CH77


    Morgan


    Hiro burst into fresh, heart–wrenching sobs and buried his face in my shoulder, clinging to me. He felt so small in my arms. His sobs were muffled against my shoulder. He trembled, and I couldn’t figure out what to say.


    “Promise me you won’t abandon me,” he cried, his voice filled with desperation. “Promise?”


    I promise<b>,</b>” I whispered, my voice barely audible. <b>Tl </b>always be here for <b>you</b>,”


    As <b>he </b>cried, I couldn’t <b>help </b>but feel a sense of relief. It was a relief to know that he knew. The truth was out, and while it was painful, it was also liberating. At the very <b>least</b>, he’d be able to start processing it all.


    <b>I </b>know it hurts right now, but it will get better. And when you’re free to leave the hospital,” I continued, my voice firm, Tm taking you with me.


    “Taking me with you where?”


    The dragon <b>realm</b>.”


    He gasped and pulled away, his eyes wide with disbelief. “It’s realm?”


    I nodded


    “You’re living in there? Ren, what’s going on?”


    I grinned. “It’s a bitplicated, but what do you think? Do you want toe? Meet my husband? See the pce?”


    His jaw dropped. “You have a husband? But you said that you weren’t going to get married.”


    “Let’s talk about it when you <b>can </b>have cake?” I smiled. I nced over at Kai. “What do you say? A trip? Maybe adopt a little brother on the way<b>! </b>


    <b>Kai </b>flushed and looked down at his feet.


    “Really?” he asked, his voice filled with hope.


    I nodded. “I won’t leave you here,” I replied, my voice firm. We’re family, and we’ll stick together.”


    He smiled, his eyes <b>filled </b>with gratitude. “Thank you,” he whispered. “I think I’d like that a lot.”


    <b>You </b>can’t just take my son,” Goro hissed. “T–


    <b>Before </b><b>I </b><b>could </b>think more about it, I tumed. Snarling, <b>hissing </b>at them. I felt the air heat around me. Their eyes widened, and they jumped back. I saw the light rippling through the air as I brought Hiro closer to me.


    “Stay away from <b>us</b>. You’ve done enough.” I red at them. My husband wanted to kill you for your betrayal. You’re making it more and more of an appealing option by the second.”


    Adele and Goro paled, their eyes wide with fear. Kai’s eyes were <b>wide </b>with awe. I frowned. Then, I realized that there <b>was </b>a strange sensation washing over me. My skin began to tingle, a warmth spreading through my body. I <b>nced </b>at my reflection in the mirror, my eyes widening in shock. My eyes had transformed into a brilliant red–orange, glowing with an otherworldly intensity. Ripples of me–like light danced across my skin, illuminating my features with an unnatural glms, Something like golden scales fluttered and flickered on my neck.


    Then, I remembered Maya’s words, her warning that the Trial would change me. . <b>I </b>had not understood then, but the longer I looked at myself like this, the more it sunk in. I was no longer human.


    Hira sagged against me, his eyes fluttering. He <b>was </b>barely staying awake.


    “Will you stay a little longer?” he asked.


    “Of course, at least until you go to sleep, <b>okay</b>?”


    He nodded, and I gently <b>ced </b>Hiro <b>back </b>in bed, his


    <b>is </b>small body trembling with exhaustion. As he drifted off to sleep. I looked back to where Con and


    CH77


    Adele were still standing. They were <b>clearly </b>terrified, but I didn’t <b>care</b>. They’d put us all through so much for their selfishness. As Kai and I headed out, 1 called for an imperial guard. She was dressed <b>as </b>a purse, but the bowed her head politely.


    “Please stand guard outside the door,” I instructed, my voice firm. To not let anyone is without my permission, especially not Gorn <b>and </b>Adele. He


    needs rest


    The guard nodded, saluting me before taking her position. With a final <b>nce </b><b>at </b>my brother, I led Kai away from the room. My mind racing with thoughts of the future.


    The change should <b>have </b>shocked me, but I felt no danger. By main concern was Adele and Goro. They liked to y the victim <b>and </b>garner attention too much. Hiro’s sudden disappearance, even if I wanted to keep it quiet for his sake, it likely wouldn’t remain quiet. As soon as we got back to the pce, Kal was already nodding off. I put him in bed and shuffled back to the room I shared with Tsuneo. The power and odd sensations continued to course through me. I felt water than usual. By the time I got to the room, I was sweating and desperate to get out of all theyers. 1 was burning <b>up</b>. I couldnt strip fast enough. I rushed to the bathroom and turned the water on cold. The water turned to steam <b>around </b>me. I opened the window and sat under the cold water.


    This wasn’t normal. I felt dizzy, yet no matter how cold I turned, I couldn’t get cooler at all. I felt like I was boiling in my own skin. I panted, my eyes burning.


    Tsuneo<b>! </b>Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I heard the main door open, and hope sparked in me.


    “Morgan?” Tsuneo called out. “Are you alright?”


    1 panted, mping against the wall. “Tsuneo,”


    The door was open a secondter. I couldn’t even be surprised or embarrassed. I saw him dri


    him drifting through the steam


    “Morgan?” He called through the steam. He came in closer quickly, <b>and </b>suddenly, he was leaning <b>over </b>me. He lifted me up, and I sighed, feeling the heat starting to flow out of me. I curled closer to him. He gathered me closer.


    “Are you alright? You..” He growled, lowering his head <b>and </b>burying his nose in my neck. “You smell so  good, darling<b>.</b>”


    “Im so hot,” I <b>said</b>. “You’re really cool…


    He reached out and turned off the water. He scooped me up and carried me toward the tub.


    “How long have you been running so hot?”


    “Since I got back,” I gasped. Tsuneo tumed on the water to fill the tub. He lowered me into the tub gently.


    The cold water felt colder, but it wasn’t getting warmer. Only Tsuneo’s hand on my head was seemingly cooling me down.


    “Any better


    I shook


    head. He cast his hand over the water and it felt like it turned to ice, I sighed, melting into the coolness, though the heat still seemed to be <b>pouring </b>off of me.


    “How <b>was </b>your trip”


    My eyes stung, and looked up at him, sniffling. “H–Hiro woke up.”


    His eyes widened. Thats good, right<b>? </b>Is he okay?”


    I nodded. “He


    going to be okay.”


    “That’s good, bon youre crying? Why?


    I shook my head. “It s… It a soplicated<b>.</b>”


    His eyes softened, and he <b>sank </b>down beside the tub, stroking my hair. He reached into the tub and took my hand. He squeezed my hand, his eyes filled


    with a love


    CH77


    “Why don’t you tell me about it.”


    at to the hospital. I let the tears fall freely, sniffling.


    <b>I </b>sighed, closed my eyes, and started from the beginning when we got


    “Hiro knows that Goro is his <b>biological </b>father now…