The Devil's Cursed Witch

Draven appeared inside his mate’s bedchamber where he heard voices coming from one of the attached rooms. One was Reya’s, who was calling out for Ember, while the other voice belonged to his mate and she was letting out incomprehensible noises, as if she was in deep pain.

“Miss Ember, please stay strong! My cousin already called for the King…”

Reya’s voice was filled with anxiety, her voice breaking like she would cry anytime.

Draven hurried towards the side chamber, feeling his own chest tighten upon hearing the painful groans of his mate. He saw Ember lying on the floor curled into a ball, her hands clutching her chest  and her body spasming uncontrollably. Her body was drenched in water and had no clothes on. Reya was next to her, holding a large towel in her hand.

Seeing the King, Reya moved back. “Y-Your Majesty, you are finally here…the Miss…”

Draven didn’t notice anyone but his mate. He strode towards her as the towel came flying towards him which he used to cover his mate and lifted her in arms.

However, Ember did not notice her surroundings, simply trembling in the immense pain she was feeling.

He carried her towards her bed and gently placed her on it. Her eyes were shut tightly but those painful groans were growing quiet, as if the pain was slowly disappearing. Draven covered her with the blanket so she wouldn’t feel cold.

It was the same thing happening with Ember, and this time, it looked intense.

“Bring Cornelia here,” he ordered the female servant who rushed out without looking back.

Not even a minute later, the Head of the Witches arrived in the chamber of the King’s mate. Draven moved away from the bed and looked at Cornelia. “You can check on her.”

Cornelia hurried towards Ember and sat at the edge of the bed. Magic swirled in her eyes as she  observed Ember who was breathing roughly as she clutched her chest. Cornelia put her hand on her forehead and then closed her eyes.

A strange force filled the air as the witch casted a spell to determine what was wrong inside the human’s body. Small orbs of flames formed a large runic circle with Ember at the center.

Draven did not speak, and neither did the others in the chamber, causing the tense atmosphere to be suffocating. Though his red eyes showed no outward emotions, deep inside he was worried for her. He found himself feeling anxious after so long.

The two servants found themselves unable to leave the chamber, their worry for Ember overwhelming their fear for Draven. Amidst the nerve-racking situation, Yula also arrived there and stood next to the two servants.

Once Cornelia finished scrying through Ember, she retreated her hand from her forehead and stared at Ember with a worried gaze. By that time, Ember had drifted to a peaceful sleep.

“Miss Ember  is exhausted so I advise that we leave and let her rest,” Cornelia said as she stood up. “Your Majesty, we can talk in your study.”

Draven nodded and looked at his mate only to hear Cornelia say, “She is merely asleep.”

She looked at Yula and the two servants. “Take care of her.”

Draven and Cornelia returned to his study where Erlos was waiting for them. The young elf was also worried about Ember, but as it was about the King’s mate, he was concerned that his being a male would cause Draven’s sensitivity to be triggered.

Seeing Draven appear in the study, Erlos asked, “Sire, is everything alright with the Miss?”

Draven nodded and then turned towards Cornelia, his gaze blazing with questions.

“Did you find out what the cause is?” Draven asked.

Cornelia nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.” She didn’t have to wait for the king to ask her again and explained, “From what I understood, the pain is due to the seal put around her power being triggered by an outside force. Last time, it took me a lot of time to search for it, yet I failed to reach it. I am surprised that this time, I could see it as if it had lost some of its strength.”

“It must be because Ember was able to find her own energy core,” Draven commented.

Cornelia agreed to it and said, “The situation is what we have predicted before. The one who had put the seal on her power was alarmed that the seal was weakening. That was why that being is sending more divine power towards the seal, but since the connection is faint, the surge of divine power is causing Miss Ember pain.”

“You mean the owner of the seal is trying to locate her and establish a connection?” Draven asked.

“Seems like it. Prior to this, the owner was unaware of her location, but with the seal weakening, it is a matter of time till they find her. What we are worried about is finally happening.”

“It’s been a while since the seal has weakened, then why could they still not find her?”

“That I am not sure but maybe something is there which is preventing them from reaching her.”

Both wondered what it could be.

“If we get to know what exactly is protecting Miss Ember, then we can proceed to strengthen it to buy us time until we find out everything about her.”

Draven agreed. “Why don’t you stay in the palace for now and try to find out more?”

Cornelia thought for a bit. “Until that seal is there, there is nothing more for me to see. She will only go through it again and again. If we don’t want to see her in pain, it would be better to completely get rid of that seal.”

Draven understood what she meant but stayed quiet.

Cornelia didn’t wish to meddle in the private matter of the King. “I must return to my city and see what potions I can brew to help her deal with the pain. You can summon me again, Your Majesty, after the seal disappears.”

The witch then excused herself, leaving Draven to wonder about various things.

‘If the seal is there, she will keep feeling pain, and if the seal is lifted, it will only expose her to those who sealed her powers. I hope it will not put her in any grave danger.’