The Dragon King's Substitute Bride (Morgan and Tsuneo)
Chapter 85

The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

CH85

Tsunco

We walked out to his chambers. The air felt so heavy. As we walked through Father's chambers toward the exit, I couldn't help but feel the eyes of the concubines and the Elders following us. Their whispers like a venomous snake slithering through the air.

We ignored them. I wanted to know what she had to tell me. My mind was a mess of thoughts. My heart felt like it was trapped in a whirlwind of emotions. I was angry, confused, and above all, anxious. Morgan squeezed my hand.

I wanted to pause and ask her, but we kept walking without speaking until we reached the corridor, heading towards our chambers, I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled over me. What did Morgan have to say? It felt like tension was thrumming through me, screaming. I still hadn't fully calmed down from all that time she'd just been missing. The solidness of her hand in my was grounding, but I still felt on edge. Her silence felt weighted, I glanced at her, my heart pounding in my chest. She seemed lost in thought, her eyes fixed ahead. My anxiety grew as we approached our chambers. What if it was bad news? What if it was about my father? The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to him. I hadn't even gotten a chance to tell him that before Morgan had come through the gate.

Morgan stopped, her hand resting gently on my arm.

As we rounded the corner, heading towards our chambers, I felt a sudden surge of adrenaline. A familiar sense of danger, a premonition of impending doom. I turned, my eyes scanning the

hallway. And there she was, Keiji's sister, her face was scrunched in fury. She raised a small,

spherical object, her fingers twitching with anticipation.

Before I could react, she hurled the object toward us. The projectile flew through the air. I pulled Morgan back toward me as I heard the object start to break and tear apart. I heard the rip of fabric, then her hands on my chest shoving. "No!"

The object exploded, a cloud of noxious gas spreading through the hallway.

Before I could react, a glimmering silver wall went up around the haze, trapping Morgan inside. My heart screamed. The dragon in my roared.

"Morgan!"

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She coughed, stumbling around in the small box. I slammed my fist against it, but it didn't break

or crack.

"Morgan!"

The moment Morgan began to fall, her breathing labored. I heard guards running down the hallway toward us. My control began to slip. It was all too much. I lunged forward with sharp, vicious claws, feeling my body elongate and leap forward. I felt a surge of power coursing through me, a primal energy that threatened to consume me. I lunged at Kaiji's sister. She shrieked and tried to escape, her face contorted in fear as I sliced through her with a single, swift motion.

She choked. Half of her body went one way, the rest dropped to the floor. She wouldn't be moving

again, ever. I turned back to where the guards had arrived, surrounding the barrier.

"Sound the alarm! The Queen's been attacked."

The bell started to chime, ringing through the air. Yet the barrier still hadn't fallen. I heard her

breathing growing weaker and weaker. I pushed forward.

"Morgan!" I shouted, my voice a guttural growl. 'Let me through! Remove the barrier!"

She shook her head, her eyes growing hazy.

""Your Highness-"

I clawed at the walls, attacking it with all my strength.

"Call for Doctor Shang!" One of the guards yelled.

I could see Morgan watching me through the haze.

"No," she replied, her voice barely a whisper. "You're losing control."

"Take it down! Take it down, now!"

"Restrain him," Morgan whispered. "Poison..."

My claws shrieked against the invisible wall, sparks flew as I struggled break it. Then, I felt

someone grab me.

"Your Highness-

"Release me!" I roared.

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"Tsuneo," Morgan choked, her voice filled with a mixture of fear and concern. "Stop... not good.

Calm..."

I couldn't be calm. Not even if I tried. Seeing her growing paler, the sound of the hells chiming sent me spiraling back through time. The fire, the explosion, my mother lying on the ground, her eyes staring at me from the other side of the barrier I couldn't get through, protecting so many people even as her last breath left her.

I couldn't lose Morgan like this. My father's benevolence had been enough to keep him from murdering, but I knew myself well enough to know that there would be nothing to stop me.

I would kill everyone.

I could smell blood in the air. I felt the bloodlust starting to grow and take over.

The guards, their faces pale with fear, lifted their weapons as I turned. They were no match for my strength, and they knew it. With a single swipe, I sent them flying, their cries of pain echoing through the hallway. Every time I got close to the barrier, another guard appeared to get in my

way.

They were on her side.

They were a danger.

Kill them.

Kill them all.

I snarled and struck. A man cried out as my claws ripped through his armor.

Just as I was about to attack the barrier again, a'familiar voice echoed through the hallway.

"Tsuneo!" Doctor Shang shouted, breathless and coming closer. 'Stop! Everyone back him. Get the injured back!"

way from away

I swung around to glare at him. My mind knew who he was, but I could feel myself prepared to attack him. He lifted the healer's kit at his side.

"If you don't let me help her, she'll die. I need you to calm down and step back. You know who I am. You know I mean you no harm. You know, I mean her no harm. Let me help her, Tsuneo... Come back to yourself..."

I tried, I really did, but all I could do was hold myself still. The energy was heaving and wilder than it had ever been before. He approached slowly. I watched every movement as he drew closer

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to the barrict. He lifted his hands and the miasma inside the barrier started to condense and shrink. I felt part of me start to relax, but I was still on edge. The guards cried out in pain as their comrades dragged them away.

Then, the barrier broke. Before I could surge forward to take Morgan into my arms, I felt a sharp pain in my head, as I had been hit hard. My body went boneless. I fell to my knees, my vision blurring. The world around me seemed to fade away, replaced by a swirling vortex of darkness.

The last thing I remember was Morgan's voice. My eyes burned with a helpless, pained desire. I was tossed about in memories that were and weren't mine. A woman with Morgan's gentle eyes stared back at me from within a deathly pale face.

If she was gone... I could only hope that my father had the sense to kill me rather than let me

wake.