The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 11

The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

CH11

Morgan

It was like time stopped. Tsuneo looked ready to catch me, but before I could drive my sword through his face, Doctor Shang caught me in his arms, lifting me off my feet. I couldn't speak. The fury, the frustration, the pressure of everything that had happened exploded. Tsuneo looked up around, looking at the way the walls shimmered. I could see people in my mind's eye freaking out, running around in fear. I saw the shimmering sky starting to shift and turn red like the sky was on

fire.

Tsuneo's eyes widened as he stared at me.

"I'll kill you!" My voice echoed and roared. "I'll kill you!"

"I can't allow you to attempt that," Doctor Shang said, restraining me no matter how I twisted. I rammed my knee into his chest, but it felt like hitting a solid brick. I twisted, aiming higher for his face, but he tossed me, twisting me back over his shoulder and pinning my legs to my chest.

"Let me go!"

"Think of Hiro," he said. "You attempt to kill him, you succeed, and you'll never see him again. They will have you killed if it's found out."

I strained against his hold, glaring at Tsuneo through the tears. I could barely breathe around the

fury.

Tsuneo snarled. "Who the hell is Hiro?" He scoffed. "First Ren, now Hiro. The realm is in more danger than ever if a woman like you was chosen."

"A woman like me?!" I elbowed the back of Doctor Shang's head. He hissed and adjusted his grip

on me.

"His Majesty will apologize," Doctor Shang said, clamping his arms around my legs. He sounded in pain every time I kicked and twisted in his arms, swiping through the air, trying to catch Tsuneo with my sword, but he was just out of reach of the blunt, broken end. That didn't stop me from trying. I screamed, throwing my weight against Doctor Shang's shoulder. He stumbled back enough that I cut through the front of Tsuneo's robe.

too far from Tsuneo to even hope I'd get in a hit. "I promise that your sword will

1/4

CH11

pushed at his shoulders, still wanting to tear

Doctor Shang said softly. "Starting your marriage

at him. "I was happy enough with the thought of dying in that Trial! I didn't ask for this, you self-righteous bastard! You know nothing about me!" "Your Majesty,

with tears. "Tell me how I can possibly misunderstand

I"You="

too good to be wrong? You're not. You're no better than

away from her husband and threatening to kill

a wife without kidnapping them!" I yelled. "And

him. "I will never forgive you.

else."

light from outside spilled blood red over the floor as another sob escaped me, and my anger, as hot as it

widened, and his gaze drifted over to where he'd thrown the other half of my sword. He bent and picked up the blade, his brow furrowed as he looked at the blade. "Daughter of the Dragon's Mountain..." He read the phrase in that old language that

anymore.

back through time to when I was just a girl, and my father had promised me the sword as my birthright. He'd read those words to me, and for a long time, I lived by them. I had tried so hard to be a daughter

colors. He writing desk and picked up a page. He frowned down

went to the

2/4

CH11

of the head of the

my

I croaked, "What

said and looked back

other end of the sword as it floated out of my

Doctor Shang's shoulders, more desperate than before. "Stop

the broken end and pressed them together. Light flowed in an endless wave over the blade, and then it was whole again as if it had never been broken. The blade lost its silver sheen and took

way it had in all of the paintings of all my ancestors who had carried it before me. I sniffled.