The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 80

CH80

Ari

I snarled at him. "You're lying!"

He smirked. "I'm not. Let's go."

Adrenaline surged through me. I tore away from him, turned, and ran. I heard them running after me. If they were with the king, they were probably discussing plans for the coronation. I had to make sure he knew everything was going to be ruined,

My footsteps echoed through the empty halls. I knew I couldn't leave the palace through the usual means, but I didn't have to. I burst into the main corridor. My breath came in ragged gasps. I darted through the palace, my footsteps echoing through the halls. I reached a dead end, a small, windowless room that was rarely used. I burst through the door, slamming it shut behind me. Panting heavily, I leaned against the wall, my heart pounding in my chest.

I knew I couldn't stay here long. The guards would find me eventually. I needed to find a way out, a way to escape the palace and warn Kal's father about how things were going. My plan to get Kal into the royal family had worked, but not the way I wanted.

As I searched the room, my eyes fell on a small, hidden panel in the wall. With a surge of hope, I reached out and pushed it. The panel slid open, revealing a narrow, dimly lit passageway,

Without hesitation. I crawled through the passageway, the cold, damp air chilling my bones. The tunnel was narrow and winding, and I could hear the guards getting closer. I pressed on, my determination fueled by a desperate need to escape.

Finally, I emerged from the tunnel into a small hallway. It looked like the servant's wing. I looked around, my eyes scanning the surrounding buildings. I needed to find a way out of the palace. Suddenly, the ground gave out beneath me. I screamed, falling through darkness. I faded hard somewhere dark and cold. It smelled like mold and mildew. Stale water, too.

I got to my feet, reaching out blindly. As I stumbled through the darkness, the cold stone walls closing in around me, a wave of panic washed over me. Where was 17 My hand hit something wooden. There was no know on it, but the feeling of it told me it was dungeon's door. I squinted, searching for a source of light, but there was only one very far away

in an underground

my fists

me out!" I screamed, my voice echoing through the empty chamber. "This

"Let

had I even gotten

threatened to consume me just as I was about to give up, a loud chime echoed through the palace, dinning everyone's attention. I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. I

strength. I continued to pound on the door, my screams

The king stepped Inside, his footsteps echoing in the silence. It was much like the cave where the gate was back on the human

"What is this place!

explained, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and reverence. It

churkled, 'at least, that's

as explained to me

giant gate, deeper into the underground cavern, the air grew water and more humid with each step. If felt like

adorned with intucate carvings, depicting scenes of ancient battles and stories. I could see

CHRO

phoenixes on

mural. Crystals glowed, casting an ethereal light onto the platform. They were the eyes of the great phoenix rising out of what looked like the voice, shedding light across the wall. The great black dragon

Tsuneo told me. As I stood before the mural, 1 felt a surge of power coursing through me, a connection to something ancient and mysterious. It was as if the mural was calling out to me, drawing

felt almost bewitched and took a step forward. The eyes of the phoenix beckoned me