[Cassandra’s 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. Should’ve 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 creature… 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 everything…” 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.

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