The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 66

CH66

Tsuneo

As the last of the revelers departed, the palace grounds fell quiet. I floated us back to the ground and we headed inside with Kai still curled up in my arms. The magic of the festival seemed distant as we walked to where the servants had set up a room for Kai

It was right next to the room Morgan and I shared, and it set me at ease. I didn't want him far from us in case he needed something.

We entered the room, and I watched as Morgan tucked the child into bed. The way she interacted with him, the case with which she commanded his trust, filled me with warmth. We slipped out of the room and headed down the corridor to our shared quarters, not saying a word. We nodded to the guard by our door. I pushed the door open for her and closed it behind us.

She turned to me, her eyes filled with a question. "How about a bath?"

I grinned. "Absolutely"

We headed into the bathing chamber. I helped her out of her jewelry before letting her step

ep into h sighed at the warm water hitting my shoulders.

'Morgan?"

her private stall. I entered my own, moments later and

"I think we should talk."

""About Kai's father, or.

We can start with Ar..."

I searched my mind, thinking of a way to start. Immediately I was nervous, just as nervous as I had been at the dinner table. There was no way I could confirm Morgan's thoughts of that asking her. But I thought that she might think that I actually slept with Ari. That car might actually be mine. Turned my stomach. Never mind that I knew it wasn't true. It was just the fact that I didn't know how she felt about it was a problem. I had. no idea what humans thought about children, of their partners from other relationships. But for a dragon noble, especially me as the Crown Prince, it would be untenable to have a child with some I who was not already my concubine. "She's lying. Kai isn't mine."

Yes, I know that"

I blanked, stunned, wanting to lean around and look her in her face. But I held back, remembering that she was completely naked.

"You know that? you believe that?"

I know that. You're not the time to hide something like that. And if you had any interest in Ari, you would have said something, knowing that she's been around all this time. It didn't take much to figure out that she's delusional and clearly wants you, whether that's genuine affection or ambition, obsession or some combination of it all, I don't care. You're not even giving her the time of day... I know what your interest looks like."

turned almost embarrassed,

enough to hold a trump card like that for so long. If there was even a chance that Kai could be yours, she would have been queen long before you even woke up, and she'd probably hate me even more because she

"Ousted!"

time. Him having an heir, supposedly, wouldn't have changed the fact that the Veil still wasn't opening. It would have just solid find your place as crown prince and Keiji would have likely tried to kill Ari and Kai before 1 had even gotten here. Your father would have had to carry out the Trial of Fire anyway. I would have ended up here, and

stunned by her faith and more

aroused by

to take you

CHM

squeak as if she'd slipped

"Morgan, are you okay?"

a bit. Please refrain from saying such things while I'm

mean you'll let me

we share a

know that's not what

know, but not

it would be poor form to come into court

would at least be

before stepping out to grab a

ever thought about having children?" I asked, my

"Not once."

"How is that possible?"

way, and 1 took the role seriously. Honestly, I never even thought about being married either, but here I am. Being a mother, in the traditional sense, never

appealed to me."

I nodded. 'I ser

"Why do you ask?"

seemed natural with Kai, but I see now that it

he stood, and I hated it. I couldn't help but think, how nice it

me a compassionate.

tell me

turned off

about you? Have you ever

unsure

came out wrapped in her robe. I

sank down