The Devil's Cursed Witch

474  Stay Away

Ember saw Morpheus stirring in bed, looking around as if trying to make sense of his current situation.

"Are you awake?" she asked softly as she approached him.

Still dizzy, Morpheus turned his gaze to her, his eyes glowing gold as he watched his mate. Her enticing scent filled his senses, awakening his most primal beast instincts.

"Your hair is gold now," she said with a smile, reaching out to touch his hair, but—

"Ahh… Morph…"

Her hand was grabbed, and with a wild tug, she was pulled beneath him on the bed. Her delicate body was pinned under his, utterly unable to move against his overwhelming strength. Unlike his usual playful nature, he now appeared more feral, as if he had lost all reason. His breathing was heavy, his predatory gaze fixed on her as if he couldn't wait to devour her. His hands gripped her wrists so tightly that it felt as though they could crush them.

"M-Morph, what are you doing?" her voice trembling under his intense gaze.

Seeing the fear in her eyes, Morpheus seemed to realize what he was doing, but the overwhelming urge to be intimate with his mate clouded his thoughts, making it nearly impossible to think of anything else.

Her heart skipped a beat, sensing that something was off. "Morph… are you alright?"

It took every bit of his willpower to keep himself sane and not lose himself to his beastly instincts, not to give in to the call of the bond which only he could feel while his mate felt nothing at all. So unfair, but he had asked for it. But now he realized how unbearable it could be.

Wanting to throw caution to the wind, Morpheus leaned closer to her, his intense gaze locked onto her beautiful face. His eyes lingered on her enticing lips, and his heated breath brushed against her soft skin, making her shiver beneath him.

"M-Morph…"

Her frightened voice once more snapped him back to reality, making him realize what he was doing. He closed his eyes, the veins on his neck and hands bulging as he fought against his beastly instincts. His entire body trembled in resistance.

Ember watched him anxiously. "What's happening to you?"

Morpheus tried to stop himself from breathing, knowing her scent would only make it harder to control his urges. Gritting his teeth, he summoned all his strength and forced himself away from her. His steps were unsteady as he tried to stand, stumbling toward the window.

"Morph," Ember called, getting out of the bed.

"Stay away," Morpheus warned her, struggling to open his wings and escape before it was too late, but his attempts failed miserably.

Ember stayed where she was but asked, "Morph, what's happening? Tell me—I can help you."

"Help?" The word hit him hard. "Anyone but you… Leave... call someone…" he said, his voice filled with pain.

"I'll bring someone. Just wait here," she said, rushing out of the room.

"Reya, Clio!" she called out, and her servants appeared immediately.

"Lady Ember?"

"Get His Majesty immediately!"

"His Majesty is gone."

"Then get someone else—Erlos, Evanthe, or anyone," Ember said impatiently, through gritted teeth.

"I believe someone called my name?" Evanthe appeared just then.

Ember let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly explained, "Evanthe, please check on Morph. He doesn't look well, and he won't let me help him."

Evanthe already knew what was happening. Draven had asked her to stay close in case Ember needed someone.

"Stay here. I'll check on him," Evanthe assured her, leaving an anxious Ember outside the chamber. Ember's mind raced with questions. Did the bond formation go wrong? Is he suffering from the torture of hell? Or is it something else? I hope he's alright.

Inside the chamber, Evanthe found Morpheus struggling to control his powers. She approached him and gently took his hand, surprising him.

"I can take you away this time, but not always," she replied, preparing to use her powers.

"Just do as I say," he growled, his impatience growing as he feared that if he stayed any longer, he would end up going back to Ember, who was just behind that closed door, and he didn't trust himself not to hurt her.

Evanthe quickly cast a teleportation spell, taking him back to his cave. She helped him inside and guided him to sit on his makeshift bed.

She handed him a potion, which he drank without hesitation.

"Feeling any better?" she asked, settling herself beside him.

"Away from her, is better," he replied.

Evanthe rested her face in her palm, her elbow propped on her bent knee. "Tsk! You beasts and your issues."

"You must understand our issues pretty well after spending a night with your own beast," Morpheus remarked.

Evanthe briefly recalled that night with him and sighed. She turned her head toward Morpheus, her expression nonchalant. "If you're that high in heat, I'm a female too. How about I help you calm down?"

Morpheus shot her a sharp glare. "Are you that desperate to sleep with a male? As far as I know, you already have two. Go get them."

Unbothered by his words, Evanthe maintained an innocent expression. "What if I find you more attractive at this moment? A beast trying to suppress his urges is a hot mess. I wonder how it would feel to mess with you. Besides, I'm a beautiful and powerful female, aren't I?"

Morpheus instinctively shifted away from her. "Seems like living among humans has turned you into a pervert."

Evanthe moved closer to him. "Well, I'm a friend, and I can help you. Trust me, you'd like it."

Morpheus shifted away again. "You're not her," he countered, his patience thinning.

She blinked at him playfully. "But I'm a beautiful, unmarked female that every beast in this kingdom desires."

"Certainly not me. Never."

She pulled a mock sad face. "Never? Am I not worthy? That makes me sad."

Morpheus sighed at Evanthe's dramatic behavior and looked at her. "You've always been just a friend. I never—"

Before he could finish, her sad expression shifted back to her usual nonchalant one as she stood up, interrupting him. "You seem normal now. I'm free to leave."

Morpheus realized what she had been doing. She had simply diverted his attention and pulled him out of the turmoil his body was going through. He could finally breathe again, grateful that she had helped him without making it obvious. Otherwise, he would've been tormented for much longer, struggling on his own.

"For your information, I am the soulmate of the most powerful being in this entire universe. No other beast can compare—not even you," she said, pridefully flaunting what she had as she turned to leave.

Morpheus jumped to his feet and playfully back-hugged her, his face resting over her shoulder. "I think I should reconsider your offer, beautiful female."

"Want me to knock you out?" she warned, "Get your hands off me, you pathetic beast."

Morpheus chuckled softly and released her. "Thank you."

"Never mind," she replied coldly and vanished.

I need to stay away from Ember. I just hope she doesn't come looking for me for at least a while now till I get used to it and her presence won't be so unbearable around me.

He lay down on his makeshift bed, staring at the ceiling. 'I wonder how my mate bond mark looks on her body. Will I ever be get to see it?' he sighed helplessly knowing the answer already, 'Seems like never.'