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.

going to have scales

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

cleared my throat. "Every 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

down where in the kingdom he might have been living. "A dragon's companion is often referred to as a phoenix, due to our origins, but there is a difference between a true phoenix and a dragon's

looked between me and Morgan.

nodded, my heart

frowned. "Father calls

at Morgan who had the slightest tilt to her lips. A shy,

my phoenix, but she

do you know the

Trial of Fire Only true

phoenixes can survive it."

winced "Then,

isn't a

gets

is ven in cong

with

lot of

of times."

laugh, but Morgan

okay. I post hope Father finds a

more like Lady Morgan," he

your father

CH65