Chained to old wounds

CH19

Tsuneo

“My father is a grieving man.”

“So Keiji said. I need a little more than that.

My thoughts drifted back to the fateful day 1 fell ill. The news of my mother’s murder had plunged the realm into mourning, a thick shroud of grief hanging heavy in the air. Days blurred into a haze of whispered condolences and endless funeral rites.

Then came the fever, the agonizing grip of chills that left me shivering despite the oppressive heat. My vision blurred, the world morphing into a nightmarish kaleidoscope of colors. The last thing I remembered before succumbing to the darkness was the worried faces of my father, Maya, and Doctor Shang’s voice coming from across the room.

Waking up, days, or perhaps weeks later, to find myself a prisoner in my own body was a terrifying experience. My once–powerful limbs felt like lead weights, my voice a hoarse croak. I could feel Doctor Shang and Maa fussing around me and my father’s constant presence, but only my mind was awake. I’d known then that I had been poisoned. With what, I had no idea. The more pressing question was, by whom?

“I agree.” 1 blinked and pulled out of my thoughts. “Figuring out who will likely tell you the how and why. Though, do you have a good guess?”

My mind raced, piecing together fragments of conversations, scrutinizing the faces of advisors and nobles who had flocked to the palace in the wake of my mother’s death. Greed, ambition, and a thirst for power – these were the undercurrents that ran through the opulent halls of the palace, a darkness lurking just beneath the gilded surface.

Then, I frowned. I hadn’t spoken to her, hadn’t said a word. She’d felt my thoughts. I shivered at the heat that rushed through me at the realization. Our connection, the tie the heavens had looked around us and the Phoenix had blessed, was growing stronger as her connection to the palace grew. Water sloshed beyond the door.

“I have a short list, but I’m curious about your thoughts on it.”

“I’ll let you know after the dinner.”

“How about a crash course on court politics?”

“Useful… Do I have something to wear for this? Tell me I don’t have to wear that heavy stuff

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again?”

I laughed. “You, my queen, can wear whatever you want.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

I started by explaining the court: the Imperial family, Ari’s place as a ward, and the rank of consorts and concubines attached to my father.

“What happens if he dies?”

they’d be returned home,” I said. “Those without imperial children anyway. I would move the

rest of them to their own wing.”

“Motive. Ending you would keep their benefactor on the throne longer… maybe give them time to have a kid to take your place.”

I blinked. I had never considered that, but I could see her point.

“In that case, don’t eat anything not on a jade plate.”

“Meaning?”

“They’re made by the spirits of life. They cannot hold anything harmful to the person eating from

them.”

“Jade and gold, really a thing over here.”

“They are the colors of the queen, the heart of the empire.”

“… your father loved your mother, didn’t he?”

“He still does.”

“Is there… any hope of her coming back?”

I frowned. “What?”

“With all this talk about being blessed by the Phoenix, I thought… resurrection was a thing,

perhaps.”

I blinked. My brain was a mess. Hope, confusion, doubt, and so many other things rushed through me. Had I been wrong about my father’s condition? Perhaps he wasn’t hanging on for me, but he was hanging on because my mother, in some fashion, was still alive. I’d have to check somehow.

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CH19

the

There had never been any records of a resurrection of that manner. Returning the way Phoenix did was something different; it was believed that every queen shared a soul in some way et was at least connected.

“I have no idea…” I smiled.” has anyone told you that you have a beautiful mind?”

I felt the rush of her embarrassment. Apparently, my wife liked compliments.

“I like to consider all the possibilities… Are there people who will want to keep the veil closed?”

“No, but they will want to keep you from opening it.”

Keiji’s hostility was only the beginning.

They won’t touch you, I growled, a fierce possessiveness coloring my voice. “As long as I’m around, I won’t let anyone harm you.”

She laughed. “From inside your room?

“Of course not… I could hardly rip someone apart from inside my room.”

She laughed again, and the sound of her voice warmed me. There was a beat of silence, the slosh

of water, and footsteps before the bathroom door opened. I looked up, and my mouth went dry.

Her eyes sparkled with mischief. She was soaking wet and wrapped only in a drying cloth.

By all the fires of the world….

She was beautiful and wet. The curves of her body were clearly outlined beneath the towel. My hand twitched to pull her down into my lap. I could almost taste the sweetness of her mouth. The fantasy of it stormed through my mind as if she was already there, as if my tongue was already licking into her mouth. How long had it been since I’d enjoyed a woman?

“Don’t underestimate me, Tsuneo,” she said, her voice firm. “I can take care of myself. But,” she continued, her voice softening. “I do need clothes that same queen and daughter–in–law. Think you can help me out with that?”

I said nothing for a moment, staring at her. All thoughts of putting clothing on her were gone. All 1 wanted to do was rip the towel off and see exactly what my wife looked like beneath it. To claim that which was mine by right the way the dragon in me had been demanding since that first

night.

“Tsuneo?”

1 rose onto my knees getting close enough that I could feel the heat from the bath radiating from

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her body. I could smell her clean skin and the hint of musk that was all her. She stumbled back

with a gasp.

“Tsuneo?”

I rose to my feet, looking down at her. It must have been on my face how much her appearance was affecting me because she stared up at me. Her eyes were wide and a little fearful. Her breathing picked up like she thought I was going to pounce on her. A faint blush crept up Morgan’s neck, and her eyes darkened. I could almost feel the heat of her skin on my tongue. For a moment, we simply stared at each other. The tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Desire flared in me, a primal heat that surprised me with its intensity. I reached out to her and stopped when she flinched back. I saw the flicker of fear that crossed her face, and shame washed over me. Keiji had said or done something more than just grab her, and she was still reeling in the effects of it, yet here I was, salivating over the thought of tasting her skin.

I retracted my hand, stepped back, and forced myself to tear my gaze away from her.

“I certainly can.” An idea came to mind. “I have just the thing.”

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