The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 65

CH 65

I nodded. "They're quite cheap here. A bit of rock and magic. I-"

Kai let out a loud

A particularly large firework exploded in the sky, revealing the silhouette of a phoenix, followed by that of a dragon. The two creatures seemed to dance in the night sky, entwining like two lovers. I smiled. I remembered the first time I'd seen that firework as a child. I remembered how petulant Keiji grew at the sight of it, resentful. I could not think of a time in which Keiji had not been resentful toward me.

Kai turned to me. "What are those?" he asked, his voice filled with wonder.

I frowned. "You've never seen a depiction of a dragon or a phoenix?"

or what they are?

He shook his head. "Is that what they

"Yes," I said slowly, trying to keep my voice level as the curiosity and dread started to take over. Where had he been living that he had never seen such a thing? The images of them were spread throughout the kingdom. Do you know much about what it means to be a dragon?"

He blinked and flushed, shaking his head.

"Come here."

He shifted toward me, and I lifted him onto my lap, looking down into his eyes. I didn't remember how young I was when I grew my first set of scales.

I offered him my hand and pulled up my sleeve so he could see the trail of scales down my arm, they were faint, barely risen, and uncolored but he gasped.

to have scales like that when I get

color they'll be is anyone's guess. These are new scales. As

dragon of the royal line has a companion, someone who brings balance and harmony to their life, but the truth is that every dragon has a companion somewhere, a phoenix, of noble standing or not.. "There are

forced a smile. Had he never met a commoner dragon? That narrowed down where in the kingdom he might have been living. "A dragon's companion

me and Morgan. Like you and

my heart

He frowned. "Father calls Ari his

the slightest tilt to her lips. A

my wife, yes, and my phoenix, but she is a

frowned. "How do

the Trial of Fire Only true

phoenixes can survive it."

"Then, Lady

isn't a

She gets

is ven in cong

time with

a lot

lot of times."

tried not to laugh, but Morgan had no

I post hope Father

phoenix more like Lady Morgan," he

your father

CH65