Chained to old wounds

CH38

Morgan

He carried me out of the bathroom and into the familiar comfort of his bedroom. Laying me down on the plush bed, he disappeared for a moment, returning with a soft silk robe. “Here,” he said, his voice gruff, “put this on.”

I struggled to sit up, the exhaustion a heavy weight in my limbs. He helped me slip into the robe, the silky fabric a soothing caress against my raw skin. With a final, reassuring squeeze to my hand, he stepped back towards the door. “I’ll wait outside until you’re dressed,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “Just call if you need anything.

Relief flooded me. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, I was grateful for his understanding. Taking a shaky breath, I fumbled with the robe, tying the sash with clumsy fingers. A shiver ran down my spine despite the warmth of the room. The vulnerability of the situation, combined with the lingering fear, left me feeling exposed. the bruising was already starting to change colors and spread. It all ached. I was pretty sure I hadn’t broken anything.

Taking a deep breath, I called out, my voice hoarse, I’m ready, Tsuneo.”

The door creaked open a sliver, and Tsuneo peeked in, his eyes searching mine. He held a large towel in his hand, and relief washed over me. He wasn’t looking for anything more than to help, and he looked like he’d rinsed off the blood on him and ditched the bloody robe. I hadn’t even noticed before.

With a curt nod, he entered the room. He moved with practiced efficiency, gently drying my hair with the soft towel. The simple act, the warmth radiating from his body so close to mine, sent a wave of warmth through me. Shame threatened to resurface, but I pushed it down. This wasn’t the time.

When my hair was dry, a knock sounded on the door. He went to get it and came back with medical supplies, food, and Maya. He left Maya to check my injuries. Maya wrapped my ribs and helped me crawl back under the covers, the cool sheets a welcome contrast to the heat of the bath.

I’m glad you’re safe,” she said with a smile. She left and Tsuneo came back. He settled himself beside me, sitting on the bed, pulling the comforter up over me.

“Think you can eat a bit?”

I tried for a bit of bread, but I couldn’t get through much.

CH38

“Rest,” he murmured, brushing his thumb across her cheek. “You have much to recover from.”

I closed my eyes again, a sigh escaping my lips. But before I could fully drift off, I saw Keiji’s face. 1 opened my face.

“W–Will you stay with me?”

He smiled and nodded.

He climbed into bed. His arm came around my waist, pulling me close, his warmth a comforting shield against the lingering chills.

“You did well, Morgan,” he murmured, his voice a soothing rumble in the quiet room. “Braver than you know.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to spill over. But before I could succumb to them, he spoke again. “Rest now,” he said, his voice firm yet gentle. “I’m here. I won’t let anything happen

to you.

His words, a promise laced with tenderness, were a balm to my weary soul. The exhaustion from the ordeal finally claimed me, the tension draining from my body. As I drifted off to sleep, nestled safely in his arms, the fear slowly receded, replaced by a fragile sense of security. For the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, I was finally safe..

Tsuneo

Sleep eluded me. Morgan lay nestled against my side. She was safe, but the events of the night still echoed in my mind. Keiji had died too easily. The ramifications of his demise, the political fallout from the deaths of so many Elders, stretched before me like a treacherous path. Sleep, even for a moment, felt like an indulgence I couldn’t afford.

A whimper escaped Morgan’s lips, a tremor running through her body. She seemed to be reliving the night. My heart ached for her, for the fear etched onto her beautiful face even in slumber. Gently, I brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead, whispering reassurances that only I could hear.

The heat of her body pressed against mine, her scent was a heady mix of lavender and fear. The fear, raw and primal, was a stark contrast to the arousal I might have felt under different circumstances. Tonight, there was only a fierce protectiveness, a primal urge to shield her from the nightmares that haunted her sleep.

Humming a lullaby my mother used to sing to me, stroked her hair in a slow, rhythmic pattern. The melody seemed to seep into the very fabric of the room. Distantly, I heard a faint echo of the

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CH38

tune, perhaps from a guard changing shifts, a maid tidying a room. The sound, unexpected and welcome, wove itself into my lullaby, creating a comforting harmony.

1 realized soon after that it was the palace singing the lullaby… as if my mother were here still.

Slowly, Morgan’s breathing evened out, the tension draining from her body. The fear that had clung to her like a shroud seemed to dissipate with each passing moment. Finally, sleep claimed me as well, the weight of the kingdom momentarily forgotten as I held my wife close.

Hours later, a sliver of golden sunlight speared through a gap in the curtains, painting a luminous stripe across Morgan’s face. She stirred in my arms, a soft sigh escaping her lips. My eyes fluttered open, and I watched, mesmerized, as she blinked sleepily at the light. The vulnerability etched on her face, the residue of the night’s terrors clinging to her like cobwebs, sent a jolt of protectiveness through me.

She shifted slightly, her body a warm‘ weight against mine. A blush crept up her cheeks as she realized the closeness, and she began to pull away, the movement tentative, almost shy. But before she could fully disentangle herself, I reached out, my fingers brushing against the soft skin

of her arm.

The air crackled with unspoken emotions. Gratitude shone in her eyes, a luminous echo of the relief that flooded me at her safety. The trauma of the morning seemed to echo and hum around us. The silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken words and a newfound intimacy.

Then, as if drawn by an invisible force, I leaned closer. The scent of lavender and something that was all her filled my senses. It was intoxicating, a potent mix that fueled a desire I hadn’t anticipated. My gaze drifted to her lips, soft and inviting in the morning light.

I hesitated waiting for her to recoil, to withdraw. A flicker of doubt crossed my mind. Was I moving too fast? Was I taking advantage of her vulnerability? It felt likely, but I couldn’t pull myself away. I stayed just where I was, searching her face for some sign of a rejection, but she didn’t flinch or pull back. Her eyes darted down to my lips and darkened as her gaze met mine again. The dam seemed to break. I closed the remaining distance between us, my lips meeting hers in a kiss that was both desperate and tender.

The Dragon King’s Substitute Bride

named queen, Lady Ari.”

“All in good time.”

The silence stretched between them. Finally, Tsuneo rounded the corner, running into Ari and her maid..

“Brother Tsuneo!” She cried throwing herself at him. He hugged her lightly and pat her head.

“Ari. Where are you headed?”

“To attend you, of course!” She said. “You’ve been asleep for so long. I know you’ll require assistance with–”

His expression went cold. Walls seemed to rise around him, the warmth in his expression was gone.

“If I had such needs, I have a wife perfectly capable of attending to me, and I do not. It is my wife who needs attending.”

Ari’s eyes widened in surprise. “Well… my duty is to you, as the Crown Prince.”

“Your duty as a subject is to my wife as well,” he countered.

“Well… What about me?” She asked, pouting. “I’ve known you longer.”

“You are my dearest sister,” he said. She flinched. “And now that I am married, my duty is to my wife. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to see my father. And you should be attending to your own duties.”

The palace walls seemed to hum with amusement, a silent echo of my own satisfaction. Ari, his face flushed with indignation. “My duty is to attend you.”

“No, Ari. That is my wife’s duty.”

Chapter Comments

Tammy Bunder

Just how delusional in this girl?