Chapter 62 Execution Morning
Elara's POV
Hundreds of people filled the courtyard. Dragon shifters, faeries, humans, all gathered to watch me die.
Guards led me to the platform in the center. The executioner waited beside a wooden block. His axe gleamed in the morning sun.
"No! Please!" Lily's voice screamed from somewhere in the crowd. "Don't kill her! Please!"
I searched the faces until I found her. Faye held Lily back, both of them crying. Lily fought against Faye's grip, trying to reach me.
"I love you!" I called to her. "Be brave, little sister!"
"Elara!" Lily sobbed. "Don't leave me! Please don't leave me!"
My heart shattered. But I couldn't look away. I memorized her face. Her tears. Her fierce love.
This was what I was dying for. To keep her safe. To keep her alive.
Worth it. All of it was worth it.
The guards pushed me forward. Up the steps. Onto the platform.
I looked for Drakon. Found him sitting on a throne at the edge of the courtyard. His face was carved from stone. Emotionless. Empty.
Our eyes met across the distance.
The golden thread between us pulsed. I felt his pain through it. His conflict. His grief.
He felt mine too. I knew he did.
But he didn't move. Didn't speak. Just sat there watching.
"Elara Moonstone," the executioner announced loudly. "You have been found guilty of treason. Of espionage. Of aiding the kingdom's enemies. The punishment is death."
The crowd murmured. Some shouted agreement. Others looked uncomfortable.
"Do you have any final words?" the executioner asked.
I looked at Drakon again. Only at him.
"I'm sorry," I said clearly. "For the lies. For the betrayal. For breaking your trust. But I'm not sorry I saved my sister. I'd do it all again."
Drakon's expression didn't change. But I felt his emotions through the thread. Pain. Anger. Love. All twisted together.
"I love you," I continued. "That was never a lie. That will never change. Not even in death."
Still nothing from Drakon. Just that stone face.
But the thread pulsed again. Stronger this time.
He heard me. He felt it.
That would have to be enough.
"Kneel," the executioner commanded.
I knelt. Placed my neck on the block. The wood was cold against my skin.
Lily's screaming grew louder. "NO! STOP! PLEASE!"
"Faye, get her out of here," Drakon's voice finally spoke. Rough. Pained. "She doesn't need to see this."
"Yes, she does!" Lily screamed back. "Everyone needs to see what you're doing! You're killing someone who loved you! You're murdering your true mate!"
The crowd shifted uncomfortably. Whispers spread.
"Proceed," Drakon ordered the executioner.
I closed my eyes. Thought of Lily. Of Drakon. Of the library and the flying and the moments when everything had been perfect.
The executioner raised his axe. I heard it whistle through the air.
This was it. My last moment.
I thought about the golden thread. About how love doesn't die. About how even in death, part of me would always be connected to Drakon.
The axe began its downward swing.
Then everything exploded.
War horns blasted. Loud. Urgent. Coming from every direction.
The executioner froze mid-swing.
"ATTACK!" Guards shouted from the walls. "THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM IS ATTACKING!"
Chaos erupted. People screamed and ran. Soldiers drew weapons. Dragons transformed and launched into the sky.
Explosions rocked the castle walls. Smoke filled the courtyard. Enemy soldiers poured through breached gates.
The invasion had begun. Now. During my execution.
Using the maps I'd drawn. The information I'd provided. The weaknesses I'd revealed.
They'd timed it perfectly. When everyone was distracted. When defenses were focused on the execution instead of the borders.
My fault. All my fault.
"Get the king to safety!" Thorne shouted, running toward Drakon.
But Drakon stood up, scales already covering his body. "No. I fight."
He transformed fully. A massive black dragon. Beautiful and terrible.
He roared and launched into the sky, breathing fire at enemy soldiers.
Guards surrounded the execution platform, protecting it. Protecting me.
"What do we do with the prisoner?" one asked.
"Leave her!" another shouted. "We have bigger problems!"
They abandoned me there. Left me kneeling on the block with my neck still on the wood.
I watched the battle unfold. Watched Drakon fighting. Watched people dying.
Because of me. Because of my maps. Because I'd helped Queen Morgana plan this perfectly.
I could have stayed there. Could have waited for a soldier to kill me. Could have let death find me in the chaos.
But Lily was out there somewhere. In danger.
I stood up. Looked for her in the panicking crowd.
There, Faye was pulling her toward a side door. Trying to get her to safety.
But enemy soldiers blocked their path. Three of them. Armed and advancing.
Faye created ice shields but she was exhausted from the rescue mission. Weakened. Not strong enough to hold them off.
Lily screamed as a soldier raised his sword.
No.
Not my sister.
Not after everything.
I jumped off the platform. Ran toward them through the chaos. Unarmed. Unprotected. But determined.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" I screamed.
The soldier turned. Saw me. Grinned.
"The imposter. Perfect. The queen wants you alive."
He grabbed my arm. His grip was iron.
Lily screamed louder. "ELARA!"
The soldier dragged me toward the breached gate. Toward Queen Morgana's forces. Toward captivity or worse.
And above us, Drakon fought in the sky. Breathing fire. Roaring. Destroying enemy soldiers.
But there were too many. Even he couldn't stop them all.
The soldier pulled me through the gate. Outside the castle. Where more soldiers waited.
And Queen Morgana herself. Sitting on a black horse. Smiling that terrible smile.
"Hello, my dear imposter," she purred. "Did you really think death would save you? Did you think I'd let you go that easily?"
"Let me go!"
"Never. You're far too useful." She gestured to her soldiers. "Take her. Chain her. Make sure she can't escape this time."
"Why?" I struggled against the grip. "Why not just kill me?"
"Because you're going to help me break your Dragon King." Queen Morgana leaned down. "You're going to watch him lose. Watch his kingdom burn. Watch everyone he loves die. And you're going to know it's all your fault."
She straightened up. "Chain her in my tent. Make sure she has a perfect view of the castle. I want her to see everything."
They dragged me away.
And the last thing I saw was Drakon in the sky.
Fighting alone.
Against impossible odds.
To protect a kingdom I'd helped destroy.