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

guilt. The air was charged with something I hadn't felt in a long time. I felt it thrumming in my chest as I leaned forward

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Hope.

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

private. He'd loved Haruka just as fiercely as I

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

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

still gnawed at

me to hear, and she

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

have their reunion in peace and return

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 visit Tsuneo or handle

needed that sanctuary more

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

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No one should have been in these tunnels. Few knew of their existence, and even fewer had access to them. My

would he have even gotten this far into the

barely had a chance to 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

not that place. It wasn't possible.

I'd had of her was

How could she be

Her short curly hair was a bit longer than she usually had it. It