The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 83

CH83 Tsuneo

How much longer would it be? Had it been minutes? Hours? Every second of not feeling her presence felt like an eternity. This was maddening. How had my father hung on all these years? I paced the chamber, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn't help but feel anxious. This was the heart of the kingdom, the heart of the palace. This was literally the safest place Morgan could be in our entire realm. And yet, I did not feel that she was safe because she wasn't here. Morgan's absence felt like a vold that seemed to consume everything.

I turned to my father, his gaze fixed on the gate where the statues had not moved again, still blocking the way.

"Father," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "What's happening?"

He didn't respond, his eyes still fixed on the portal. I reached out, my hand resting gently on his shoulder.

"Father," I repeated, my voice filled with a mixture of concern and fear.

He turned to me, his eyes filled with a strange intensity.

"Sit down," he said, his voice barely a whisper. We should talk as it seems that your mother has quite a bit to say to your wife."

1 hesitated, my mind racing. What did he mean by that?

I sat down, my heart pounding in my chest. As I looked at my father, a sense of unease overtook me. He was acting strangely, his behavior filled with a mixture of anticipation and dread. The golden scales on his neck seemed duller and patchier than ever. A part of me knew he wasn't just shedding them, per se

"Tsuneo," he began, his voice filled with a

with a sense of urgency. "You must tell me the truth."

My heart skipped a heat. The truth? What truth?

"About what?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

He hesitated, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and determination.

reluctance to take

last thing

Morgan

mother-in-laws. Haruka's eyes were filled with a mixture of amusement and curiosity, regarded

and I shook my

have no intention of having

is. Tsuneo was

dropped, and she laughed.

have had an... interesting marriage so far. You need advice?

talking to her about it make me feel more comfortable with the idea, or was that just hopebal thinking? I'd never talked to anyone about... of any nature, I didn't really see the need to since I was never planning to get married, and

eyes sparkling with

filled with a playful tone. As for

but do you know if that's

She frowned.

good question. I'm not entirely sure. That might be a question you'll have to ask him. Even if it's not

"Why?"

only been in his arms for a short time, so you don't know what he's like. Possessive protective. Outright dangerous in the right circumstances. All dragons are protective of those they consider their treasure. Family and all that," she replied, her voice filled with a mixture of amusement and concern. "Imagine the chans he would cause safeguarding you and your children?" She shook her head. "He's already stressing himself out enough about being crown prince, The stress of worrying about his children always being under attack. He'd

dropped. 'Level

"And probably bring the whole

00

know he

family. There's no real cosmic need for it. It would be best not to talk to him about it right now. He already fears so much about being the Black Dragon. He doesn't need to know how

he was a black dragon, I knew that there was something on the horizon that needed him. I hope you're prepared for it. I hope we're all prepared for it."

heart burched. Prepared

"That's the fun part. I have no idea! But if you're worried

that."

it would be nice to have all the support

eyes turned