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

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

1/4

CHÍ

Hope.

that beautiful place with Haruka and stay there next time without

displays of emotion unless in private. He'd loved Haruka just as fiercely as I

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

only to be visited when I was alone and could lay down my guard in the privacy 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

to stay there, still gnawed

whispering something. His voice too low for me

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

in peace

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

I needed that

as I reached the entrance to the passage, I heard

2/4

CH111

was not armed. I couldn't even remember the last time I carried a sword regularly. No one should have been in

even gotten this far into the

fast I barely had a chance to ready myself. Then, I froze

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

garden, not that place. It wasn't possible.

I'd had of her was just that-a

How could she

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,