burden by yourself. You have me. You will always have me."
He closed his eyes.
"I love you," he whispered. "I love you more than anything in this world."
"I love you too." I kissed him again, softer this time.
\---
He left.
I stood in the room, staring at the closed door, my heart pounding, my hands shaking.
He is going to war, I thought. He is going to fight Norwyn. He is going to face Veyraxis.
He might not come back.
I pressed my hands to my face.
He's going to come back. He's going to come back.
\---
The next morning, I woke to the sound of wings.
I sat up in bed, my heart racing. The noise was coming from the courtyard, the beating of wings, the cries of a dragon.
I threw on a robe and ran.
The courtyard was chaos.
Guards were scattered across the stone, their faces pale, their hands on their swords. Servants pressed themselves against the walls, their eyes wide with fear.
And in the center of it all...
Luna.
She had grown.
She was no longer a tiny hatchling, small enough to fit in my hands. She was the size of a horse now, her white scales gleaming in the morning light, her wings spread wide, her golden eyes bright.
When she saw me, she chirped, a sound of pure joy, and bounded toward me.
'Lira!'
Luna!
I threw my arms around her neck.
You are alive, I thought. You are alive. You are here.
I came back, she said. I grew strong. I learned to fly. I came back for you.
I felt tears streaming down my cheeks.
I had missed her so much.
I had missed her warmth, her voice, her presence in my mind. I had missed the bond that connected us, the thread of magic that tied us together.
I missed you too, I thought. I missed you so much.
She nuzzled against me.
A throat cleared.
I looked up.
Cassian stood at the edge of the courtyard, his arms crossed, a tired smile on his face.
"Lira," he said. "I have a surprise for you."
I laughed.
"This is your surprise?"
"She is yours." He stepped forward. "I had a talk with the dragon keepers, Luna is now big enough to stay with you for as long as you wish her to. She'll leave regularly, but she'll still stay with you. She flew all the way from the Dragon's Keep to find you."
I turned back to Luna.
Is that true?
Yes, she said. I heard your voice. I felt your fear. I knew you needed me.
I buried my face in her neck, hugging her tightly.
\---
Cassian waited until I had composed myself.
Then he stepped forward and placed his hand on Luna's head.
"I am sorry," he said to me. "For yesterday. For the argument. For..."
"Cassian..."
"I should not have pushed you away." His voice was quiet. "You were right. I do not have to carry this burden alone. And I am sorry that I made you feel like you were not part of this."
"Cassian..."
"I love you, Lira." He met my eyes. "I love you more than I have ever loved anyone. And I need you. I need you beside me. I need you to remind me who I am."
I reached for his hand.
"I will always be beside you," I said. "I will always remind you who you are."
\----------------------------
CASSIAN
The council chamber was thick with tension.
I sat at the head of the long oak table, my father's chair, no, my chair now, the weight of the crown pressing down on my brow like a physical burden. The lords and advisors were scattered around me, their faces pale, their voices raised in heated argument.
"Your Majesty, you cannot go into battle yourself," Lord Gareth said, his voice sharp. "It is too dangerous. Sargon is expecting you. He wants you to come."
"Lord Gareth is right," another lord chimed in. "If you ride out on Taheer, you will be playing directly into Sargon's hands. He wants to kill you, Your Majesty. He wants to end the Valemont line."
"I am aware of what Sargon wants," I said, my voice flat. "I am also aware that my people are dying. Villages are burning. Families are being slaughtered. And you expect me to sit here, safe behind these walls, while my kingdom burns?"
"Your Majesty..."
"I will not hide." I slammed my hand on the table. "I will not cower. If Sargon wants a fight with me then that's what he'll get."
The room erupted.
"Your Majesty, please..."
"You cannot risk..."
"If you die, the kingdom falls..."
"Enough!" I shouted.
The room fell silent.
"I understand your concerns," I said, my voice quieter now. "I understand that you are afraid. But Taheer and I can manage the situation. Our army will be behind me..."
The doors swung open.
Evander strode into the chamber, his face pale, his eyes bright. He was dressed in riding clothes, a sword at his hip, his expression grim.
"Brother," he said. "I have a proposal."