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 air was charged with something I

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Hope.

things would be okay. Hope that maybe I could go back to that beautiful place with Haruka and stay there next time without the guilt, knowing

outward displays of emotion unless in private. He'd loved Haruka just as fiercely as I had, and she was really the only

had started after he'd woken up from the

of my chambers, 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

to stay there, still gnawed at me,

too low for me to hear, and she smiled resting her head on his chest.

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

have their reunion in peace and return

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

needed that sanctuary

the passage, I heard something-a

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No one should have been in these tunnels. Few knew of their

gotten this far

ready myself. Then, I froze in place, stunned and haunted by what I was seeing. I recognized every detail on the robe, every

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

not that place. It wasn't

dream I'd had of her was just

how... How could she be

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