The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 38

CH38 Morgan

He carriedout of the bathroom and into the familiar comfort of his bedroom. Layingdown on the plush

bed, he disappeared for a moment, returning with a soft silk robe. "Here," he said, his voice gruff, "put this on."

| struggled to sit up, the exhaustion a heavy weight in my limbs. He helpedslip into the robe, the silky fabric

a soothing caress against my raw skin. With a final, reassuring squeeze to my hand, he stepped back towards

the door. "I'll wait outside until you're dressed," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "Just call if you need

anything.

Relief flooded me. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, | was grateful for his understanding. Taking a shaky

breath, | fumbled with the robe, tying the sash with clumsy fingers. A shiver ran down my spine despite the

warmth of the room. The vulnerability of the situation, combined with the lingering fear, leftfeeling exposed.

the bruising was already starting to change colors and spread. It all ached. | was pretty sure | hadn't broken

anything.

Taking a deep breath, | called out, my voice hoarse, I'm ready, Tsuneo."

The door creaked open a sliver, and Tsuneo peeked in, his eyes searching mine. He held a large towel in his

hand, and relief washed over me. He wasn't looking for anything more than to help, and he looked like he'd

rinsed off the blood on him and ditched the bloody robe. | hadn't even noticed before.

With a curt nod, he entered the room. He moved with practiced efficiency, gently drying my hair with the soft

towel. The simple act, the warmth radiating from his body so close to mine, sent a wave of warmth through me.

Shthreatened to resurface, but | pushed it down. This wasn't the time.

When my hair was dry, a knock sounded on the door. He went to get it and cback with medical supplies,

food, and Maya. He left Maya to check my injuries. Maya wrapped my ribs and helpedcrawl back under the

covers, the cool sheets a welccontrast to the heat of the bath.

I'm glad you're safe," she said with a smile. She left and Tsuneo cback. He settled himself beside me, sitting

on the bed, pulling the comforter up over me.

"Think you can eat a bit?"

| tried for a bit of bread, but I couldn't get through much.

CH38

"Rest," he murmured, brushing his thumb across her cheek. "You have much to recover from."

| closed my eyes again, a sigh escaping my lips. But before | could fully drift off, | saw Keiji's face. 1 opened my

face.

"W-Will you stay with me?"

He smiled and nodded.

He climbed into bed. His arm caround my waist, pullingclose, his warmth a comforting shield against

the lingering chills.

"You did well, Morgan," he murmured, his voice a soothing rumble in the quiet room. "Braver than you know."

Tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to spill over. But before | could succumb to them, he spoke again. "Rest

now," he said, his voice firm yet gentle. "I'm here. | won't let anything happen

to you.

His words, a promise laced with tenderness, were a balm to my weary soul. The exhaustion from the ordeal

finally claimed me, the tension draining from my body. As | drifted off to sleep, nestled safely in his arms, the

fear slowly receded, replaced by a fragile sense of security. For the first tin what felt like forever, | allowed

myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, | was finally safe..

Tsuneo

Sleep eluded me. Morgan lay nestled against my side. She was safe, but the events of the night still echoed in

my mind. Keiji had died too easily. The ramifications of his demise, the political fallout from the deaths of so

many Elders, stretched beforelike a treacherous path. Sleep, even for a moment, felt like an indulgence |

couldn't afford.

A whimper escaped Morgan's lips, a tremor running through her body. She seemed to be reliving the night. My

heart ached for her, for the fear etched onto her beautiful face even in slumber. Gently, | brushed a stray strand

of hair from her forehead, whispering reassurances that only | could hear.

The heat of her body pressed against mine, her scent was a heady mix of lavender and fear. The fear, raw and

primal, was a stark contrast to the arousal | might have felt under different circumstances. Tonight, there was

only a fierce protectiveness, a primal urge to shield her from the nightmares that haunted her sleep.

Humming a lullaby my mother used to sing to me, stroked her hair in a slow, rhythmic pattern. The melody

seemed to seep into the very fabric of the room. Distantly, | heard a faint echo of the 84%1

10:08 Wed, Oct 16

CH38

tune, perhaps from a guard changing shifts, a maid tidying a room. The sound, unexpected and welcome, wove

itself into my lullaby, creating a comforting harmony.

1 realized soon after that it was the palace singing the lullaby... as if my mother were here still.

Slowly, Morgan's breathing evened out, the tension draining from her body. The fear that had clung to her like a

shroud seemed to dissipate with each passing moment. Finally, sleep claimedas well, the weight of the

kingdom momentarily forgotten as | held my wife close.

Hours later, a sliver of golden sunlight speared through a gap in the curtains, painting a luminous stripe across

Morgan's face. She stirred in my arms, a soft sigh escaping her lips. My eyes fluttered open, and | watched,

mesmerized, as she blinked sleepily at the light. The vulnerability etched on her face, the residue of the night's

terrors clinging to her like cobwebs, sent a jolt of protectiveness through me.

She shifted slightly, her body a warm' weight against mine. A blush crept up her cheeks as she realized the

closeness, and she began to pull away, the movement tentative, almost shy. But before she could fully

disentangle herself, | reached out, my fingers brushing against the soft skin

of her arm.

The air crackled with unspoken emotions. Gratitude shone in her eyes, a luminous echo of the relief that flooded