The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 111

Bride

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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 air was charged with something I hadn't felt in a long time. I felt it thrumming in my chest

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Hope.

I could go back to that beautiful place with Haruka and stay there next time without the guilt, knowing that Tsuneo

just

may be that he's just stepping 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

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

to stay there, still gnawed at me,

whispering something. His voice too low for me to hear, and she smiled resting

of smile that made me wonder if they even realized or care that there was anyone or anything else in

their reunion in peace and

slipped away, heading toward the hidden 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 around unseen in the palace, either to visit Tsuneo or handle court affairs. These past five years, they

I needed that

I reached the entrance to the passage, I heard

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should have been in these tunnels. Few knew of their existence, and even fewer had access to

have even gotten this far

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

breath caught in my throat. I stumbled back as if I had seen a ghost. As much as I wanted to run to

was in the garden, not that place. It wasn't

I'd had of her

how... How could

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 head, clattering to the ground. The sound rang true, but still