The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 58

CH58

Ari

"We'll have to move quickly. Perhaps even to remove the threat of my brother in a more permanent way. They all

stand in the way of my kingship.

The carefully constructed facade crumbled, replaced by a mask of raw fury. "Never!" | shrieked, the word tearing

from my throat. "I will never let that happen!"

Elia's eyes widened in surprise, but a flicker of amusement danced in their depths. "Calm yourself, darling," he

purred, missing my meaning as he fondled my breasts and nibbled on my neck. "The human is the obstacle, but

murdering her will clear the way. My brother won't survive it, and

neither would Tsuneo."

The logic was undeniable, but the bitter pill of losing Tsuneo, even as a pawn, stuck in my throat. Did | truly have

to choose between Tsuneo death and my rightful place as queen? Surely, he wouldn't die if that human was

murdered.

Elia must have sensed my hesitation. He leaned in closer, his voice a low murmur. "Think of it, Ari," he said, his

words laced with honeyed promises. "With that human gone, the path is clear. You, by my side, as Queen. Ruling

this kingdom together, a power couple no one can challenge."

The image he painted was tempting, the ultimate prize dangling just out of reach. But | didn't want Elia. And |

didn't trust him either. He was usingjust as much as | was using him. We kissed still. The answer, | realized

with a jolt, was irrelevant. For now, our goals aligned. The human had to be eliminated. Only then could | worry

about my own endgame. I'd kill Elia if he really did try to hurt Tsuneo, but | didn't think I'd have to.

Taking a deep, shuddering breath, | forced my voice to be steady.

"How will we do it?" | asked as he parted my legs and lifted me. | gasped, rocking against the hard length of his

erection. "Poison? Swords?"

"Leave that to me," Elia's smile widened, genuine this time. "A beauty such as yourself shouldn't have blood on

her hands."

Fine. | didn't care. "I want to watch you kill her. Watch her die."

He growled. "As you wish."

"I want it to be painful," | said, rocking against him. "Promiseit'll be painful."

CH58

"Agonizing."

| smiled, grinning at the image. "Tsuneo should see."

As punishment. As a lesson. He had to see her last agonizing moments. The fury | felt towards that human, that

Morgan, began to morph into something else entirely. It was a primal hunger to see her in pain, a desperate

need to take control of the situation, fueled by the yearning for Tsuneo that had always been my driving force.

Elia's words, his predatory glint in the flickering candlelight - it all acted as a twisted aphrodisiac.

His hand slipped under my dress, finding the fact that | had no underwear on. He groaned, thrusting his fingers

intoand openingup roughly. A shiver of pleasure ran down my spine.

"We have much to discuss," he murmured, his voice a husky caress against my ear. "Plans to be made, strategies

formulated.”

His touch lingered, sending a jolt of heat through me.

"Later," | whispered, my voice thicker than usual, laced with unspoken desires that warred with the cold anger

simmering within.

He didn't argue. With a knowing smirk, he fumbled his robe open and off. Then, mine fell to the ground as we

kissed. He carriedtowards a plush chaise lounge nestled in the corner of the room, the flickering candlelight

casting long, suggestive shadows that danced across the walls.

| didn't resist. | wanted it. | was burning up at the thought of getting rid of her, clearing the way forto finally

have Tsuneo | always should have. In the dimly lit room, fueled by a potent cocktail of fury, ambition, and a

twisted sense of desire, | surrendered to the moment. He thrust intowith a low groan. | gasped and moaned,

enjoying the heat of him inside me. This wasn't about love, not for either of us. It was a dark pact sealed with

lust and the promise of shared

power.

The outside world faded away, replaced by the frantic urgency of our desires. | cand foreed him onto his

back to ride him into another orgasm.

"My queen," he whispered. | imagined those swords on Tsuneo's lips and fell head first into pleasure.

Morgan

|

A knot of nervous energy twisted in my stomach as | heard the door close behind me. The king smiled at me. His

face was weathered. He looked more tired than the last tI'd seen him. He sat behind a massive mahogany

desk. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, crinkled at the corners as he

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regarded me.

"Ah, Morgan," he rumbled, his voice a comforting contrast to the formality of the room. "Cin, cin. Have

a seat."

He gestured towards a plush armchair across from him. I sank into it gratefully, the soft cushions a welcome

relief from the nerves. | had no answers about the veil yet.

"How are you faring, young one?" the King inquired, his gaze holding a hint of concern. "This realm can be a

trying place, and it can't be easy going back and forth."

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "It has its challenges, Your Majesty," | admitted. "But things are going

well, I think..."

He nodded, a flicker of something akin to pride dancing in his eyes. "Indeed. Your efforts there seem to be

bearing fruit. The humans are more receptive to our presence than they have been in centuries, and those on

the other side are healthier than they have been in a long time." | straightened in my seat, a surge of excitement

bubbling in my chest. "I'm hoping that by the tthe veil is lifted, things will be just as smooth. | think there's a

chance we can coexist peacefully again."

"Peace," he echoed the word thoughtfully. "A fragile thing, but one worth striving for. But tell me, Morgan," he

leaned forward, his

voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "what about the veil? Have you made any progress on unraveling its

secrets?"

Not exactly, | murmured. "Well... there has been sdevelopments. | can take people, not just things through

the portals."

He nodded and smiled. "I suppose | shouldn't ask that of a newlywed woman. Getting to enjoy my son, are you?"

My face heated and he laughed a bit. There was no derision in his eyes. He seemed happy, actually. A wave of

relief washed over me. The king's acknowledgment of my actions, his acceptance of the slow progress, was a

good thing.

"I will leave the matter of the veil for another the said, his gaze meeting mine. "About the Elders, about the

future of the kingdom,

...and about you and Tsuneo," the King finished, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

"Your Majesty," | began, unsure how to proceed. "Tsuneo and I... Well..."

10:17 Wed, Oct 16

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The king held up a hand, his expression filled with understanding. You are getting to know each other. Falling in

love. | remember what that was like." Chapter Comments