Chained to old wounds

The Dragon King’s Substitute Bride

CH4

The only thing I could think was where had he been hiding the knife?

I glanced toward the door. Was Maya still outside? Wouldn’t she come to check on me? Then, the fear started to turn to anger. Hundreds of years of young women being taken from their homes and forced through the Trial, and he was perfectly, actively awake. I narrowed my eyes up at him, glaring.

I should have let him stay dirty.

“Nod, if you understand me.”

He glared at me. The colors of his eyes shifted with some emotion I couldn’t name. I nodded. stiffly, suppressing the urge to bite his hand. He didn’t move, though, still breathing softly and hovering over me. His braid started to unravel, spilling his hair over his shoulder in a thick wave. The scent of it hit me. It smelled like lilies.

Someone had been washing him all this time. He’d probably just gotten bathed before I passed through the gate. I could have kicked myself, but there was still the question of what that darkness was and how long it would take before I could make my escape.

I lay there waiting for him to figure out what he was going to do. Given that he spent a lot of time just lying in bed all day, you’d think he’d had enough time to contemplate what he’d do if passed through the Trial.

He cocked an eyebrow at me. “You think very plainly.”

anyone

I frowned at him. What the hell did that mean? More importantly, why the hell should I care?

“You aren’t…” He leaned closer, thrusting his nose toward my neck. I turned my head away, trying to get away from him. My heart was in my throat. If it wasn’t for the knife in my side, I would have rammed my knee into his groin already.

He pulled back. His eyes were brighter.

“You will not touch me again. If you must sleep, you’ll do it elsewhere.”

I rolled my eyes. Did he really think that I wanted to be here? If he was awake all this time, he hadn’t been listening to a damn thing I said. I frowned. Maybe… he hadn’t been awake all this time. I searched his face, but he huffed.

“You’re smart for a human. The last one I met had the sense to be terrified.”

1/4

CFLE

He looked toward the door. “Who is Maya?”

He didn’t know his own staff?

“Mayara…..” He huffed and glanced left and then right, searching for something.

“It seems there is no other option.” He looked down at me. “You will not touch me. They will come get you in the morning.”

He removed his hand and sat up. “You will tell no one about this.”

I sat up, glaring at him. Why the hell would I listen to him?

He leaned in close, baring a shiny white fang. His eyes flashed, and light rippled through his scales. The darkness that had faded earlier seemed to grow a little, and guilt hit me.

“Because if you do, we will both likely be dead within the week. Mark me, girl. Until this farce of a marriage is over, until the gates are open again, our fates are intertwined.” He sheathed the dagger in his hand and shifted from over me. “Betray me, and I’ll kill you myself.”

Great, a murderous psychopath. Just what I needed. One who could apparently hear my thoughts. I shifted over in bed to the farthest corner, letting him take the spot he’d been in just moments before. Even with him there, there was enough space beside him. I had half a mind to sleep on the floor, but I’d probably freeze.

I eyed the dresser across the room, wondering if it was long enough to fit me. Then, my eyes grew too heavy to keep open. As the last bit of moonlight turned to darkness and I closed my eyes, I pressed my hand to the ridge of the concealed dagger.

Just hold in there, Ren. Just hold on.

The morning came too quickly. I looked over at the

didn’t even have a name for. I’d go with

Fake Sleeper for now. I stared at him, pursing my lips His lips didn’t even twitch. I guessed he had enough practice not to slip up now. I got out of bed, and the door opened. Maya poked her head

in.

“Good Morning, Your Majesty. Congratulations on your nuptials

“I’d rather you never say that again and get me out of here sooner than later.”

I walked out of the room. “Next time, I think cold water should do. lee cold.”

“Your Majesty, you shouldn’t say such things.”

2:4

CH4

“Then, let Ari do it

Maya sighed. I got back to the room, tossing off the stupid robes and pacing. The terror from the night before, his warning, all swirled through my mind. Then, I noticed Maya was digging through

the closet.

“What are you looking for?”

“I have to prepare you to meet with the Imperial Elders.” She looked back. “I’ve been told that His Majesty will be in attendance.”

“Who?”

“The Dragon King,” she said.

I blinked. “The man in a coma?”

“Oh, no! He is the crown prince. His Majesty is the reigning king.”

“So he’s who I have to thank for being scared to death. Noted.”

I let her get me out of the clothes from the night before. I didn’t like these any more than the set from before. The colors were all the same, and the robes were heavy. Instead of their concealed. dagger, I brought the one my father had gifted me.

When she was satisfied, we headed out to meet the guards and march toward the hall. I didn’t even make it there as we were met with a royal procession in the foyer that looked all too familiar.

The gate was there, just to the left of me. Even in this stupid robe, I could probably make it if 1 just bided my time.

The old men stopped several paces away from me and stared at me as if they couldn’t understand how I was there. But there was one man among them who was much younger. His scales were in the same places as Fake Sleeper. He leered at me, and there was something in his eyes that told me he knew something I had no interest in finding out.

The old man with the crown stared at me with the coldest expression I’d ever seen. His scales were an antique copper. It took everything in me to glance at Maya curiously.

“A Queen has come,” he said. “And my son-”

“Still asleep,” I said.

“Maybe that means that she was meant for me, not Tsuneo, Father,” the younger man said, sliding

3/4

CH4

closer to me. He reached out to touch me. “It would be a waste to-”

I pulled my sword, holding it under his neck.

“I have been taken from my home, forced to walk through a death trial, and locked in a room with a man in a coma all in the last twenty-four hours.” I glared at him. “I’m not in the mood to humor your pickup lines.”

He stepped back, though he smirked. “Fiesty.”

They had no idea.

Before anyone could speak, I turned on my heels and darted toward the gateway. I heard no one behind even move until I had already reached it and strode right through it as if it were air.

The last thing I heard was the old man’s voice.

“After her!”

Chapter Comments

Magna V Sixty-Five

feisty he says….lol

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The Dragon King’s Substitute Bride

CH5

Tsuneo