The Devil's Cursed Witch

“Yes, Your Majesty, how could you waste that chance for a mere human?”

“That poor girl…”

Draven sighed inwardly as these people had already concluded that this human would die. Even he didn’t understand why he went this far to test her, but this was his decision and he would stick with it. Not like he wished to have a mate, so it was fine to use this chance on testing this human.

Seeing the expression of the King growing cold, Halifax intervened. “Your Majesty truly broadened our horizons today. Then, as we have all agreed, let us wait for the outcome of this human girl and postpone the conclusion of this meeting until next time.”

The others also smartly stepped back. Ineth sighed, “If she lives then she is a human so special she’s above anyone of her kind and deserves a unique treatment, and if she dies, then…regardless, the issue with the Fae borders will be resolved.”

Leeora had a complicated look in her eyes as she stared at the girl in the King’s arms.

“Sire, if Ember is truly not an ordinary human and is worthy enough to survive, then…what will Sire do?”

Draven had thought about it already—what if she survived this bond?

His response held no emotion. “If she survives it, she will continue living in Ronan.”

Leeora opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but she was unable to say it. The Fairy Queen asked the question in her stead.

“Your Majesty, we are aware that this kind of mark is not yet whole, erm, proper…” She coughed in embarrassment. “That the mark is not fully formed until…well, you two…b-but if she survives, won’t she be His Majesty’s destined one?”

“That we will see if she survives,” Draven answered, not willing to hear any more questions. “This meeting is adjourned.”

With Draven’s dismissal, no one dared to say another word.

He stood up carrying Ember in his arms and the council members rose from their seats to bow. The red-eyed man strode out of that council hall with his silver-haired servant hastily following him. Until they disappeared from sight, everyone could only quietly stare at their king and the pitiful human girl in his arms.

—–

After Draven left the council hall, the other council members left as well with many questions and doubts in their minds. They could still not get over the shock over what their king had done. The result of this council meeting was far from what they imagined. Not even in their wildest dreams could these people guess this was the solution their king had thought of.

Among these people, there were three people who had additional concerns with them.

Leeora of the Wood Elves, Cornelia the Witch and the Divine Eagle Morpheus.

Leeora always trusted Draven’s decisions even if he never liked to explain it to anyone. However, she was shaken today. She believed that Draven was not the kind of person who would act without reason.

Yet she worried for Ember.

Of course, she still chose to trust the King. She knew, even if he hated humans and had no care towards Ember, he would not push an innocent human to the death. Perhaps there was more to Ember that made the King believe she would survive his marking…

Meanwhile, the Head of the Witches remained in a daze, rooted in her seat within the council hall even after others had left. She was thinking about what she had seen, unable to wrap her head over the terrifyingly vast power she caught a glimpse of coming from that human girl.

All along, their prediction was right. Ember was not just an ordinary human, but a unique human they had never encountered before.

When his uncle gestured for them to leave, Morpheus slowly followed him out of the hall. He remained silent, finding what he witnessed hard to digest. When he saw Draven taking Ember with him, he found himself growing upset and worried for her safety, unlike before when he could throw her in danger and even laugh about it.

‘Was it wrong to approach and befriend her?’

Because he interacted with her, now he was plagued with guilt. He was aware of the restrictions of a mate’s bond. With Draven’s true form being a dragon—a Black Dragon at that—the strength of his mark would probably be too much for anyone to bear. Not even supernaturals could guarantee survival, much less a weak human.

“Morph? Where are you going—”

“Please go ahead without me, Uncle.”

Without thinking much, Morpheus did not follow Agraleus to leave the palace. He took another turn to go somewhere else.

Leeora thought she was the last one to leave the council hall but then she found a lady with red hair still occupying one of the seats. Cornelia had a complicated expression on her face, looking worried, shocked and anxious at the same time.

“Lady Cornelia?” Leeora called for her.

“Huh?” Pulled out of her thoughts, Cornelia looked at Leeora with deep worry in her eyes.

Leeora smiled as she approached the witch. “I believe Ember will survive. I know it’s worrying but—”

“That’s not it,” the witch cut her off, shaking her head.

“What happened?” Leeora asked, realizing that the Head of the Witches seemed to have another concern other than Ember’s survival.

“Elder Leeora, did you feel something about Ember when His Majesty marked her?” she asked immediately, her voice anxious.

Leeora tried to recall anything but shook her head. “I don’t think I did. But since you asked, did you feel something strange?”

Cornelia nodded. She nervously fiddled with her hands, and the elf belatedly realized that they were trembling. “I…I sensed a strong power inside her. It is not magic from nature or spirits…as if, as if it’s something that shouldn’t exist in this realm.”

“You mean…?”

“Divine power,” Cornelia sighed. “I merely caught a glimpse, but it’s still too much for me. Till now, I thought only His Majesty possessed power of such strength but I was wrong.”

“Are you sure?” Leeora asked.

Cornelia nodded, without having even an ounce of doubt.

“What kind of power was it? Any ideas?” Leeora asked.

“What I saw was a mark burning on the back of her neck,” Cornelia answered. “I am not sure yet what it meant, but since I think I’m the only one who sensed it among us, it has something to do with her soul.”

“A mark?” Leeora had stayed with Ember for two weeks, tending to her wounds. She knew there were nothing but scars on the girl’s skin. “What kind of mark?”

“I can’t explain it in words. I only know that I have never seen it before or read about it ever,” she replied, “I will draw it and show you later on.”

Leeora agreed and Cornelia asked, “Where do you think His Majesty must have taken her?”

“She’s probably put in one of the guest rooms. Shall we see how she is before we leave?” Leeora suggested.

The two women left the council meeting hall and asked one of the passing servants to guide them to where Ember was taken.