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

eased some of the pain in my chest, but not the the guilt. The air was

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Hope.

that things would be okay. Hope that maybe I could go back to that beautiful place with Haruka and stay there next

for outward displays of emotion unless in private. He'd loved Haruka just as fiercely as I had, and

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 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

to stay there, still gnawed at

whispering something. His voice too low for me to hear, and she smiled resting her head

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

their reunion in peace and

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 to come to this garden or get around unseen in the palace, either to

needed that sanctuary more

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

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CH111

not armed. I couldn't even remember the last time I carried a sword regularly. No one should have been in these tunnels. Few knew of their existence, and even fewer had access to them. My mind raced, wondering who it could be. An assassin?

would he have even gotten

barely had a chance to ready myself. Then, I froze in place, stunned and haunted by what I was seeing. I recognized every detail on the

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

the garden, not that place. It wasn't

of her was

How could she

raced 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 bounced off her head, clattering to the ground. The sound rang true, but still I back ed