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

my chest, but not the the guilt. The air was charged with something I hadn't felt

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Hope.

I could go back to that beautiful place

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

put my finger on. It 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

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 thought of the dream again. I could almost feel her warmth in

stay there, still gnawed at me,

me to hear, and she smiled resting her head on his

care that there was anyone or anything else in

them have their reunion in peace

I 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

needed that sanctuary

entrance to the passage, I heard

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CH111

I carried a sword regularly. No one should have been in these tunnels. Few knew of their

have even gotten this far into the

ready myself. Then, I froze in place, stunned and haunted by what

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

place. It wasn't possible.

I'd had of her was just that-a

How could she be

than she usually had it. It bounced with every step. The crown bounced off her head, clattering