Chapter 30 The Library Confession (Almost)
Elara's POV
I ran through the castle corridors, my heart pounding. Faye's footsteps faded behind me.
She was going to tell Drakon everything. I had minutes. Maybe less.
I burst into my chambers and slammed the door. My hands shook as I locked it.
What do I do? What do I do?
I paced back and forth. The blood-soaked ribbon from Lily's hair sat on my nightstand, mocking me.
If I ran away, Lily died. If I stayed, Drakon would discover the truth and the mating bond would shatter. Either way, people I loved would suffer.
Unless I told him first. On my own terms. Before Faye could.
Maybe if I explained everything about Queen Morgana's blackmail, about Lily being held hostage, about Sir Marcus's threats, maybe Drakon would understand. Maybe he'd help me.
Maybe the mating bond wouldn't break if I confessed before he discovered it himself.
It was my only chance.
I took a deep breath and opened my door. Guards stood in the hallway.
"I need to see King Drakon," I said. "Immediately. It's urgent."
"His Majesty is in the war room," one guard replied. "He left orders not to be disturbed."
"This can't wait. Please. Tell him I need to speak with him privately. Right now."
The guard looked uncertain but nodded. "I'll inform him, Your Majesty."
Minutes crawled by. Each second felt like an hour.
Finally, the guard returned. "King Drakon will meet you in the library in ten minutes."
I practically ran to the library. My whole body trembled.
This was it. I was going to tell him everything.
The library was empty when I arrived. Shelves of books surrounded me. This was where Drakon and I had talked late into the night. Where we'd connected. Where I'd started falling in love with him.
It felt right to confess here.
The door opened. Drakon walked in, concern written across his face.
"Elara? What's wrong? The guard said it was urgent."
"Sit down," I said. My voice shook. "Please. I need to tell you something important."
Drakon sat in a chair by the fireplace. "You're scaring me. What's happening?"
I stood in front of him, gathering courage. "Earlier, in the meadow, I started to tell you something about my past. About who I really am."
"I remember." He leaned forward. "You said you weren't who I think you are."
"I'm not." Tears filled my eyes. "Drakon, I need to tell you something important about my past. About why I'm really here. About..."
The library door burst open.
Thorne rushed in, breathing hard. His face was flushed with excitement.
"Drakon! We found the assassin! He confessed everything!"
"Not now, Thorne," Drakon said firmly. "Elara and I are having an important conversation."
"This can't wait!" Thorne's eyes were wild. "He was hired by someone inside the castle to kill the queen! Someone close to you both!"
My blood turned to ice.
Drakon stood up immediately. "What? Who hired him?"
"He won't give a name. But he says it's someone you trust. Someone with access to everything." Thorne's gaze flickered to me for just a second. "Someone who's been feeding information to the enemy."
"Where is this assassin now?" Drakon demanded.
"In the throne room. We're bringing all the council members to hear his confession. You need to come now."
Drakon turned to me. "Elara, I'm sorry. We'll finish this conversation later. I promise."
"Drakon, wait" I reached for his hand. "What I need to tell you is important. More important than..."
"Someone tried to have you killed," Drakon interrupted gently. "And now we might finally learn who's behind all of this. I need to hear what he has to say." He kissed my forehead. "Whatever you need to tell me, it can wait one more hour. Okay?"
No, it couldn't wait. But I couldn't say that without explaining everything right here in front of Thorne.
"Okay," I whispered.
Drakon and Thorne left quickly.
I stood alone in the library, shaking.
This was bad. The assassin was confessing. What if he knew about me? What if Sir Marcus had told him I was part of the plan?
I had to hear what he was saying.
I followed them to the throne room. Guards tried to stop me at the door.
"The queen should be present," I said firmly. "If someone tried to kill me, I deserve to hear the truth."
The guards exchanged glances but let me through.
The throne room was packed. Council members filled the space. Dragon shifters stood along the walls. Everyone looked tense.
Drakon sat on his throne. Thorne stood beside him.
In the center of the room, chained and bloody, was the assassin from the attack.
"Tell them what you told me," Thorne commanded.
The assassin lifted his head. His eyes were cold and empty. "I was hired to kill the false queen. Paid fifty gold pieces. Told it would look like an accident."
"Who hired you?" Drakon's voice was dangerous. Low and threatening.
"A man inside the castle. Never saw his face. But he knew everything about guard schedules. About the queen's routines. About when she'd be vulnerable."
My stomach churned. That could describe me. I knew all those things now because Sir Marcus had forced me to learn them.
"This man," Drakon continued. "Was he acting alone?"
The assassin smiled. It was a terrible smile. "No. He's part of something bigger. An invasion is coming. Soldiers are already inside your borders. Hiding. Waiting."
Gasps filled the throne room.
"How many soldiers?" Thorne demanded.
"Dozens. Maybe more. Someone's been helping them sneak past your defenses for weeks."
Drakon's hands gripped the throne arms so tight his knuckles turned white. "Give me a name. Who is betraying my kingdom?"
The assassin's eyes swept across the room. Then they landed on me.
He stared right at me for a long, horrible moment.
"I don't know their name," he finally said. "But I know they're close to you, Your Majesty. Very close. Someone you trust completely. Someone you'd never suspect."
Everyone in the room looked around, suspicious of each other.
But the assassin kept staring at me.
"Take him back to the dungeon," Drakon ordered. "We'll question him more later."
Guards grabbed the assassin's chains and dragged him toward the door.
As he passed by me, he leaned close.
His lips moved, forming words only I could see.
"You're next, imposter."
My heart stopped.
The assassin smiled and let the guards pull him away.
He knew. Somehow, he knew who I really was.
And he'd just threatened me in a room full of people without anyone else noticing.
I looked up and found Thorne staring at me. His amber eyes were sharp and calculating.
He'd seen the assassin mouth something to me.
He just didn't know what.
Yet.