The Devil's Cursed Witch

Just a moment ago, everyone was looking at the couple standing before them, anticipating a divine beast to mark a female. They watched in awe as Morpheus and Ember talked with each other.

"Do you trust me?" they heard Morpheus ask Ember, to which she nodded, "I do."

"It will hurt, but I know you are strong enough to endure it."

Everyone held their breath, expecting him to sink his teeth into his mate's flesh.

Morpheus looked at her beautiful face, her eyes meeting his. His right hand, which had moved her hair behind her shoulder, now held a beautiful golden feather. It shone beautifully like a divine artifact, the end of its stalk pointed. Ember could hardly take a proper look at it when his hand moved, and he stabbed the pointed end of the feather into her heart, making her groan in the immense pain she had ever felt.

Her entire face red, her eyes teary, she looked at him, feeling puzzled, her mind unable to process anything. This pain was a hundred times worse than the pain she felt when Draven marked her.

It all happened in the blink of an eye, so quickly that no one could understand what Morpheus was up to, nor they had the chance to stop him.

With surprised gasps from everyone, Draven who opened his eyes and was shocked as well, watched a golden feather stabbed right in Ember's heart as Morpheus' hand let it go.

The next moment golden feather turned into gold-colored sparkles and was absorbed into Ember's heart entirely, leaving no trace of its existence behind.

Ember was about to lose consciousness, but Morpheus held her immediately. Her delicate body slumped against his as his hands firmly wrapped around her, holding her steady.

He swallowed hard, feeling the guilt of causing her this pain, but it was necessary, and he knew she would survive it. This pain now was better than the pain she would feel later if he had to sink his teeth into her flesh to mark her. He ignored the shocked reactions of others and his uncle's angry voice, focusing only on the woman in his arms, feeling comforted to hold her like this after so long.

Since the moment he woke up, returning from his death, he had longed for her, wished to hold her, inhale her sweet scent, but all he had to do was push her away. It hurt him as much as it hurt her, but now, he didn't have to pretend anymore.

He could be with her forever without letting anything happen that she never wished to. Though it meant he had done something forbidden and would be punished for breaking another rule. But he was thankful he would be punished by the king or elders and not by some darkness in hell.

"Morpheus?" Agraleus called him again, "What's the meaning of this?"

Morpheus turned to face everyone. "All of you didn't want me to die and didn't want her to leave. You all wanted us to be mates, so I did what was best, to fulfil all those wishes of yours. Now she and I are mates. You can punish me for committing a forbidden act, but I do not regret what I did. She is more important to me than anything else, and her wishes matter to me."

Agraleus, angry, was about to say more, but Elder Halifax stopped him. "We cannot revert what he has done. No use in getting angry."

Agraleus swallowed his anger, which originated from his worry for Morpheus, but he knew Halifax was right, so he kept quiet.

Morpheus turned to Draven, who seemed lost in the situation. "Draven."

The red-eyed man came back to his senses and went to Morpheus, understanding why he had called for him. Draven lifted Ember in his arms to take her back to the palace, while Morpheus was ready to leave.

"You have to come with us," Draven told him before the eagle could fly away. "You need to be by her side."

"She will be fine even without me. She is strong," Morpheus said, hurrying to leave before the strength he got from Aureus drained away.

After making such a decision and showing himself strong in front of everyone, he didn't want them to see him in his most vulnerable state. He didn't welcome pity from anyone.

"It's not for her. It's for your sake," Draven insisted, his words turning into an order. "And you are coming with me."

Ignoring him, Morpheus tried to open his wings, but before they could fully extend, they suddenly disappeared. Before he could fall to the ground, an invisible power surrounded him and held him in the air, unconscious. It was Evanthe's powers. She walked forward and told Draven, "I will bring him. Don't worry."

Draven nodded before disappearing with Ember, followed by Evanthe, who disappeared with Morpheus, leaving everyone behind, puzzled about what to do as another rule was broken. No one wished to punish Morpheus, but rules were meant to be followed.

Draven appeared inside Ember's bedchamber and gently laid her on the bed. Soon after, Evanthe appeared with Morpheus, using her powers to hold his unconscious body. Draven stepped away and made space on the bed so Evanthe could lay Morpheus down.

Once done, Evanthe sighed as she looked at Morpheus' unconscious form next to Ember. "Even after centuries, he never changed. Always unpredictable with his actions, and never fails to surprise and anger us. His desire of protecting others had always caused him harm. Why is he like this?"

Draven remained quiet, not knowing what to say.

Evanthe turned restless. "Are you going to follow the rules and punish him? He did it for your sake and especially for Ember's sake. She won't be forced by the pull of a bond to be intimate with him."

Draven didn't answer; he had nothing to say at this moment. He simply picked up the blanket and covered both of them to sleep comfortably.
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Evanthe understood Draven's dilemma. He knew why Morpheus did it and that Draven didn't wish to punish him.

Evanthe walked ahead and checked Ember's pulse. "Your mate is strong enough to withstand this. She will wake up soon." She then checked Morpheus' pulse. "He should be fine once Ember bears his mark on her body and they are connected by the bond. With her by his side at this moment, he shall not face any torment."

Draven quietly nodded. "I will keep watch on him."

"I am staying here as well," Evanthe declared. "You are not alone in this."

Draven didn't reject her offer. Evanthe was his close confidant who had seen all his sides, and he had nothing to hide from her.