The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 5

CH5

Tsuneo

| waited until the doors were shut, and | could no longer hear her thoughts. Only then did | open my eyes.

Morning had painted the realm's sky a shimmering blue behind the jade and gold and cast pale light over the

land. | sat up, setting my jaw. | hadn't slept at all, but | felt more rested than | had in years. | looked over at

where the woman had slept, my ill-gotten wife, and | smirked.

Last night had stirred more emotions inthan | had ever anticipated. | was intrigued, amused, and utterly...

fascinated by her. | almost wished | had asked her name. There was no denying that she'd cfrom the human

realm. The scent of their forests and mountains and pain lingered on her. She'd faced the Trial. | could still smell

burning flesh in her short hair. She'd been terrified, but her thoughts had been logical, precise, and defiant. If |

had had the strength, | would have delved deeper than just the surface, but | had a feeling | wouldn't have found

much different.

Her defiance, her cool-headedness, and her wit were charming. | was used to people bowing and. scraping, used

to people not hiding their thoughts when they entered my room. I'd seen inside many people, yet | had never felt

a mind like hers.

I had never met a human like her, either. My kind and the beings of my realm were all familiar to me, slotting

into the pecking order of our world. They lived so long that they were often bored on the inside. The last humans

I'd encountered had been like glass containing a low-burning fire. Their thoughts were quick, shallow, and base.

My wife's mind felt more like lightning and hurricanes over a vast sea. It was odd. A mystery | would have plenty

of tto solve. | rubbed my fingertips against my palm. | could feel the phantom warmth of her face beneath

my hand. My whole body seemed all too aware of everywhere we'd touched last night. The softness of her body

beneath mine had made my head spin and set a strange, yearning ache in me. Her closeness had been a

blessing and torture all night.

| set my jaw, remembering the last thought she'd had before she'd gone to sleep. Who was Ren? A man, |

presumed. A lover, most likely. She was well of age, as far as | could tell, and too beautiful not to have been

courted in the human realm. A jolt of unfamiliar possessiveness, a primal growl deep within my chest, surprised

me. I'd have to find out who this Ren was and deal with her thoughts of him sooner rather than later.

Dragons were possessive creatures. We didn't share.

The silence of the room was shattered by the tell-tale footsteps coming toward my room. It was Doctor Shang.

He was alone. He entered quickly and shut the door behind him before locking it.

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CHS

His eyes fell on me, full of concern. | smirked at his formal attire.

"That can't be for me. The Elders must have summoned you."

He nodded stilly. "Yes. They wanted my... opinion on the developments. How are you feeling?"

| cocked an eyebrow. "Is there a reason you are so worried? Fearing for my modesty?"

1 laughed. "She is no Ari."

He grimaced. "She's a human woman with no reason to...abide by the rules of polite society."

"Because she's my wife or because she's a captive?"

"Both."

| couldn't help but chuckle, the sound rough in my throat. It wasn't often that I got to speak with my voice these

days.

"I am alive and well. Just wrestling with...interesting developments."

"Interesting?" He echoed, a brow raised. "Explain yourself. What did she do?"

| snorted. "Be incredibly attractive, apparently despisewith a burning passion, and obediently stay as far

away fromas possible. If she'd had the energy, she would have slept on the dresser."

| sighed. "Swedding night. Though we have gained quite the asset, | think."

Doctor Shang huffed. "When the tcomes for you to have an actual wedding night, I'm sure it will be

everything you want and more. Now, lethave a look at you."

| lifted my arm, offering it to him so he could checkover. He murmured to himself, but | knew what he would

say.

"The effects.... Have lessened a great deal since yesterday." He glanced at me. "I assthat is what you meant

by her being an asset?"

"es."

Do you think she's a halfling?"

"It's been centuries. | don't think so, but perhaps a descendant." | shrugged. "Though, | need you to look into

something. Father still has the records on all those he's summoned for the Trial,

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CHS right?"

He nodded.

"I need you to look into her foror bring the records here. | want to know who this Ren she was thinking of is...

and if you could be in the room when | speak to her next."

Doctor Shang's eyes widened in surprise. "You revealed the truth to her? But Tsuneo, we're so close to narrowing

down the traitor! Why jeopardize it?"

| waved a dismissive hand. "Relax, Doctor. My wife is no fool. If anything, she adds another layer of security.

Besides, | doubt she could understand half of what we discuss anyway. She is still riding the effects of passing

through the Trial. You know that the assimilation of our language will becmore difficult as tgoes

The doctor seemed unconvinced, but he nodded.

"If you believe it for the best, I'll-"

A jarring clang echoed through the palace. | gasped. My eyes widened. | got onto my knees in bed, listening for

the clang again. The jade gong was ringing.

"That's impossible."

Doctor Shang looked just as stunned as | was. Disbelief clawed at me. It couldn't be. | leaned wer to press my

hand to the wall of the palace, expanding my senses through the building.

"Tsuneo, you're too-" | held up a hand for him to be quiet and listened.

In the foyer, | could hear and see my father, my brother, the Elders, and the serving girl my wife called Maya,

panicking. The knights were rushing toward the gate, but they were repelled and pushed back into the foyer.

| got out of bed and stood in front of the window, careful to keep myself out of sight. | saw people scurrying

around, panicking below. | felt the palace changing as the sky's shimmering blue was threaded with jade and

gold: the colors of the queen.

It had not been that color since my mother died, and the veil closed forever.

"Tsuneo..." Doctor Shang whispered. "I..."

"Her name," | said, smiling up at the sky, wondering if my mother was seated on a cloud, watching the show with

that amused and knowing twinkle in her eye.

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