The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 112

CH112 Hayato

I gasped against her lips, my arms locking around her as if I could just hold her and keep her from disappearing foreverThe kiss deepened, her hands tangling in my hair, her lips feverish, like she had been waiting for this moment just as long as I had.

I kissed her back with all the raw hunger, longing I been pushing down for years.

I kicked us to the surface. The water splashed around us as we broke the surface, we gasped long enough to breathe but parted for no longer than that. She laughed, soft and watery, kissing me. "Hayato... Hayato..."

The world around us faded-there was only her. My heart pounded wildly in my chest, disbelief warring with overwhelming joy and relief.

I broke the kiss for just a moment, gasping for air, my hands cradling her face, my eyes wide as I looked at her. Soaked through as if I'd caught her dancing in the rain again.

"Haruka,' I breathed, my voice trembling with emotion. "How... how is this possible?"

She smiled, that same smile I had missed every day since she had been taken from me, and brushed a strand of wet hair from my face. "Does it matter?"

I stared at her, unable to find the words. No, it didn't matter. Not right now. All that mattered was that she was here, in my arms, and for the first time in what felt like a lifetime, the weight on my chest vanished.

Tsuneo

The sound of running footsteps and splashing water had drawn my attention. I turned and my heart clenched when they surfaced, still kissing, clinging to each other. My father and my mother were tangled together in the pool, holding each other like the world outside had disappeared. And for a moment, I wondered if it had.

She was alive.

It seemed impossible, but there was no doubting who that woman was. The way they reacted to each other, like magnets unwilling to be separated, had been such a large part of my childhood. I didn't know what to think. Part of me had thought that I would never see her again, that I would always just be waiting for my father to slip away from me to join her, no matter what anyone said,

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CHIE

kissing my father as though no time

into grief so deep that I

through me and I looked at Morgan, imagining what it would have been like to even go one

so much stronger than I ever

she smiled and

how strong he could be, how ruthless, how cruel, or

twitched. I glanced back at him assured that everything would be alright. They kissed passionately. I heard my father's breath hitching as he

you too, I replied. We'll

and waved her hand, shooing us

their breathing heavy and shaky, as if they were barely holding

watching them as well, her eyes filled with the same relief I felt. She

whispered,

towards another hidden passageway that led directly to our chambers. The palace was full of these secret tunnels, winding their way through the walls, providing shortcuts and escape routes

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clinging to her skin, and

She leaned against me.

""I'm tired."

"You've been asleep all

a magical trance is

I said softly, pulling her closer to me as we navigated the dimly lit corridor. "We'll get you cleaned up

more into me. Her steps fell into sync with mine as we moved deeper into the palace's

that led directly into our chambers. I pushed it open the familiar warmth of our rooms washing over us.

as she stepped inside, her shoulders relaxing just

locking the passageway, and

wet clothes," I said, my voice gentle as I walked toward her. Her hair was still damp, droplets of water glistening on her skin, and I couldn't help but reach out, brushing a strand away from her face. "How about a bath?... Oddly, I've missed our

was small and tired,

cupped her cheek. "How are you