The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 33

CH33 Morgan

Pain, a dull ache throbbing behind my eyes, ripped me from unconsciousness. Disoriented, I blinked against the oppressive darkness, my throat parched and raw. Tentatively, I tried to move, only to find my wrists bound tightly behind my back. Panic clawed at my throat, but I forced it

down. Any noise, any movement, might alert my captors, whoever and wherever they were.

The air was thick and damp, the stench of mildew and something metallic filling my nostrils. Blood? Metal? Definitely stale water. Straining my ears, I picked up the murmur of voices. I recognized Keiji's voice. There were others with him too, voices I vaguely recalled as belonging to some of the Elders. "...we can't leave her alive," a voice, raspy and laced with fear, declared.

"But what about the veil?" another Elder, a woman with a calmer voice, countered. "She may be the key to lifting it finally. She can pass-

"Stabilizing it or weakening it?" The first voice shot back. "We can't risk Tsuneo gaining any more favor. He is not even awake and yet he is still favored."

A tense silence followed, broken only by the dripping of water somewhere deep within the cave. Then another voice, older and male, spoke, his voice tight with concern.

"Perhaps... there's another way. The old texts mention a forced bond. We could..." He trailed off, leaving the horrifying implication hanging in the air. "To Prince Keiji. Have you brought the potion?"

My stomach lurched. A bond, forced upon me, with someone like Keiji... the mere thought of it sent a fresh wave of terror coursing through me. Escape. I needed to escape. But how?

A quick survey of my surroundings revealed nothing promising. The cave was dark beyond the soft light coming from ahead of me. My weapon was hopelessly out of reach with my hands bound behind me back. Even if I could reach it, I had no idea how many people were out there.

Despair threatened to engulf me, but I forced it back. I refused to give up. There had to be a way out. My gaze darted around the cave, searching for anything that could be used as a weapon, a tool, anything. A sliver of hope flickered in the darkness. A loose rock, nestled in a shallow crevice near my bound feet, offered the faint possibility

Focusing on the rock, I willed myself to ignore the throbbing in my head and the growing tightness in my chest. I needed to loosen the rock first, then maybe, just maybe, I could use it to CH33

shred the ropes.

I moved slowly towards it. My bound wrists scraped against the rough cave floor, the raw skin protesting with each tentative movement.

-

my forehead, the damp air clinging to my skin like a second, clammy layer. The voices - thankfully still arguing seemed to grow louder, their urgency a constant reminder of the dwindling time. Inching my body back, I managed

but it was

cave, broken only by the dripping of water and the frantic hammering of my heart. My breath hitched. They were

the crevice, landing with a dull thud on the hard floor just within reach of my bound hands. Relief washed over me, cold and

coiled in anticipation. The wooden door creaked open, casting a sliver of golden light

one of them hissed. It was a

voice tight

gruff voice I recognized as Elder Nara. "Get the potion ready. We

they were gone, I grabbed the

I sawed through the ropes and pushed to my feet. I heard them coming back and launched the rock at the them. There was a startled yelp, a sickening crack, and the guard crumpled to the ground, clutching his head. One of the elders roared in anger, his voice echoing in the cave. But

"Morgan!" he bellowed.

bile in the back of my throat. There

I said. "Where am I? How long have I been here?

CH33

it hardly matters. There's only

or

cruel smile spread across his

set my jaw. "There's

"Oh?"

"All of you dead."

torch nearby. The oil

took off.

"Get her!"

lunged at me. I turned hard and sharp, slicing against something solid and giving. Someone cried out. My heart leaped into my throat and I kept running, deeper and