The Devil's Cursed Witch novel Chapter 82

“Didn’t I warn you to stay away from her?” Draven seemingly growled.

“I…was…worried for her…” Morpheus managed to speak with his choked voice.

Draven smirked as if he had heard a joke. “Worried for her? You? Weren’t you the one who wanted me to mark her? Weren’t you the one to push my limits? Now, you act as if you care?”

Morpheus didn’t argue and closed his eyes as if he was regretting something.

“Draven,” he called and opened his eyes to look at the red-eyed man. “I am serious.”

“I don’t care. Just stay away from her,” Draven warned once again.

Morpheus didn’t argue as he himself was filled with guilt and simply stayed quiet. His intuition was telling him it was also the best way to calm the rampaging devil.

Seeing him stay still, Draven loosened his grip around Morpheus’s neck, but he warned him before he let him go. “I have marked her—you got what you want. Stay away from her.”

Draven stood up and turned his back on Morpheus, about to leave, when he stopped mid-stride because he heard Morpheus calling him.

“Draven.”

Draven stopped but didn’t turn to look at him.

“When I said I was worried for her, it was not a lie.”

“And when I said stay away from her, it was not a lie either.”

“Ember is a person, not a puppet you can control, and I am her friend so you cannot stop me coming to her.” Morpheus slowly sat up and pinned his gaze on the King. “Do not monopolize her. She is not your mate yet entirely. Putting a mark on her is not enough. Something one-sided is not enough to make a sacred bond complete. Even if she fulfils the first stage of survival which proves her potential to suit your bloodline, without her consent the two of you cannot proceed to —”

“Enough!” Draven exclaimed as he didn’t wish to hear about the last stage of completing the bond. “Stay out of it if you don’t want to die.”

“I just want to say, I don’t know if she will survive or not. Don’t stop me from seeing her,” Morpheus said.

“Do it if you want to die,” Draven said coldly as he disappeared from the forest.

Morpheus stood rooted to his place, “You can not stop me from seeing her. Somewhere I am the reason for the condition she is in. Despite, even if you had planned to mark her even before.”

—-

Meanwhile, Leeora and Cornelia got to know from the other palace servants that the King had brought the human girl to his chamber. Though it was surprising for the two women, they had long abandoned trying to understand Draven’s thoughts. For now, they only wished to see Ember first.

When they reached the hallway leading to the King’s chamber, they found only one elf in sight. Erlos was standing outside to guard the door, as per the King’s order. Since the palace where the Devil King resided never needed guards in the first place, there were only aides and servants staying inside to manage the affairs of the palace. Erlos standing guard at the door was more for the sake of convenience rather than protection.

Erlos bowed a little to greet the two women.

“Erlos, is Ember inside?” Leeora asked to make sure if the King had really brought the human girl to his chamber.

The young elf signalled towards the door behind him. “She is, Elder.”

Leeora and Cornelia looked at each other, their expressions indescribable. Up until now, they were still doubting what they heard from the other servants.

“Is Sire inside as well? Leeora asked again. When Erlos shook his head, she prodded. “Where is he?”

“He simply disappeared from the chamber and I am not sure where he went,” Erlos answered.

“Disappeared?” Leeora mumbled, feeling puzzled as she thought the King would be with the girl as he had brought her to his chamber. Her life would be in danger until she wakes up. It would be good to assign a companion who could at least watch over her.

“Can we see her?” Cornelia asked. “We won’t stay long. We just want to see her before we leave.”

Erlos awkwardly scratched his ears. “Apologies, Lady Cornelia. Sire has instructed me to not let anyone enter his chamber. He even closed all the windows and drew the curtains inside the chamber, instructing me to not open it as if he is keeping a precious gemstone in his chamber that even birds flying in the sky are not allowed to see.”