The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 67

CH67 Morgan

The hesitation in him gave me pause. I looked up and saw it all over his face and the way his dark opall eyes flickered. He was hiding something from me. Pushing him would get me nowhere, so I said nothing, just watching him struggle with it. He'd confide in me when he was ready. We had at least gotten that far in our relationship for me to know that for certain.

For now, I just leaned against him, enjoying the heat of the baths.

"Should we talk about something else?"

"I don't mean to hide things from you."

"I know" I sighed and closed my eyes.

A few moments of silence passed before 1 thought of something to say.

"Tell me a story," I said, my voice soft, the gentle lapping of the water providing a soothing backdrop.

Tsuneo chuckled, his voice warm. My heart skipped a beat.

"I know you are young, but I did not expect you to be that young."

I nudged him. "And how old are you?"

In your realm's years, or mine?"

....yours."

"Five and twenty."

I blinked at that. I didn't even want to know what the equivalent was. Hundreds? Thousands? I shook my head. This is probably not what one of my aunts meant by marrying an older man, but I doubt she would have complained.

"Well, you're at least older than I am, so tell me a story.

"What kind of story?" he asked.

"Anything," I replied. Something about your realm."

He hummed

legend of the

my head. "Not a story that's

the beginning, there was only chaos. A void filled with darkness and despair. And then, from that void, rose the first dragon, a creature of immense power and beauty. But with great power came great loneliness, and so the

you overthink the stories, they cease to be

I shrugged. "Go on.

one for origin or creation myths. It always seemed

as a child, the things our records say. These and the versions I kamu" When wrote the

realm was a place

a place of fantasy.

CHET

alone in a world of chaos, yearned for companionship. In answer to his plea,

frowned at that, but I

and

and they became the symbol of balance and harmony. Together, they brought order to the world, their love a beacon in the darkness. But their union was not without its challenges, Tsuneo continued. "The world was filled with darkness, and there were those who sought to destroy their harmony. The dragon and phoenix fought valiantly and became rulers of the realm. Within the chaos, all the creatures Blocked to them and together they built

world." He paused.

line between the human and

felt a lump form in my throat. Images flashed through my

a beautiful

as though there is something

me with a questioning look." I have always felt the same. His eyes searched mine. As if the details didn't quite add

I smiled at him

not the

get out?

We dressed for bed and headed towards our sleeping chambers A sense of peace washed

I felt him shift, His fingers gently

he murmured, his voice low and

I replied, my voice barely a whisper. "But you're restless...

"I could say the same of

"I'll tell you if you tell me

through him.

misunderstand anything if I don't

He chuckled."true"

not ready to talk about it, we don't have to talk about it. I know you're hiding something from me and it clearly distresses you... I had just hoped to make