The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 35

CH35

Morgan

Keiji's head exploded in a fountain of blood, hot and gushing over me. His body crumpled on top of me.

I screamed. "Get off me! Get off me!"

The two Elders holding me down crumpled in unison, their lifeless bodies collapsing onto the cold stone floor. A scream, sharp and shrill, pierced the sudden silence. More screams followed, panicked and confused. Shadows danced in the flickering glow of the light coming. from overhead. Fleeting glimpses of figures clad in black materializing out of the darkness. The other guards who had been here were nearby. Disoriented and gasping for breath, I scrambled back, my body screamed in pain. My eyes darted around the cavern, searching for the source of the attack, for a weapon, anything to defend myself. People screamed in the darkness. I heard blood sloshing across the ground. Bodies twisted and ripped apart in the shadows.

What the hell was it? Where was it coming from? My mind reeled, unable to comprehend what was happening, other than the fact that I was naked and covered in blood. The scent of mildew and blood mingled, filling my nose. The air got colder and colder around me. I tried to breathe and get my mind in order.

One moment I was fighting against Keiji, the next he was dead. I didn't dare myself to hope. It was probably some horrifying creature from deep within the lake or something.

I had to get out of here if I could.

Gripping the damp rock for support, I clambered to my feet, my movements ragged and uncoordinated. The metallic tang of blood filled my mouth, and a throbbing ache pulsed behind my left eye and all through my body.

and the lapping of the lake against the shore.

out.

shadow parted with a pair of glowing, red, opalescent eyes. I

was going to

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CH35 85%1

and terror, trembling in the cold. Then, the darkness shifted and formed into the shape of a man. He was tall and broad. I shut my

see me, praying that he would be after me the way Keiji had been. My eyes burned. I could barely smother my panicked breathing. Then, a hand clamped roughly on my shoulder. I shrieked, a primal fear gripping me, I swung blindly at him. But before I could react, I was pulled against a warm body, my scream

soothing balm to my panicked state. "Don't

down my cheeks. I could barely breath

I croaked, my voice hoarse and

here. I'm sorry it took so long. I'm sorry that you've been caught up in this... nonsense with Keiji." "I... I didn't think

anchor

are my wife," he replied, his voice firm and

whole ordeal, the fear, the betrayal, the desperate fight for survival- all of it hit me with the force of a tidal wave. Tears streamed down my face, sobs wracking my body. I clung to him. Tsuneo didn't try to stop me. He held me close, his strong arms felt like a haven in the chaos. He rocked me gently, whispering soothing

Tsuneo

waves, threatening to pull me under. The coppery tang of blood still clung to my senses. She trembled. The scent of her fear irritated me and made me wished that I had taken my time killing Keiji. I held her closer, shuddering at the thought of what would have happened if I had been even a bit later. Her sobs, each one a ragged tear in the fabric of the night. I looked over at