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

Tsuneo and Morgan embraced. Hearing my son's laughter eased some of the pain in my chest, but not the the guilt. The

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Hope.

that maybe I could go back to that 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

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 them, even as the longing felt

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 couldn't. I

to stay there, still gnawed at me,

whispering something. His voice too low for me to

smile that made me wonder if they even realized or care that there was anyone or

have their reunion in peace and return

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,

I needed that sanctuary

as I reached the entrance to the passage,

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the last time I carried a sword regularly. No one should have been in these tunnels. Few

gotten this

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

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

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

I'd had of her was just that-a

How could she

bit longer than she usually had it. It bounced with every step.