The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 73

CH73

Morgan

The air shook with the threat. Her hands grew long, vicious-looking claws and her eyes turned slitted. Before I realized that I had darted around Tsuneo, blocking Ari's claws with my sword and holding out a hand to stop Tuinen. He froze in place, his eyes burning, and Ari shrieked in agony. Her claws snapped, broke, and ripped out of her hands against the blade of my sword. The sound of my blade rang through the air like a song. I could smell the blood in the air. The Elders murmured in fright.

She reeled back in agony right into the arms of the guards.

"Until you are prepared to come clean about the parentage of Kai, you are placed under house arrest. Should you continue to hold that the crown prince is Kali's father, then you will be arrested and transferred to the dungeon for your terrible acts." Her eyes, filled with a mixture of fury and fear, met mine for a brief moment.

"Why don't you believe me? I've been here way longer than that human winch. Tsuneo, tell them the truth! Tell them, but he's yours. Don't let them do this to me. Don't you love me? We were always supposed to be together. We are supposed to be together, but he went poisoned your mind!*

Slowly, she was dragged away, her protests echoing through the hall. The room fell into a stunned silence.

I felt bad for Kal. It was terrible to watch. I turned to the child, who was watching the commotion with wide eyes. He looked surprised but relieved, too.

I knelt down, meeting his gaze. "Don't worry," I said, my voice gentle. Everything will be alright."

back towards where Ari's voice was still coming down

him from the unpleasantness of the past few minutes. "And then, perhaps, take a nap. It's been

he could feel safe. As we

the king called. "Thank you for your great wisdom and compassion. I commend you. I could not have asked for a better daughter-in-law or a better queen to be at Tsuneo's

A blush

up my cheeks. "Thank you,

contorted in rage as she was dragged away, sent a shiver down my spine. Her behavior, her complete disregard for the child's well-being, was a stark reminder of Adele.

fake a smile

make you go through tutoring. Maybe you learn

really

Tsuneo

through the hall, Elled me with a strange mix of relief and unease. Relief that she had been silenced, at least temporarily, but unease at the implications of

continue to insist that Kai was my child? Even at the risk of ending up in jail for the rest of her life or being executed? she has to be banking on my father's goodwill. The nature of the golden dragon being ever merciful and forgiving. She didn't know I was a black dragon, so she couldn't have been counting on my sense of

shreds. She had threatened Morgan-my wife and phoenix. There was nothing in me that said I should give her

the frothy Imel my father's gaze. "I know in your heart, father, that she is basically another daughter to you. But if she continues with this lie, if she continues to threaten Morgan, if she wants to purport that either we had a relationship or that she forced one upon me, I see nothing in myself that

CH73

There was nothing but silence. But I could see the understanding in his eyes. He knew that if Morgan had not stepped between us, I would have killed Ari without a second thought. I would not attend her funeral. I would not apologize for it either. Perhaps I would feel some manner of sympathy for Kai, who no longer had a mother, but I