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

not the the guilt. The air was charged with something I hadn't felt in a long time. I felt it thrumming in my

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Hope.

Hope that maybe I could go back to that beautiful place with Haruka and stay there next time without the

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

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

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 thought of the dream

stay there, still

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

or care that there was anyone or anything else in

reunion in peace and return

the back of my hand. I had used them for years to come to this garden or get around

I needed that sanctuary more

just as I reached the entrance to the passage, I heard something-a sound that didn't belong. Running

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been in these tunnels. Few knew of their

would he have even gotten

Then, I froze in place, stunned and haunted by what I was seeing. I recognized every detail

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 possible. I had to be

The dream I'd had of her was

How could she

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