The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 75

CH75

Tuned

Morgan sighed again..

"The accident that killed my father, the one that she helped orchestrate... he was in the car with him, and she didn't even know. It was supposed to be me in that car." She looked up at me. "If not for a sheer stroke of luck, I would not be here."

I said nothing, stunned. A pang of sadness and fear shot through me. Where would I be now if Morgan hadn't come in her cousin's place? I didn't want to think about it.

Morgan's words hung heavy in the air. A surge of protectiveness washed over me.

I reached out, my hand finding hers. Then I talked her into my arms and squeezed her clothes.

"I am so very grateful that you are here," I said. "Though I wish it had been under better circumstances, I wish that we could have met under better circumstances. I cannot regret our meeting..."

She squeezed me back, burying her face in my shoulder. I felt my robes growing wet with her tears.

"One day, when it doesn't hurt so much, will you tell me about your father?

She nodded and said nothing. As we held each other, I pushed down the anger that had started to rise. Adele and Gom deserved to be punished for their selfishness.

My lips twitched. "I could have Adele and Goro arrested. Perhaps, beaten with a whip?"

She sniffled. "That will not bring my father back. Nor wake my brother."

"No, but it might make you feel a little better." I kissed her head. "I could have them brought into the palace as

She laughed. They would both be terrible servants. Don't waste the palace. Resources like that."

*Fine. Contracted labor on some miserable little farm at the edge of the kingdom."

She looked up, her eyes sparkling with laughter. Tsunen, please. It's... fine."

servants,"

lead to execution," I said. "Adultery is a heavy crime as well. Endangerment of a child. We

just as

"What about your brother?"

I would prefer to bring him

looked up. "Would you

Morgan

and dressed in the simplest robe available. As I finished tying the sash and headed out, I heard Kal's tiny feet rushing down the hill.. "Morgan,

"I think I'm going

grabbed onto me. Can I come? Can I

whether you can come or not. We best ask someone who's actually

the queen. Aren't you

CHIL

couldn't argue with it. It was such a strange

I guess we should

took my

I have so

questions!"

warming at his enthusiasm. "Well, don't ask them all at

It made me think of Hiro, too. Would he ever wake up?. Together, we made our way

down the hallway, his head in a book. He stopped, tilted his head, and looked up. gazes met, and he smiled at me. His whole

slowly. His gaze dragged over me, clearly

see. Kai is

Our

Elders about Ari," he explained. "They've decided to put her on formal trial." "What does that

we're meeting to decide." He searched for my face. If you have any desires, anything you

and T'll make

just want you to be

will be as soon as I know the truth. Whatever that might

later after your

and lowered his lips to mine, kissing me gently but soundly.

He said. "I'll be fine.

lie. But there was now, Whatever was going through his mind, he was seemingly at peace with it. I nodded and lifted up to retum the kiss briefly His eyes widened. "We'll be back

my heart. "Ill