The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 31

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Morgan

Sunlight streamed through the windows, sending a golden beam dancing across the ornately carved bed frame. |

stretched languidly, the luxurious silk sheets cool against my bare skin. A moment later, | froze, feeling the heat

of Tsuneo's body beside me.

My gaze drifted to the other side of the massive four-poster bed. Tsuneo lay sprawled amongst the pillows, his

chest rising and falling with the rhythm of deep sleep. A shock of dark looked hair fanned out across the silk, and

the faintest hint of a smile played on his lips. He... peaceful. Unburdened by the weight of his worries.

A tenderness bloomed in my chest, and a nervous flutter filled my stomach. Never in a million years would | have

imagined myself waking up tangled in the sheets with a dragon. prince, especially not after how I'd got here.

The corner of my mouth lifted in a reluctant smile. There was no denying the undeniable change that was

happening between us. He wasn't wary ofand | was seeming more of the man Tsuneo really was. He was

charismatic, charming, too. Had things been different, there was a good chance. that we'd already...

My face burned at the though. | shook my head, but | heard his voice from the night before, pleading withto

stay. The longing and possessiveness that had flared in his voice when he'd toldnot to let anyone see me

less than dress again... it all sent a shiver of excitement down my spine.

But a niggling voice of reason whispered a caution in the back of my mind. This was Tsuneo, the crown prince of

a hidden dragon kingdom. And his family had murdered hundreds if not thousands of human women before me.

His life was a tangled web of politics and duty. And then there was the assassination attempt that still hadn't

been solved. The Veil. His mother, and everything else that felt like a dark cloud hanging over the realms.

Just as | was about to untangle myself from the sheets, a deep rumble echoed from beside me. Tsuneo stirred,

his eyes fluttering open. For a moment, he seemed disoriented, then recognition dawned, and a lazy smile

spread across his face.

"Morgan," he murmured, his voice husky with sleep. "You're still here."

There was a hint of vulnerability in his voice that tugged at my heartstrings. No one had ever been so happy to

seefirst thing in the morning before.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty, | teased, my voice softer than intended.

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A chuckle rumbled in his chest. "Seems | owe you a debt of gratitude," he said, his gaze locking with mine. "For

dealing with Keiji and for... well, for staying."

My cheeks flushed a warm pink. "Don't worry about it," | mumbled, looking away. "It was the least 1 could do."

Silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken emotions. | cleared my throat.

"I should get going-"

He reached out, his hand gently cupping my cheek. His touch sent a jolt through me, a welcwarmth

spreading through my body.

"Please stay," he pleaded, his voice low and husky. Just a little longer."

The sincerity in his eyes was undeniable. Hesitation warred with a surprising desire to simply stay curled up

beside him, to bask in this unexpected intimacy for a little while longer.

Taking a deep breath, | surprised myself by nodding. "Alright, | agreed. "But not for too long. They'll probably be

sending someone to getready for the day soon anyway."

Relief washed over his face, a flicker of something more complex in his eyes. We spent the next few minutes in

comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other's presence. The weight of the previous night's events seemed to

fade away, replaced by a comfortable companionship that surprised me.

As predicted, a knock on the door shattered the peaceful silence.

Maya's voice cthrough the door.

"Your Highness? Are you awake?"

With a sigh, I untangled myself from the sheets, a blush creeping up my neck. Tsuneo, to his credit, didn't try to

prolong the inevitable. He helpedsit up, his touch lingering a beat too long before he pulled away.

"I'll see you soon," | promised, a warmth blooming in my chest. "I need to check on my brother and see how the

family business is doing."

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Of course, he said. "And Morgan?"

The question hung in the air, laced with a hint of possessiveness that sent another jolt through me. "Yes?" |

replied, meeting his gaze.

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His smile widened, a playful glint in his eyes. "Try not to cause too much trouble." The playful warning felt oddly

endearing.

"No promises," | countered with a grin, feeling a strange lightness in my step.

He chuckled. "I want to hear all about it."

| nodded. With a final lingering glance, | got out of bed, pulling on another robe and walking out to the

antechamber. | opened the door and Maya smiled at me.

"Good Morning!"

| nodded. "Let's get the day started, hm?"

| followed her down the hallway, feeling light as air. The opulent hallway stretched before me, sunlight streaming

through windows. But my mind was elsewhere, replaying the scene from moments ago - the warmth of Tsuneo's

touch, the vulnerability in his gaze, the possessiveness that both surprised and excited me.

As we walked, Maya kept stealing curious glances at me.

Finally, unable to contain herself any longer, she blurted out, "Forgive me, but... what happened in there?"

Her blunt question madelaugh. "What do you mean?"

"You seem to be walking on air."

| nodded. "Maybe I'm... settling in."

She beamed at that. | certainly hope so."

| bathed and changed into a gown in the queen's colors, but | kept Tsuneo's robe as well. Then, | headed

downstairs to to get the supplies through the portal. When | stepped through the portal back into the human

realm, | sighed. The familiar scent of pine and damp earth filled my lungs, a welccontrast to the perfumed

air of the dragon palace. The men divided the supplies like before and | rode back to my hometown with them

The journey back to my hometown was as peaceful as ever, yet mingled with a pang of sadness at leaving

Tsuneo behind. The injury wasn't major, but | wondered if he would slip into another episode while I was gone. |

was worried about him. The tentative connection we had forged, the warmth of his touch, the vulnerability he

had shown all of it played on repeat in my mind. Was he afraid of it? When | thought about how it must feel to be

trapped in that room, my heart

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ached.

Maybe, I'd bring him something back from the mortal realm, but what did you bring a prince?

The questions swirled in my head, unanswered and unsettling. Finally, the familiar outline of my hometown came

into view. | got off the caravan in front of my family's shop. People greeted me, bowing a bit. Relatives shot me

dirty and begrudging looks, but no one spoke to me. The shop was doing better than | expected, so | didn't linger

and headed to check on my brother. He was still stable and unconscious, so | headed back to the portal.

| hadn't taken more than a few steps out of the portal when | felt the presence nearby and the arm around my

neck.