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

I took a deep breath, glancing up at the sky

really hoped it didn't come to

86%

inside beneath the falling blossoms. I walked her to her office. and we lingered outside the door as if staying together would

"You're stalling," she said.

snorted. "So are

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

still remember that night and the blinding rage of tearing him apart. It felt just as real now as it had

inside, I'll take care of it. She looked up at me and I kissed

and all I could hope was that that if Keiji really could revive, he wouldnt be hellbent on

His

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

Kai is the son of the man who tried to kill your father and that Ari wanted to

I winced. Fair.

was, but she was cunning enough. It was better to get rid of the problem before it became a real one that I couldn't handle as easily. I waited until the door was

palace halls. Dealing with Keiji's body was something I hadn't wanted to deal with. I had hoped that the pieces of him were mostly unrecoverable, eaten by various cave-dwelling creatures, or simply washed out

no chance this would work. I traced my eyes, cataloging all of what had heen recovered. Save for the lost blood,

face was pale, drawn with terror

"And his sister?"

another cot and grave box. The memories of that moment flashed in my mind the black smoke,

of them were traitors of the

in her own grave box. We'll take them to the dungeons to see if they

sorry. I would do it again without delay or hesitation. The workers moved slowly, respectfully placing Keiji's body into the grave box

murmured, though his words