The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 111

Bride

CH111

Tsuneo

Beautiful.

Breathtaking.

My Pyra....

Pyra... I blinked as the name, the word, rang through my mind. I had never thought about it. before, but it was an old word for light and fire, generally meaning life-giving fire. It was generally our word for true, healing fire? ad it become our word for healing because of what Tarofu called his wife? The stories said that when the phoenix died so long ago, all life went cold and nearly vanished.

Slowly, her body floated and landed on the banks. The glow began to fade. Her face was serene and peaceful. I reached out, my hand hovering between us. A wave of warmth washed over me, a comforting energy that seemed to radiate from her. My feet dragged me forward, drifting like a moth to a flame. Then, I reached her, my fingers brushing against her cheek.

I felt a jolt of energy, a connection forming between us. Morgan's eyes fluttered open, her gaze meeting mine, no longer that rich brown, but glowing golden and red, like red-gold and molten

gold.

*Morgan?"

"Tsuneo," she whispered. 'I hope... you've been behaving with that troublemaker in your head."

I laughed, sweeping her into my arms.

"Don't ever do that again."

"I don't plan on it... I'm sorry. Are you okay?"

"Much better now."

Hayato

son's laughter eased some of the pain in my chest, but not the the guilt. The

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Hope.

beautiful place with Haruka and stay there

never been one for outward displays of emotion unless in private. He'd loved Haruka just as fiercely as I had, and she was really the only person he'd

more into his position as the crown prince now that he had Morgan, but I was wasn't convinced. It had started after he'd woken up from the four-day coma, after all. Looking at them now, it felt even more obvious. The way he looked at her, the way Morgan's hand rested gently on his chest, it was as if they had finally found their way back to one another. I was happy for them, even as the

but that dream, that place, had ripped me open, unleashing the deep well of grief that I had nearly drowned in years ago. Haruka's absence felt as acute and as heart-wrenching-as painful-as the moment I'd found her body. I thought of Tsuneo's words, the confession, and tried push it down, but I

still gnawed at me,

arms, whispering something. His voice too low for me to

kind of smile that made me wonder if they even realized or care that there was anyone or anything else in the world. I pushed

in peace and return

passageway that would take me back to my chambers. The secret tunnels beneath the palace were as familiar to me as the back of my hand. I had used them for years to come to this garden or get

needed that sanctuary more than

as I reached the entrance to the passage, I heard something-a sound

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froze, my hand instinctively going to my waist, but I was not armed. I couldn't even remember the last time I carried a sword regularly. No one should have been in these tunnels. Few knew of their existence, and even fewer had access to them. My mind raced, wondering who it could be.

would he have even gotten this

footsteps grew louder, closer. Whoever it was, they were ming quickly, almost frantically, so fast I barely had a chance to ready myself. Then, I froze in place, stunned and haunted by what I was seeing. I recognized every detail on the robe, every piece of jewelry she wore.

back as if I had seen a ghost. As much as I wanted to run to her, I could

that place. It wasn't possible. I had to be hallucinating. She was

The dream I'd had of her

How could she

heart raced as I took in every detail of her running toward me. Her short curly hair was a bit longer than she usually had it. It bounced with every step. The crown bounced off her