Chained to old wounds

CH5

Tsuneo

I waited until the doors were shut, and I could no longer hear her thoughts. Only then did I open my eyes. Morning had painted the realm’s sky a shimmering blue behind the jade and gold and cast pale light over the land. I sat up, setting my jaw. I hadn’t slept at all, but I felt more rested than I had in years. I looked over at where the woman had slept, my ill–gotten wife, and I smirked.

Last night had stirred more emotions in me than I had ever anticipated. I was intrigued, amused, and utterly… fascinated by her. I almost wished I had asked her name. There was no denying that she’d come from the human realm. The scent of their forests and mountains and pain lingered on her. She’d faced the Trial. I could still smell burning flesh in her short hair. She’d been terrified, but her thoughts had been logical, precise, and defiant. If I had had the strength, I would have delved deeper than just the surface, but I had a feeling I wouldn’t have found much different.

Her defiance, her cool–headedness, and her wit were charming. I was used to people bowing and. scraping, used to people not hiding their thoughts when they entered my room. I’d seen inside many people, yet I had never felt a mind like hers.

I had never met a human like her, either. My kind and the beings of my realm were all familiar to me, slotting into the pecking order of our world. They lived so long that they were often bored on the inside. The last humans I’d encountered had been like glass containing a low–burning fire. Their thoughts were quick, shallow, and base.

My wife’s mind felt more like lightning and hurricanes over a vast sea. It was odd. A mystery I would have plenty of time to solve. I rubbed my fingertips against my palm. I could feel the phantom warmth of her face beneath my hand. My whole body seemed all too aware of everywhere we’d touched last night. The softness of her body beneath mine had made my head spin and set a strange, yearning ache in me. Her closeness had been a blessing and torture all night.

I set my jaw, remembering the last thought she’d had before she’d gone to sleep. Who was Ren? A man, I presumed. A lover, most likely. She was well of age, as far as I could tell, and too beautiful not to have been courted in the human realm. A jolt of unfamiliar possessiveness, a primal growl deep within my chest, surprised me. I’d have to find out who this Ren was and deal with her thoughts of him sooner rather than later.

Dragons were possessive creatures. We didn’t share.

The silence of the room was shattered by the tell–tale footsteps coming toward my room. It was Doctor Shang. He was alone. He entered quickly and shut the door behind him before locking it.

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CHS

His eyes fell on me, full of concern. I smirked at his formal attire.

“That can’t be for me. The Elders must have summoned you.”

He nodded stilly. “Yes. They wanted my… opinion on the developments. How are you feeling?”

I cocked an eyebrow. “Is there a reason you are so worried? Fearing for my modesty?”

1 laughed. “She is no Ari.”

He grimaced. “She’s a human woman with no reason to…abide by the rules of polite society.”

“Because she’s my wife or because she’s a captive?”

“Both.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle, the sound rough in my throat. It wasn’t often that I got to speak with my voice these days.

“I am alive and well. Just wrestling with…interesting developments.”

“Interesting?” He echoed, a brow raised. “Explain yourself. What did she do?”

I snorted. “Be incredibly attractive, apparently despise me with a burning passion, and obediently stay as far away from me as possible. If she’d had the energy, she would have slept on the

dresser.”

I sighed. “Some wedding night. Though we have gained quite the asset, I think.”

Doctor Shang huffed. “When the time comes for you to have an actual wedding night, I’m sure it will be everything you want and more. Now, let me have a look at you.”

I lifted my arm, offering it to him so he could check me over. He murmured to himself, but I knew what he would say.

“The effects…. Have lessened a great deal since yesterday.” He glanced at me. “I assume that is what you meant by her being an asset?”

“Yes.”

Do you think she’s a halfling?”

“It’s been centuries. I don’t think so, but perhaps a descendant.” I shrugged. “Though, I need you to look into something. Father still has the records on all those he’s summoned for the Trial,

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CH5

right?”

He nodded.

“I need you to look into her for me or bring the records here. I want to know who this Ren she was thinking of is… and if you could be in the room when I speak to her next.”

Doctor Shang’s eyes widened in surprise. “You revealed the truth to her? But Tsuneo, we’re so close to narrowing down the traitor! Why jeopardize it?”

I waved a dismissive hand. “Relax, Doctor. My wife is no fool. If anything, she adds another layer of security. Besides, I doubt she could understand half of what we discuss anyway. She is still riding the effects of passing through the Trial. You know that the assimilation of our language will become more difficult as time goes

The doctor seemed unconvinced, but he nodded.

“If you believe it for the best, I’ll-”

A jarring clang echoed through the palace. I gasped. My eyes widened. I got onto my knees in bed, listening for the clang again. The jade gong was ringing.

“That’s impossible.”

Doctor Shang looked just as stunned as I was. Disbelief clawed at me. It couldn’t be. I leaned wer to press my hand to the wall of the palace, expanding my senses through the building.

“Tsuneo, you’re too-” I held up a hand for him to be quiet and listened.

In the foyer, I could hear and see my father, my brother, the Elders, and the serving girl my wife called Maya, panicking. The knights were rushing toward the gate, but they were repelled and pushed back into the foyer.

I got out of bed and stood in front of the window, careful to keep myself out of sight. I saw people scurrying around, panicking below. I felt the palace changing as the sky’s shimmering blue was threaded with jade and gold: the colors of the queen.

It had not been that color since my mother died, and the veil closed forever.

“Tsuneo…” Doctor Shang whispered. “I…”

“Her name,” I said, smiling up at the sky, wondering if my mother was seated on a cloud, watching the show with that amused and knowing twinkle in her eye.

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