The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 17

The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

CH17

Morgan

Adrenaline surged through me as my body fell forward from the force of his pull. I reached into the robe, drew my sword, and swung quickly at his wrist. He released me, but he wasn't quick enough to completely dodge my follow-up swing. A surprised yelp escaped his lips as a crimson stain blossomed across his chest. I backpedaled, raising my blade into striking form and keeping my eyes on him.

He stumbled back, pressing his hand to his chest. His face contorted in a mixture of pain and fury.

"You...you little human!" he roared. "You dare attack a dragon prince?"

"How dare you attack the queen," I spat back, my voice surprisingly steady despite the rapid thudding of my heart. "You have treason in this world? I don't think pops will appreciate you putting your hands on his extraordinary daughter-in-law." Keiji glared at me, his eyes blazing with rage. He looked down at his bleeding chest and then at the blade in my hand.

Then, he licked the blood from his hand and smirked.

"Fiesty," he said. "You're wasted on my brain-dead brother."

"The heavens must know something you don't," I smirked. "Or something you do."

He laughed. "Tsuneo won't wake up." He licked his lips. "You'd be better off aligning with me, you know? A young woman like you wasted on a comatose idiot? The pleasures-

"You can stop there before you make me sick," I said. "Next time you get the bright idea to touch

I'll take your hand and then your head if I have the chance."

me,

He chuckled and walked around a cart. "We'll see how long you can remain loyal to your so-called husband."

I glared at him. "I don't have a thing for crazy, sore losers: What's your problem with Tsuneo? He's in a coma."

He sneered. "He shouldn't have been born."

Tsuneo's words about his mother, Keiji

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CH17

want to be king," I said. "Aren't you missing something for that to

only because he was born first," Keiji said.

"See?"

of sparkling light across his chest. The wound closed, and

with the family. Perhaps you'll start to understand." He chuckled. "All that talk about whose queen you are is far more complicated than

else?" Keiji asked. "The man who

a

eyes narrowed. "You could actually enter the queen's study?" "Chosen by the heavens and blessed by the

what that means." "No, but you do. And right now, that's even

is

time with footsteps, I was sure. It wasn't until I saw him on the stairs that I sheathed my sword and tumed back to the gateway. I walked through the gateway and sank onto a

with Tsuneo's coma. I'd deal with him, but for now, I wondered if Ael would bring enough people and enough horses to

been hours since my run-in with Keiji when Ael and others dressed the way they

at Ael.

"Your Majesty? Are you

alright?" 2/4

and stood, realizing that I had been

you give me a crash course he to move

pulled one out and showed it

in

nodded and went still an the thersheld of the mer I pulled my word and came through slow. I looked

winced and huffed. I could hit myself. 1 my hand on the

into tears

put

I hope you brosight enough

lesion of caravans to move the supplies, though. I rode back to my hometown with him, watching the sunset in the distance. "After we

course, Your Majesty. Where