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."

to Tsuneo's words about his mother, Keiji was

1/4

CH17

I said. "Aren't

born first," Keiji said. "When he

"See?"

his chest. The

Father will be looking to have dinner with the family. Perhaps you'll start to understand." He chuckled. "All that talk about whose queen you are is far more complicated than they

else?" Keiji asked. "The man who can't speak, the grieving

a historical

enter the queen's study?" "Chosen by the

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

is

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 large boulder nearby. Relief washed over me, momentarily eclipsing the fear that had been coursing through my

no doubt in my mind. that he had something to do with Tsuneo's coma. I'd deal with him, but for now, I wondered if Ael would bring enough people and enough horses to haul everything

with Keiji when Ael and others dressed the way they had been from the Trial came down the steps. They murmured among themselves, and I looked

at Ael.

"Your Majesty? Are you

alright?" 2/4

stood, realizing that I had

give me a crash course he to move

tether by He pulled one out and showed it to me. "When you have it,

in

came through slow. I looked around. I see a set edge on the

kex I could see and willed the cart Boat and the gateway. I bumped into the gateway genth I winced and huffed. I could hit myself. 1 my hand on the crate and walked through the mirro: with it before handing off the key. His eyes were wide. They murmured, and someone

into tears

put

more, so I hope you brosight

foyer into the cave and even longer to haul it all out of the cave. Ael had organized a whole lesion of caravans to move the supplies, though. I rode back to my hometown

Majesty. Where would you