Chapter 31 Thorne's Suspicion
Elara's POV
"Elara. A word. Now."
Thorne's voice cut through the chaos as people left the throne room. His amber eyes burned into me.
My stomach dropped. "I should check on Drakon"
"Drakon is busy with the council." Thorne stepped closer, blocking my path. "You and I need to talk. Privately."
I had no choice. Refusing would make me look more suspicious.
Thorne led me to a small side room. He closed the door firmly.
"What did the assassin say to you?" he demanded.
"Nothing. I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't lie to me." Thorne's eyes flashed with anger. "I saw him mouth something as he passed you. What was it?"
"I didn't notice anything. Maybe he was just muttering to himself."
"He looked directly at you." Thorne crossed his arms. "I can read lips, Elara. I saw what he said. 'You're next, imposter.' So I'll ask again who are you really?"
My blood turned to ice. "You're wrong. You misread"
"Stop lying!" Thorne's voice rose. "I have the ability to sense deception. Every word out of your mouth right now is lighting up like a beacon. You're hiding something massive."
Tears burned my eyes. "Please don't do this."
"Don't do what? Protect my king?" Thorne's expression softened slightly. "Look, if you're in trouble, tell me. Let me help you. But stop lying."
I wanted to tell him everything. But Sir Marcus's warning echoed: "We have spies everywhere."
"I can't," I whispered.
"Can't or won't?"
"Both."
Thorne stared at me for a long moment. Then he shook his head. "I'm telling Drakon. Tonight. He needs to know."
"No! Please!" I grabbed his arm. "Don't tell him. Not yet. Just give me a few more days"
"To finish whatever plan you're part of?" Thorne pulled away. "The assassin said someone inside the castle is helping the enemy. And every instinct I have says it's you."
"It's not what you think!"
"Then explain it to me!" Thorne's frustration was clear. "Because right now, all the evidence points to you being a spy."
"I would never hurt him!" The words burst out. "I love him!"
"Love?" Thorne laughed bitterly. "How can you love someone you're lying to about everything?"
"Because the lies don't change my feelings!" Tears streamed down my face. "The mating bond is real. That can't be faked!"
Thorne paused. "The bond proves your souls connect. It doesn't prove your intentions are good."
"Please, Thorne. Just trust me a little longer."
"I can't." His voice was firm. "I'm telling Drakon everything tonight."
He walked out, leaving me alone and terrified.
I returned to my chambers, my whole body shaking. Thorne was going to expose me. Tonight. My time was up.
An hour later, I heard voices in the corridor outside my door.
Thorne's voice and Drakon's.
I pressed my ear against the door.
"I'm telling you, something is wrong with her," Thorne said. "The assassin called her an imposter. I saw it."
"You must have misread," Drakon replied. His voice sounded defensive.
"I didn't misread. And there's more. I've been investigating her background. Things don't add up, Drakon. She's not who she claims to be."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying your queen might be a spy. Or worse."
Silence. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears.
"That's impossible," Drakon finally said. "We have a mating bond. That can't form based on lies."
"Actually, it can," Thorne said quietly. "I looked it up. The bond can form initially even with major deceptions. It only shatters when the truth is revealed."
"You're wrong about her."
"Am I? Then ask her yourself. Ask her why the assassin called her an imposter. Ask her why nothing about her past matches what we know about Princess Celestia. Ask her why she acts like she's never been a princess before."
Another long silence.
"I trust her," Drakon said, but his voice wavered slightly. Just a little. "She's my true mate."
"I hope you're right." Thorne's footsteps moved away. "But if I'm right and you ignore this warning, you could lose everything. Your kingdom. Your life. Everything."
Their voices faded as they walked down the corridor.
I slumped against the door, tears streaming down my face.
Drakon was defending me. But Thorne had planted seeds of doubt. I heard it in Drakon's voice, that tiny waver of uncertainty.
How long before those seeds grew? How long before Drakon started asking questions I couldn't answer?
I crawled into bed, still wearing my dress. Sleep wouldn't come. My mind spun in circles.
Hours passed. The castle grew quiet.
Then, just after midnight, a soft scratching sound came from my window.
I sat up, my heart racing.
The window opened slowly. A dark figure climbed through.
Sir Marcus.
"Hello, little mouse," he said with that terrible smile. "We need to talk."
"Get out! If anyone sees you"
"No one will see me. I'm very good at staying hidden." He pulled out a sealed letter. "Queen Morgana sent new instructions. And new threats."
My hands shook as I took the letter. I broke the seal and read.
"Elara,
I hear the Dragon King's advisor suspects you. How unfortunate. If he exposes you before our plan is complete, your sister dies. The moment word reaches me that your identity is revealed, Lily dies. Slowly. Painfully.
You have one task tonight: steal the military defense maps from Drakon's study. The complete layouts showing troop positions, guard rotations, and weak points. Bring them to Sir Marcus within the hour.
Fail, and Lily suffers.
Queen M."
I looked up at Sir Marcus. "I can't steal from his study. It's guarded. Locked."
"Nothing is impossible." Sir Marcus pulled out a key. "I had this made. It will open Drakon's study door. The guards change shifts at one in the morning. You'll have exactly ten minutes when the hallway is empty."
"Someone will see me."
"Not if you're clever." He smiled coldly. "Oh, and I know the assassin recognized you today. I saw everything from the shadows."
My stomach churned. "What?"
"He mouthed 'you're next, imposter.' Very dramatic." Sir Marcus's smile widened. "Fortunately, only Thorne noticed. But Thorne is about to become a problem. Unless you complete this task perfectly."
"And then what?"
"Then I'll make sure certain evidence disappears. Evidence that might convince Drakon to believe Thorne's suspicions." He walked to the window. "But if you refuse this task, I'll give that evidence to Thorne myself. Proof that you're a spy. Proof that will destroy you."
"You're a monster."
"I'm practical." Sir Marcus climbed onto the window ledge. "One hour, Elara. Get those maps. Or your sister loses more than blood this time. And Thorne gets all the proof he needs to have you executed for treason."
He disappeared into the darkness.
I sank onto my bed, clutching the letter.
Steal from Drakon. Betray him completely. Help the enemy plan their attack.
Or lose everything; Lily, my life, any chance of making this right.
The clock on my wall showed twelve-thirty.
Thirty minutes until the guards changed shifts.
Thirty minutes to decide if I could really go through with this.
The blood-soaked ribbon sat on my nightstand, reminding me of what was at stake.
I stood up slowly and walked to my door.
My hand trembled on the handle.
This was it. The moment I became a true traitor.
Or the moment Lily died.
I opened the door and stepped into the dark corridor.