The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 134

CH134 Tsuneo

I frowned, looking at her. She wasn't looking at me. Tarofu chuckled as I realized what she meat I smiled and tugged her closer, enjoying the feel of her body against mine and pushing down. thoughts about what it would feel like with no barriers between us. "Practice in bed and courting are two very different things... One is certainly easier than the

other."

It was so very easy to convince a young woman into my bedroom. I was a crown prince. Even easier to bring her to pleasure, so long as she brought me pleasure, and I didn't have the habit o bringing anyone to my bed I didn't want there." "I wouldn't... know anything about that."

A surge of posessiveness went through me at the thought. I knew it was very likely, but I hadn't allowed myself to think concretely about the idea that I would most likely be her first.

"I promise... to make it unforgettable."

She stammered and I kissed her head, drawing her closer to breath in her scent. I didn't want to let her go. I didn't want to go back inside and work or be apart from her.

Was this me or Taorfu's longing for his wife? Maybe it was a bit of both. If I let myself, I could. sink into that feeling that the whole world had narrowed down to just us, standing beneath the cherry blossoms. "Tsuneo?" she said after a long pause.

"Hmm?"

"I know we've talked about it, but... do you think there's a chance that the past could repeat itself at the Convening?"

Her voice was quiet, thoughtful, the weight of her question pressing down on both of us.

Tarofu seemed to go still and anxious at the back of my mind, but I nuzzled her gently.

"If it does... Nothing will survive. Not even darkness."

She shuddered. My words felt heavy and true and terrifying as I knew they weren't just mine, but

10:10 Thu, Oct 24

CH134

took a deep breath, glancing up at the sky

hoped it didn't come

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her office. and we lingered outside the door as if staying together would put off all the work that still had

"You're stalling," she said.

snorted. "So are

was shattered when a guard appeared at the end of the hallway, his face pale and serious. Morgan went stiff and straightened, the shift in the air palpable. Whatever message he had, it wasn't good, "Your Highness," the guard said, bowing to us, his voice grave, "we've recovered Keiji's body. It was found

I drew my arm around her as anger heated my blood. I could feel the weight of the news settling over me, the cold reality of it cutting through the warmth of the afternoon. I could still remember that night and the blinding rage of tearing him apart. It

take care of it.

hope was that that if Keiji really could revive, he wouldnt

exile hiin, Tarofu said. His crimes are to great

Ari's betrayal, by comparison, felt almost I agreed, but I wondered if that was

is the son of the man who tried to kill your father and that Ari wanted to leverage the child to take your

I winced. Fair.

enough. It was better to get rid of the problem before it became a real one that I couldn't handle as

to deal with. I had

I arrived at the area where the body had been brought, I found the workers solemn and quiet. The grave box-ornate, yet simple in its design-was waiting. And beside it lay Keiji's remains, waterlogged and bloodless, but not so pale as I could not imagine that there was no chance this would work. I traced my eyes, cataloging all of what had heen recovered. Save for the lost blood, it looked as though they had recovered every part of him down to his entrails and the shreds of the robes he had been

face was pale, drawn with terror and

"And his sister?"

my mind the black smoke, the desperate need to get to Morgan

traitors

her as well. Then place her in her own grave box. We'll take them to the

do it again without delay or hesitation. The workers moved slowly, respectfully placing Keiji's body into the grave box beside his sister's. Tarofu

done, he murmured,