The Devil's Cursed Witch

The next day, Draven was ready to leave along with Rhian and his two knights, who were residing at the border camp under Logan's orders. Draven had already explained to Rhian how they would be travelling—teleportation with multiple stops in between so Rhian's human body could bear it. At least two to three days or more; it was going to take that long, depending on how these three humans reacted to it.

As they were standing outside the palace, ready to leave, Rhian couldn't help but give a gentle hug to his sister. "I wish I could stay longer with you."

Ember hugged him back. She didn't find it strange, as in the past few days, after talking to Rhian and spending time with him, she could see her brother in him and found him comforting with his easygoing personality.

Meanwhile, the two beasts were not comfortable seeing their mate hugging some other male. Draven had mastered suppressing his true emotions and stood unaffected, while Morpheus looked utterly restless.

"Ember, he needs to go," Morpheus couldn't help but say. "Last thing I want is for you to smell like a human."

Ember could sense the strong distress within him and smiled awkwardly at her brother, who didn't seem bothered by her mate's reaction.

"Don't worry," Rhian said to her. "I know how these beasts' instincts work, but it's their fault. They can't stop me from showing my affection towards my sister."

Morpheus gritted his teeth and looked at Draven, who acted as if he heard or saw nothing.

"Aren't you taking him already?" Morpheus said to him.

Draven hummed and said to Rhian, "It's time to leave."

Rhian nodded, while Draven looked at Morpheus. "Today, take Ember to the full moon festival in my absence. The rest, I don't need to tell you."

Morpheus looked at Ember, who was waiting to hear his response. As Draven had warned him, he didn't want to hurt her this time and said to her, "We will leave after an hour. It's still too early to go."

She nodded and looked back at Draven, who offered her an assuring gaze.

Just then, someone landed by their side—the divine golden eagle, Aureus.

Rhian couldn't help but be surprised to see that golden, shining man, who looked mesmerizing.

"Aureus," Ember said happily, "Good to see you after so long. Have you recovered entirely?"

Aureus hummed, "I am fine now. I came to visit your brother before he left."

Since the day he had transferred all his essence to Morpheus so the dying eagle could fly and reach Ember to stop her from leaving this kingdom, he had been recuperating in seclusion under the guidance of the witch clan.

"Another of your mates?" Rhian asked.

"No! He is just a friend," Ember immediately declined, before it could irk her mates.

Aureus almost stepped back as he sensed the angry vibes from the two beasts.

"He is my nephew," Morpheus informed Rhian. "And you should think before you talk."

"My apologies," Rhian said. "My sister looked so happy to see him, so... I was mistaken…"

Is this human trying to get me killed? Aureus couldn't help but think.

Draven and Morpheus looked at her to see how happy she was, but Ember immediately concealed her happiness and said, "I was just pleased to see he's fine. Can't I be happy about my friend who was in that situation due to one of my mates."

The two beasts could say nothing to refute her claim. Their mate was right.

Draven and Rhian left, while Morpheus looked at Ember. "I'll come to get you in an hour."

She hummed, and the two eagles flew away.

"Finally, you are going to mate with Ember. I am happy for you," Aureus commented. "I can't wait to have siblings now."

Morpheus didn't comment on it and said, "You better think about yourself. Seren will be here soon."

"I don't have to worry, as I am not bonded to her. But I wonder how you would resist your mate tonight," Aureus commented in a sarcastic tone.

Morpheus frowned and changed the topic. "Are you entirely alright now?"

"How about you confirm it by checking who flies faster?" Aureus said, only to see Morpheus flying ahead of him, challenging him to beat him.

Soon, the uncle and nephew were seen flying at a speed as if they were invisible to the eye.

After an almost hour-long flight, the two eagles stopped at the tallest waterfall in the mountain.

"You're going with your mate. Planning to dive into the holy water?" Aureus asked. "I won't doubt your intentions of coming here."

Morpheus didn't reply and dove straight into the waterfall from the mountain cliff. The water from the fall was drenching him as he cut through the strong force with ease. Soon, he dived deep inside the waterbed, his eyes closed, his mind at peace, having only one thought in his mind:

"Give me strength to resist her tonight."

Aureus followed behind as he thought, "It's been a while since I dived here," and let himself go along with the strong force of the water—cold, calming, and soothing to his soul.

After half an hour, the two eagles emerged from the water, their magical clothes drying on their own, their hair as if it hadn't even touched the water. Both of their bodies emitted a golden aura.

"You seem ready to go to her," Aureus said.

"You can come as well. Many single beasts attend the festival to find a mate," Morpheus offered. "If not Seren, as the king of our clan, you would have to choose a mate for yourself to continue the generation of the golden blood."

"It can continue with yours and Ember's kids. I can be spared from it," Aureus countered.

"There won't be any kids of hers and mine, so you better prepare yourself," Morpheus warned. "You won't be spared from it."

"You already have her as your mate. What's wrong if you mate with her and…?" Aureus asked.

"You won't understand," Morpheus interrupted him. "I need to go to her. If you want, you can come with us. At least come to witness it—to know what it is. One day it will be our clan's turn to host the festival." And he flew away.

Ember was getting ready to leave with Morpheus as Clio and Reya were preparing her.

"You are looking so beautiful, Lady Ember. Lord Morpheus is going to find it difficult to take his eyes off of you," Reya commented.

"Lady Ember is the most beautiful female in the entire kingdom. It's nothing unusual for her to look pretty," Clio added, as both servants were happy for their master.

Ember stood in front of the mirror. Today, she was wearing a dress in a blue-gray shade with fine gold work crafted on it. It matched perfectly with Morpheus's magical clothes. It was clear the dress had been made considering Morpheus as her mate.

To her, she looked nothing special, but as her servants said, she decided to agree with them.

Erlos knocked on the door and informed, "Lady Ember, Lord Morpheus is waiting for you."

Ember went downstairs. As she descended the stairs, Morpheus, who was waiting at the bottom, couldn't help but look at her.

Did she do something different today? She's looking more beautiful than usual… His senses couldn't help but praise her, despite his efforts to keep his mind rational.

Ember met his gaze and could see he found her beautiful as well. Keeping herself calm and not letting the thought of having to mate with him weaken her resolve, she went toward him.

To get rid of any awkwardness and to keep the interaction normal, Ember asked playfully, "How am I looking?"

"As usual, pretty," Morpheus replied as he offered her his hand.

She smiled at his comment and placed her hand in his, feeling an electrifying spark. She looked at him and could see Morpheus had felt it as well, but he acted as if nothing had happened.

"How are we going there?" Ember asked.

"The way I always take you anywhere," he replied.

Ember understood. "That would be easier and faster to reach there. I heard the wolf clan is far from here. I've never been there."

"It's just like any other beast clan—nothing special," he replied.

Clio, Reya, and the other servants watched them. All of them thought how amazing they looked together and could only be happy for them.

As they walked out of the palace, Morpheus let go of her hand and turned to face her.

Ember knew he was going to lift her in his arms, so she stepped closer, let him lift her, and circled her hands around his neck. As usual, as if she weighed nothing, Morpheus flew away, carrying her in his arms.

While flying, she asked, "Where have you been with Aureus?"

"Went to dive in the waterfall," he replied.

"No wonder you're radiating more than usual. Are you planning to turn me blind?" she asked, her tone playfully complaining.

He moved his face down to look at her. "I see you are turning mischievous these days."

"What can I do when you carry that annoyingly cold expression all the time?"

"I don't."

"You do," she insisted. "One of us needs to be playful, so I decided to be the one."

He shook his head in resignation and looked ahead.

"I wish you could be like my old Morph, and not this changed, cold person," she mumbled and buried her face in the crook of his neck to avoid the harsh wind.

Morpheus heard her clearly, but he didn't know what to do either. The efforts of running away from her had turned him into what he was now.

And the biggest trouble- What was he going to do tonight?