The Dragon's Queen

My mind

I paced back and forth in the freezing cell, my mind spinning with possible escape routes. Every plan I considered had a flaw that would inevitably get me caught. I needed something bold.

Time dragged on, and it started to feel like I’d been imprisoned forever. The silence from the guards was maddening. I could hear them moving around, even smell them, so I knew they were there. But despite my repeated inquiries about the letter, they ignored me.

“Any news on the letter?” I asked again, trying to mask my frustration.

The guard, a huge man with a beard that could make Santa Claus jealous, grunted. “No more questions. Eat your food.”

I glared at the stale bread and thin soup. My stomach growled, but I wasn’t about to touch it. If they wanted me dead, I’d prefer a clean death by sword—not food poisoning. I wasn’t going to die writhing in agony.

Just as I was about to ask again, a faint hissing noise echoed outside the cell, followed by a series of heavy thuds that could only be the guards’ bodies hitting the ground. I rushed to the bars and sniffed the air. Sleeping gas.

My first instinct was to think that Malvick had finally come to free me, but this wasn’t his style. Malvick was no coward, and using gas to knock people out was beneath him.

A woman’s voice called out, “Raven? I’m here to help.”

I narrowed my eyes, recognizing that although the voice was unfamiliar, she knew my name. Many people knew of me, though, so it was hard to tell who this could be.

The cell door creaked open, and a tall blonde woman stepped in. She smiled warmly, but there was a sinister glint in her eyes.

“Hello, Nika. I’m Ariella Jones. I’ve come to get you out of here.”

Every instinct in me screamed not to trust her. I played along, keeping my expression neutral. “How do I know you’re not just another trick?”

Her smile stayed fixed. “Someone important is looking out for you, and I’ve been sent to make sure you get out safely.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Why would anyone care enough to send you?”

Ariella’s tone was firm but seemingly honest. “You’ve got enemies, sure, but you’ve also got friends.”

“And this ‘friend’ of mine…who is it?” I asked, barely hiding my skepticism.

She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t reveal that right now.”

She pulled a small vial of clear liquid from her pocket. “Drink this. It’ll make escaping easier.”

My gut twisted. Something wasn’t right. I hid my unease, though a huge red flag was waving in my mind.

“What is it?” I asked, buying time as I figured out how to turn this situation in my favor.

“Just a sedative to knock you out. It’s safer if you’re unconscious.”

I took the vial, pretending to consider it. Ariella’s eyes gleamed, thinking she had convinced me. She was a terrible liar, and her satisfaction made it obvious.

Nice try, but you’ll have to do better than that, I thought with a smirk.

With lightning-fast reflexes, I threw the vial back at her, shattering it on the cold stone floor.

“You’re not here to help me,” I growled, slamming her against the wall. “I can smell poison from miles away.”

I picked up a shard of the broken glass and pressed it against her neck. Her eyes widened in fear, and she started trembling.

“Now, here’s what’s going to happen,” I whispered. “You’re going to help me escape, or I’ll slit your throat. Understood?”

She nodded quickly, her voice shaking. “Please, I’ll do anything. Just don’t hurt me.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

I was going to use her to get out. She owed me that much for trying to poison me, and maybe—just maybe—I’d spare her life once we were out, depending on how I felt.

As we moved to the door, I saw Aidan standing there, blocking our exit. Damn. He’s like a bad rash that won’t go away.

A lazy smile stretched across his face, but his eyes were full of amusement. If he thought I’d let him get the upper hand again, he was mistaken.

“Well, well, well. Look what we have here,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Quite the sticky situation, isn’t it?”

His gaze shifted to Ariella, and his smile vanished. She froze, shrinking back as if she expected a blow.

“Ariella,” he said, his voice barely controlled. “You’ve really outdone yourself this time.”

Ariella shivered beside me, her eyes darting between us. She looked like an animal trapped by its predator.

“We need to have a little chat, Ariella,” Aidan said, stepping forward.

I tightened my grip on her throat, pressing the glass shard harder. Ariella shrieked, the sound echoing in the chamber.

“Don’t come any closer,” I growled, my voice low and menacing.

Aidan just chuckled, pulling out an envelope and waving it mockingly.

“Recognize this?”

My eyes flicked to the envelope, and for a split second, my mind blanked. It had the Blackwood family seal.

“A reply to your letter,” Aidan said, his smile widening.

That moment of hesitation was all Aidan needed. In one quick motion, he disarmed me, twisting my wrist until the glass fell from my hand. I tried to retaliate, but he was already ahead of me, pinning my arm.

Ariella scurried away, her eyes darting nervously between me and Aidan. It was clear she was more terrified of him than she had been of me.

“No!” I shouted, thrashing against Aidan’s grip.

He dragged me back to the cell and shoved me inside. “Take Ariella away,” he barked to the guards. “Deal with her.”

Ariella’s panicked screams echoed as the guards hauled her away. I would’ve pitied her if she hadn’t tried to kill me first.

Aidan’s smug smile returned as he tossed the envelope into my cell. “You’re way too gullible, Nika.”

I snatched the letter, my heart pounding. When I read it, I felt my stomach drop. “A wedding invitation?” I whispered, struggling to believe what I saw.

Aidan chuckled darkly. “Your fiancé’s getting married next week. To someone else. Thought I’d save you the trouble of being left out.”

My legs gave way as I crumpled to the ground. A sharp pain surged through my chest.

“You forged this!" I spat, glaring up at him. “It's fake.”

Aidan stepped closer, his tone turning cold. "I wish I had but you're giving me too much credit.”

He drew closer to the bar. “You're not going anywhere, Nika."

The cell door slammed shut, trapping me inside.

I seethed with rage as Aidan's words echoed in my mind.

We'll see about that!