The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 72

The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

CH72

Morgan

| turned to Kai and offered him my hand. He ctowillingly and | crouched down, smiling at him.

"And what of Kai?" | asked, my voice soft but firm. Is he not allowed to make a decision? Is he to be left to the

whims of his mother? Or is he supposed to be treated as the heir that you wish him to be?" Kai's eyes glistened

with tears.

"Your Majesty." | turned to the king." | believe in this case, as we cannot ascertain exactly whose child he is. It

would be better to focus on what we do know. He is of your line. He is an heir to the empire. He should be

allowed to make his decision about how he would like to be raised and where he would like to live."

"He is my child!" Ari shrieked. As his mother, it is my right to decide, and he will live with me."

"I think the more pressing question is, where has he been living all this time?" The king said, his lips curving g

into a smile. Clearly, he was getting the direction 1 was going in. "Does it make sense that an heir to the throne

would be living somewhere other than palace when his mother has been living here for the past five years?"

Ari sputtered. The Elders exchanged uneasy glances. The implications of the question were too plain to ignore.

"Given the tumult of the past few years, it would make sense that Lady Arl would have sreservations about

bringing her son to the palace. After all, the child's father and grandmother were both attacked here in the

palace. She likely, as a mother, didn't feel that it was safe."

The king's gaze cut to the elder. "And so she stayed in the luxury of the palace for the past five years in danger

while her son was

"Let's ask him." | turned back to Kai. "Would you like to go hto where you've been, or would you like to stay

in the palace here?"

His eyes brightened, and he bounced on his toes. "Could I really clive in the palace?"

"I think his majesty would think that's the best option."

"Has Lady Ari really been living here all this time?"

"Yes," the king said. "And it is from my deepest apologies that you have not been afforded the srights, but

not to worry. We will get to the bottom of why you have not been afforded the srights as your mother." Ari

flinched. Kai bounced on his toes, grinning..

The king's eyes shifted betweenand Kai. The Elders muttered amongst themselves, their faces a mask of

disapproval and confusion. Tsuneo still looked furious.

Ari sputtered and lunged forward, aiming to grab Kai.

"He is my son,"

*she declared, her voice shrill. "I carried him 1 birthed him! He is mine, and you'll not stopfrom getting what

is rightfully mine."

Kal shrank back. Before she had even managed to touch him, my blade was out and aimed at her. The blade

glowed with a soft, opalescent light. Kai clung to my leg. | could feel him trembling and it only angeredmore.

"I don't think | have to remind you how handy Lam with a sword, do I, Ari?"

She glared at me. "Givemy child.".

| narrowed my eyes. "Cand take him."

Silence fell between us before her face scrunched up in real anger.

"You should be packing. You should be getting ready to run back to your little human realm. He's my child! And

between the two of us. | am the only one qualched to sit beside Tsuneo. Eve given him on heie! You havent even

been able to satisfy him for a single night. You haven't consummated your marriage. You're only technically his

wife."

CH72

"Are you holding to that?" | asked, glaring at her. "Swear on your station that Kai is Tsuneo's child."

"He is Tsuneo's son!"

"Swear on your fire. Your scales. Your soul that this is Tsuneo's child ""

She went silent and glared. "I swear on my fire."

| tilted my head, waiting for the rest, but she said nothing. | could only guess that meant she didn't have fire, so

maybe she breathed ice or something The unsettled whispers between the elders was all | needed. If any of

them had really believed that Kai was Tsuneo's son, they didn't believe it any

"And the rest Ari?"

"I have no need to swear anything to you, human wench!" Ari's face contorted into a mask of rage. "You think

you have any right to lecture me? You, a mere hunian, trying to replace me? There will never be a day when you

can hold half a candle to me. | am his mother. You will never bear Tsuneos child. He would never lower himself to

touch you in that way! Ever! Ever!"

| met her gaze. The blade of my sword flashed with anger. "I'm not trying to replace you as Kai's mother," |

retorted. "I simply cannot stand the thought of him growing up with a mother who would use him for her own

selfish aims

"He is the next crown prince as such | am owed to be queen" She stomped her foot. Her eyes narrowed, a

dangerous glint flickering in their depths. "You're jealous. Jealous because you can never give Tsuneo a child, a

true heir to the throne."

Why? She thought that would hurt me. | had no idea and | didn't care. Though | suppose, in reality, it's because

that is what hurt her the most. She knew Kai wasn't Tsuneo's child. She knew that Tsuneo would never look at

her that way either. She was projecting. It was pathetic.

"Swear on it," | said,

"I do not need to swear to you!"

Then swear to me, Tsuneo said, gliding between us

She looked fearful. "Tsuneo-"

On yo

your water. On your scales. On your soul. On tooth and claw."

Her jaw trembled, and she looked around the room, clearly looking for an out, but no one spoke. Then, the king

raised a hand.

"Enough," he boomed, his voice carrying across the room. | have heard all | needed to. We will discuss this

matter further. For now, the decision is made."

He sat back in his seat. "Kail will live here in the palace as is his birthright. He looked at Arl. As for you, | am

ashamed of you of the woman you've become."

"But I-

"Enough, Ari. | have given you ample tto cclean for you to use this child in this way...." He shook his

head. "He is not your possession. He is not leverage. He is a child, innocent and vulnerable. And he needs a

loving home, a place where he can grow and thrive. You have brought him here for your own ends with no regard

for his safety or well-being. Given the child's age, | have no choice but to confine you Ari to the dungeons until

we have tto interrogate you."

Her face turned a mottled shade of purple, her anger reaching a boiling point.

Then, she lunched at me.

"TI kill you!

The Dragon King's Substaute Ande