CH83
Tsuneo
How much longer would it be? Had it been minutes? Hours? Every second of not feeling her presence felt like an eternity. This was maddening. How had my father hung on all these years? I <b>paced </b>the chamber, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn’t help but feel anxious. This was the heart of the kingdom, the heart of the pce. This was literally the safest ce Morgan could be in our entire realm. And yet, I did <b>not </b>feel that she was safe because she wasn’t here. Morgan’s <b>absence </b>felt like a vold that seemed to consume everything.
I turned to my father, his gaze fixed on the gate where the statues had not moved again, still blocking the way.
“Father,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “What’s happening?”
He <b>didn’t </b>respond, his eyes still fixed on the portal. I <b>reached </b>out, my hand resting gently on his shoulder.
“Father,” I repeated, my voice filled with a mixture of concern and fear.
He turned to me, his eyes filled with a strange intensity.
–
“Sit down,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. We should <b>talk </b><b>as </b>it seems that your mother has quite a bit to say to your wife.”
1 hesitated, my mind racing. What did he mean by that<b>? </b>
I sat down, my heart pounding in my chest. As I looked at my father, a sense of unease overtook me. He was acting strangely, his behavior filled <b>with </b>a mixture of anticipation and dread. The golden scales on his neck seemed duller and patchier than ever. A part of me knew he wasn’t just shedding them, per se
“Tsuneo,” he began, his voice filled with a
with a sense of urgency. “You must tell me the truth.”
My <b>heart </b>skipped a heat. The truth? What truth?
“About <b>what</b><b>?</b>” <b>I </b>asked, my voice barely a whisper.
He hesitated, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and determination.
“About your reluctance to take the throne.”
I went still. That was thest thing I wanted to talk about.
Morgan
I found myselfughing. Haruka was such a character, and it was nice that she didn’t actually hate me. I’d heard plenty of horror stories about mother- inws. Haruka’s eyes were filled with a mixture of amusement and curiosity, regarded me with <b>a </b>knowing glint.
“You and Tsuneo, she began, her voice filled with a yful litt. “When do you two n on giving the kingdom an heir?”
My gut twisted, and I shook my head.
“I have no intention of having children.”
“Well, what about the baby–making part?” She blinked. “The fun part, that is. Tsuneo was always quite popr, so I know he knows what to do, <b>and </b>yet…
My jaw dropped, and sheughed. “What <b>are </b>you—-
“I read your life force, darling. I know you and my son <b>have </b>had an… interesting marriage <b>so </b><b>far</b><b>. </b>You need advice? A woman’s perspective on it? I can tell <b>you </b>want him, or at least, you are starting to warm to the idea.
My face burned, and I sipped. I never thought about it like that. Would talking to her about it make me feel morefortable with the idea, or was that just hopebal thinking? I’d never talked to anyone about… of any nature, I didn’t really see the need to since I was never nning to get married, — and the guys in town were… less than interesting.
Harukaughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Im only teasing, but if you want <b>advice</b>, I’ve got a few things to share,” she replied, her voice filled with a yful tone. As for the kids, it would probably be best that you didn’t try. A ck dragon cannot have kids of his own.”
Tsuneo said that as well, but do you know if that’s supposed to mean literally?”
She frowned.
<b>“</b>That’s a good question. I’m not entirely <b>sure</b>. That might be a question you’ll have to ask him. Even if it’s not a literally, it would be for the best.
“Why?”
She smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. “You’ve only been in his arms for a short time, so you don’t know what he’s like. Possessive protective. Outright dangerous in the right circumstances. All dragons are protective of those they consider their treasure. Family and all that,” she replied, her voice filled with a mixture of amusement and concern. “Imagine the <b>chans </b>he would cause safeguarding you and your children?” She shook her head. “He’s already stressing himself out enough about being crown prince, The stress of worrying about his children always being under attack. He’d probably level the entire pce within a week‘
My jaw dropped. ‘Level the pce?”
She nodded. <b>“</b>And probably bring the whole realm to a grinding halt.”
??
I didn’t know he was at powerful.”
She sighed, “I don’t think his father has really talked to him about it yet. There aren’t a lot of ck dragons born into the royal family. There’s no real cosmic need for it. It would be best not to talk to him about it right now. He already <b>fears </b>so much about being the ck Dragon. He doesn’t need to know how deep his destructive power goes.”
She <b>took </b><b>a </b>deep breath. When I realized that <b>he </b>was a ck dragon, I knew that there was something on the horizon that needed him. I hope you’re prepared for it. I hope <b>we’re </b><b>all </b>prepared for it.” She bit her lip.
My heart burched. Prepared for… what exactly?”
She beamed. “That’s the fun part. I have no idea! But if you’re worried about it being alright, that’s probably not the case… It’s much, much bigger <b>than </b>
that.”
“Then it would be nice to have all the support possible.”
Her eyes turned misty. I agree.”
“Why are you here?” I asked. “You’re not exactly dead, are you?”
She smiled, a bittersweet expression crossing her face.
“I wasn’t ready to leave him, she replied, her voice barely a whisper. “Not yet.” All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.
“Your husband?” I asked<b>, </b>my eyes widening in surprise.
She nodded, her eyes filled with a mixture of love and sadness.
“He is the love of my life,” she replied, her voice filled with a sense of longing. “But I couldn’t bear to leave him behind.”
“So youe here?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper
She nodded, her eyes filled with a mixture of determination and hope. “This ce is a limbo, a space between life and death,” she exined. A ce where <b>souls </b>can linger waiting for their time to pass on…Or to return.”
She smiled. “Yes<b>, </b>Only a true phoenix, <b>a </b>woman who has passed the Trial of Fire, can ess this ce, and only a new phoenix’s fire can ignite an old
My heart pounded in my chest. How do 1
int reply yet,” she said, patting my shoulder. And th
‘s nothing you can really do to speed it up either.”
CHAJ
She sighed and looked to her right. And it’s about time I get you back before Tsuneo implodes<b>.</b>”
“When the timees… I’ll bring you back.”
“Thank you,” she said and stood. “Come on. Let’s get you back.”