[Cassandraโs POV]
I wake to cold silk beneath my fingers where warmth should be.
My hand sweeps across the velvet cushion beside my bed, searching for the familiar weight of scales. Finding nothing but empty fabric.
The scream tears from my throat before my mind fully processes the horror.
"No. No, no, no!"
I throw myself from the bed, tearing through blankets, upending furniture. The egg was here. Right here. Shouldโve been.
Gone. It's gone.
Was it there yesterday, when I went to bed? I remember not checking, too exhausted by such a perfect day. Everything went exactly as planned. And now it's gone.
My screams bring the entire household running. Servants crowd my doorway. Guards push through with weapons drawn. And then my parents appear, faces pale.
"Cassandra!" Mother rushes to my side. "What happened? Are you hurt? Speak to me, darling!"
"The egg," I gasp between sobs. "Someone took my egg! It's gone!"
Father's expression hardens. "What do you mean, took it? It was here last night."
"I know! But now it's gone! Someone crept in while I slept and stole it from me!"
I let the tears fall freely. Inside, my mind races through possibilities. Who would dare?
The answer strikes like lightning.
"Evelyn." The name tastes like poison. "She did this. She stole what was mine because she couldn't accept her fate. That jealous little wretch!"
Mother's face twists with fury. "That ungrateful creatureโฆ After everything we gave her, she dares to betray us like this?"
"Find her," Father commands, spinning toward his guards. "Search every corner of Mintia. Send scouts to our borders immediately. I want my daughter's dragon egg returned and that thief brought before me in chains."
"She can't have gotten far," I add, forcing my voice to tremble. "She's weak. Pathetic. She'll be hiding somewhere close, too cowardly to truly run."
Father nods sharply. "Double the patrols. Check every inn, every stable, every cave within three days' ride. No one rests until she's found. Go. Now!"
The guards scatter to obey. Servants hover until Mother waves them away.
"My poor darling." She sits beside me, stroking my hair. "We'll retrieve the dragon egg and punish the traitor. I promise you that, my sweet girl."
"She ruined everythingโฆ" I whisper. "I was supposed to bond with my dragon. I was supposed to lead our House. How could she do this to me?"
"You still will lead. This changes nothing permanent. Evelyn is a desperate, cornered animal now. She won't evade our hunters for long."
Father paces near the window, fury radiating from every movement. "When we catch her, she'll pray for death long before I grant it. I'll make her regret drawing breath."
"Make her suffer," I plead. "Make her regret ever defying us. Promise me, Father."
"Oh, I intend to. Trust me on that, daughter. She will know true agony before the end."
They stay until my sobs have gone quiet, before Father declares he must oversee the search himself.
"Rest now," Mother instructs gently. "I'll send someone with tea to calm your nerves. You need your strength."
"Thank you, Mother. I don't know what I'd do without you both supporting me through this nightmare."
"You'll never have to find out. We love you, Cassandra. Always."
The door closes behind them and my tears dry instantly.
I rise from the bed, pacing the length of my chambers with measured steps. The performance was perfect. They suspect nothing but righteous fury. But beneath my composed surface, cold fear coils in my stomach. Raw and unfamiliar.
The ancient laws of the dragon riders are absolute. A rider who loses their egg before hatching forfeits their life. The bond is sacred beyond all else.
If word spreads that I lost my egg, stolen from my own chambers, my position means nothing.
Death. The punishment for such failure is death.
I clench my fists until my nails bite crescents into my palms. This cannot be happening.
A knock sounds at my door and I compose my features into distress. "Enter."
Kael steps inside, concern creasing his face. He crosses to me immediately, pulling me close. "I heard the commotion. Everyone's talking about it. Are you alright? What happened here, my love?"
"Evelyn stole my eggโฆ" I let my voice crack. "She took it and disappeared into the night like a common thief."
His arms tighten around me. "That pathetic creature actually dared to do this? I can scarcely believe it."
"She's more desperate than we realized. Dangerous, even. If she bonds with that dragon before we find herโฆ"
"She won't. Your parents will find her before that can happen. They have scouts everywhere."
"But what if they don't?" I pull back, letting real fear show. "The ancient laws, Kael. If I've lost my egg permanently, they'll execute me. You know what happens to riders who lose their eggs."
"No one will kill you." His voice drops low and steady. "Listen to me carefully, my love. Your parents control what information leaves this house. As far as anyone outside knows, the egg is perfectly safe in your possession."
"But the scouts will talkโ"
"Will be told they're hunting a dangerous criminal who attacked you. Nothing about the egg specifically. Your father isn't stupid enough to advertise such vulnerability to rival houses."
His logic cuts through my panic.
He's right. Of course he's right.
"We just need to retrieve it before anyone discovers the truth," Kael continues. "Before she can hatch it or trade it for protection elsewhere. We have time."
"Trade it?" The thought hadn't occurred. "You think she'd give my dragon to our enemies?"
"Desperate people do desperate things. She has nothing left to lose now. She might offer it to anyone willing to shelter her."
I resume pacing. The fear remains, but purpose sharpens above it.
"She'll be nearby, she knows she canโt outrun us." I reason aloud. "Iโm certain sheโs close."
"Then weโll find her swiftly. I'll lead the search party myself if necessary. I won't fail you."
I turn to face him. "You would do that? Spend all that time to find my egg? For me?"
"I'd do anything for you." He cups my face. "You know that, Cassandra. We're together now. Your enemies are my enemies. Always."
His devotion warms something cold inside me.
I chose well when I stole him from Evelyn. But humiliation burns deeper than the fear. My weak sister dared to steal from me. Dared to defy everything I've built.
"Find her," I command, voice cold as mountain ice. "Find her and bring back what's mine. Before anyone asks questions we can't answer."
"Consider it done. I'll have her within the week, I swear it."
"Make sure she's alive when you catch her. Death is too quick a mercy. I want her to watch while I bond with my dragon. I want her to see everything she tried to steal."
"As you wish, my love."
He kisses me once, hard and promising, then leaves to organize the hunt.
Alone again, I stare out at the mountains. Somewhere out there, my stupid sister runs with my future clutched to her chest.
She thinks she's escaped. But she's wrong.
