The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 4

The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

CH4

The only thing I could think was where had he been hiding the knife?

I glanced toward the door. Was Maya still outside? Wouldn't she come to check on me? Then, the fear started to turn to anger. Hundreds of years of young women being taken from their homes and forced through the Trial, and he was perfectly, actively awake. I narrowed my eyes up at him, glaring.

I should have let him stay dirty.

"Nod, if you understand me."

He

glared at me. The colors of his eyes shifted with some emotion I couldn't name. I nodded. stiffly, suppressing the urge to bite his hand. He didn't move, though, still breathing softly and hovering over me. His braid started to unravel, spilling his hair over his shoulder in a thick wa wave. The scent of it hit me. It smelled like lilies. Someone had been washing him all this time. He'd probably just gotten bathed before I passed through the gate. I could have kicked myself, but there was still the question of what that darkness was and how long it would take before I could make my escape. I lay there waiting for him to figure out what he was going to do. Given that he spent a lot of time just lying in bed all day, you'd think he'd had enough time to contemplate what he'd do if passed through the Trial. He cocked an eyebrow at me. "You think very plainly."

anyone

I frowned at him. What the hell did that mean? More importantly, why the hell should I care?

"You aren't..." He leaned closer, thrusting his nose toward my neck. I turned my head away, trying to get away from him. My heart was in my throat. If it wasn't for the knife in my side, I would have rammed my knee into his groin already. pulled back. His eyes were brighter.

He "You will not touch me again. If you must sleep, you'll do it elsewhere."

I rolled my eyes. Did he really think that I wanted to be here? If he was awake all this time, he hadn't been listening to a damn thing I said. I frowned. Maybe... he hadn't been awake all this time. I searched his face, but he huffed. "You're smart for a human. The last one I met had the sense to be terrified."

1/4

CFLE

He looked toward the door. "Who is Maya?"

He didn't know his own staff?

"Mayara....." He huffed and glanced left and then right, searching for something.

"It seems there

ப

He looked down at me. "You will not touch me. They will come get you

hand and sat up. "You will tell no one about

Why the hell would I

through his scales. The darkness that

a murderous psychopath. Just what I needed. One who could apparently hear my thoughts. I shifted over in bed to the farthest corner, letting him take the spot he'd been in just moments

heavy to keep open. As the last bit of moonlight turned to darkness and I closed my eyes, I pressed my hand to the

eyed the dresser across the The morning came too quickly. I looked

hold on. I

have a name for.

pursing my lips His lips didn't even twitch. I guessed he had enough practice not to slip up now. I

in.

Your Majesty.

again and get

room. "Next time,

you shouldn't

2:4

2:1

CH4

Tho

Ari

off the stupid robes and pacing. The terror from the night before, his warning, all swirled through my mind. Then, I noticed Maya was digging through the

are you looking

you to meet with the Imperial Elders." She looked back.

"Who?"

King,"

blinked. "The man

no! He is the crown prince.

thank for

heavy. Instead of their concealed. dagger, I brought the one my father had gifted me. she was satisfied, we headed out to meet the guards and march toward the hall. I didn't even

When

The

this stupid robe, I

gate was there,

stared at me as if they couldn't understand how I was there. But there was one man among them who was much younger. His scales were in the same places as Fake Sleeper. He leered at me, and there was something in his s eyes that told me he knew something I had no interest in finding out. The old man with the crown stared at me with the coldest expression I'd ever seen. His scales were an antique copper. It took everything in me to glance at Maya

has come," he said. "And my