Chained to old wounds

The Dragon King’s Substitute Bride

CH10

Morgan

Crown Prince Fake Sleeper went pale and still mid–snarl, but I kept my eyes on Doctor Shang, He was the most important person right now.

“Doctor Shang?” A muffled voice called from the other side. “I’ve brought His Highness, Prince Keiji, and Lady Ari to see His Highness. Are you nearly done?”

The crown prince’s eyes widened. I put my hand on the doorknob. I locked eyes with him, and he bared his teeth. I held his gaze evenly. He clenched his hands at his sides and started shaking. His cheeks darkened, and his eyes started to glow.

“No, but I can pause here. Have them wait a moment so I can redress him,” Doctor Shang called out. I watched the soft haze around the room shimmer when he spoke.

I’d spent the last two days in the human realm pouring over all the texts after I’d gone to the Ryuyama family vault for the coinage. They’d mentioned privacy barriers, and ho palace, I could cast one on any room inside that only I could manipulate.

The queen is the keeper of imperial secrets.

“Of course, Doctor Shang, please take your time.”

inside the

Fake Sleeper locked eyes with me for a tense moment, then did something unexpected. Baring his teeth in a silent snarl, he retreated back to the bed and took up his usual place on it. With a flick of his wrist, Doctor Shang sent the striking dummy back into the closet and closed the door. Before he stepped to the door, I stopped him and lowered my voice, willing a privacy barrier between the antechamber and Fake Sleeper’s bedroom.

He glanced up and around with shock in his eyes.

I gave him the pages. “If gold won’t do it, perhaps this will.”

He frowned and looked down. His eyes darted over the sheet. He went pale as a ghost before looking back at me. His eyes glossed over. I could see the moment he’d made his decision. He stuck–out his hand, and I gave him my brother’s records. He folded them all and tucked them into pulling up a hood to cover

his robe. I released the privacy barrier and stepped away from the door

my face in case they came in.

He

opened the door just enough to lean out and give them a view of the crown prince still in bed. I closed my eyes, breathing softly and focusing on keeping them from hearing me. Dragonkind

The Dragon King’s Substitute Bride

CH10

Morgan

Crown Prince Fake Sleeper went pale and still mid–snarl, but I kept my eyes on Doctor Shang. He was the most important person right now.

“Doctor Shang?” A muffled voice called from the other side. “I’ve brought His Highness, Prince Keiji, and Lady Ari to see His Highness. Are you nearly done?”

The crown prince’s eyes widened. I put my hand on the doorknob. I locked eyes with him, and he bared his teeth. I held his gaze evenly. He clenched his hands at his sides and started shaking. His cheeks darkened, and his eyes started to glow.

“No, but I can pause here. Have them wait a moment so I can redress him,” Doctor Shang called out. I watched the soft haze around the room shimmer when he spoke.

I’d spent the last two days in the human realm pouring over all the texts after I’d gone to the Ryuyama family vault for the coinage. They’d mentioned privacy barriers, and how, inside the palace, I could cast one on any room inside that only I could manipulate.

The queen is the keeper of imperial secrets.

“Of course, Doctor Shang, please take your time.”

Fake Sleeper locked eyes with me for a tense moment, then did something unexpected. Baring his teeth in a silent snarl, he retreated back to the bed and took up his usual place on it. With a flick of his wrist, Doctor Shang sent the striking dummy back into the closet and closed the door. Before he stepped to the door, I stopped him and lowered my voice, willing a privacy barrier between the antechamber and Fake Sleeper’s bedroom.

He glanced up and around with shock in his eyes.

I gave him the pages. “If gold won’t do it, perhaps this will.”

Her

frowned and looked down. His eyes darted over the sheet. He went pale as a ghost before Jooking back at me. His eyes glossed over. I could see the moment he’d made his decision. He stuck out his hand, and I gave him my brother’s records. He folded them all and tucked them into his robe. I released the privacy barrier and stepped away from the door, pulling up a hood to cover

my face in case they came in.

He opened the door just enough to lean out and give them a view of the crown prince still in bed. I closed my eyes, breathing softly and focusing on keeping them from bearing me. Dragonkind

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CHTO

had a whole host of abilities that others of this realm didn’t, per what the guards on the other

side told me

“Lady Ari, we have talked about this,” he said, exasperated. “And Your Highness, you know that medical examinations like the one His Majesty has requested are complicated and demanding.

“I just wanted to know if he’s okay,” Ari said, almost whining. “Having that human was supposed. to help, then she had the nerve to run off

“One night cannot undo centuries of damage.” Doctor Shang said.

“Can’t we see him?”

Doctor Shang said. “I’m in the middle of the examination.”

Keiji spoke next. “Dad said he planned to come as soon as you’re done. We’ll wait.”

if you feel that wise, but it could be hours. I would advise you to to at least eat dinner Majesty and hope for good news after the meal. If that’s all?” Q

“Yes, Doctor Shang. Do you need anything?”

“If you could send Maya and have her knock when she arrives? That should be all.”

ith His

He stepped back into the room and closed the door. His privacy barrier went up over the door, and he leaned against it, pressing his hand against his chest where he’d tucked the documents.

“Is it true?” he whispered almost too softly to be heard.

“It is. How much time-”

The crown prince leaped out of bed, rushing across the space toward me.

“How dare you?” He snarled at me. “Who do you think you are to attempt to blackmail me? I

warned you, didn’t I-”

“How dare 1? That’s rich! Who do you think you are?” I growled. “You couldn’t watch your food and drink, and thousands of people have suffered for it, and you think you have the high ground

here? You owe me.”

“You should be honored-”

“I’m not!” I screamed. “Why the fuck would I be?”

21:58 Tue, Oct 15 G.

CH10

Fire flickered in the air around him. “You-”

Doctor

Shang jumped in between us, holding up his hands. “Both of you calm down… Tsuneo, you will make your condition worse.”

He growled, pacing on the other side of Doctor Shang, never taking his eyes off of me. I kept my gaze on him, readying myself for when he would lunge. I could see it in his face. He eyed the distance between him, me, and Doctor Shang with his eyes.

Doctor Shang looked back at me. “I hear that you are upset, and you have every right to be, but given the situation, the difference between the records and you does have to be explained.”

“I don’t have to explain a damn thing.” I said softly.

“Your Majesty-”

“What are you going to do if I don’t, hm? Kill me? I wonder how many more centuries it’ll take to

find someone else.”

I glared over Doctor Shang’s shoulder, matching his pacing footsteps. Doctor Shang tried to keep

between us as I snarled.

“Maybe the next one will be for Keiji, and your scales will turn white.”

He snarled. His hand sprouted vicious–looking claws and scales. Ael told me that only happened when dragon kind were completely disgraced. They lost their abilities and were usually sentenced

to exile.

“Your Majesty, where did you hear that?” Doctor Shang asked.

I glanced at him. “Ael.”

Doctor Shang’s eyes softened. “Ael? Imperial Captain Ael?”

I nodded. “He and his unit are stationed in my hometown right now. His communication mirror is how I got back without anyone seeing me. I am the imperial keeper of secrets. There is nowhere in this palace I am not welcome and all that.”

Doctor Shang went still. His eyes were wide, and that’s when the crown prince took his chance. He shoved past Doctor Shang. In a flash, I had my sword out and between us, pressing against his chest, and I was horrified to find his hand wrapped around the blade, but the blade didn’t cut him.

A bright, loud, brittle sound went through the air as he snapped the blade like a twig, and my heart clenched. A wallowing, desperate cry escaped me. My eyes pricked with tears. I couldn’t look

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21:58 Tue, Oct 15

CH10

away from where it had once been.

My father had given me the sword when I’d finished training with him. It was my most prized possession and a relic. I didn’t even know if it could be fixed. My hands shook. Tears streamed down my face. My father’s face flashed through my mind. The sight of him beneath that white sheet, the coffin being lowered into the ground. The air seized and sparked with something I couldn’t name.

Blood roared in my ears. I felt fire and lightning coursing through me. My jaw wobbled. The despair felt heavy, fanning the flames until I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. The world was shaking. . I heard Doctor Shang’s voice talking to me, but I couldn’t look away from the broken

sword.

I looked up at him as he tossed the bulk of the blade over his shoulder with a satisfied smirk. It was too much. I screeched, lunging at him, lifting the rest of the dagger, and aiming for his face.

“I’ll fucking kill you!”

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