The Devil's Cursed Witch

Ember and Draven sat together for the morning meal while she mumbled, "I told him to come for the morning meal, but he didn't." She looked at Draven. "Is it that he's not even aware of when I have my meals?"

Draven smirked slightly as his ears caught something and he said, "He is your mate, and if he doesn't know such ordinary information about you, then he is useless."

Just then, Morpheus straightened and asked, "Who are you calling useless?"

"You know the answer," Draven replied calmly. "You keep your mate waiting."

"I was on my way, but something kept me," Morpheus replied and settled into the chair opposite Ember. "Did I make you wait?"

"No. I have yet to start," she replied.

Draven looked at him. "That 'something' that kept you—was it about the humans?"

Morpheus hummed in response.

"Are you two talking about my brother who came looking for me?" Ember asked.

Draven hummed, while Morpheus's expression soured, making it clear he was not in favor of the matter.

"So, when am I going to meet him?" Ember asked.

Before Draven could answer, Morpheus said, "You don't have to if you're not willing."

Ember looked at him. "I am willing, but it seems like you're not. May I ask why?"

"Humans are not the kind we should associate with. They are treacherous," he answered.

She smiled. "Oh, so my mate is worried about me?"

"I would be worried about you even if we weren't mates," he countered.

"You've always been a caring friend, but now you act like my sweet little mate," she teased.

He frowned at her choice of words and turned to Draven. "Is she reading those weird books written by humans again?"

Draven smirked playfully. "I have no control over what she reads."

"Those are romance books I used to read, not weird stuff," she countered. "And that's how I learned how a couple should be. You should be glad I'm not as naive as before, or I would have troubled you the way I troubled Draven. Here you are, getting a fully experienced mate. You should be grateful instead of frowning."

Morpheus studied her, noting how much she had changed. "You are truly not like before," he muttered, then turned to Draven. "You've spoiled the innocent little female I used to know."

"Good for you, isn't it?" Draven asked. "I saved you from a lot of trouble that came from her innocence."

"You two are really perfect for each other," Morpheus sighed, then looked at Ember. "Eat now instead of planning how to annoy me."

Ember chuckled at how easily he got flustered—it was fun to tease him.

As they ate, Ember asked, "Morph."

"Hmm?" He didn't look at her.

"What kind of scent do you get from me?" she asked. "I heard a mate's scent is what one desires most in life."

Morpheus's hand froze. She had asked the very thing he had been trying to resist.

Seeing his stiffened form, Ember glanced at Draven, who met her gaze and silently assured her it was fine to continue.

She looked back at Morpheus. "Tell me quickly. Draven already told me the importance and meaning behind what a mate's scent signifies. I want to know how I smell to you. Is it a bad scent that you don't want to mention?"

Morpheus snapped out of his thoughts and looked at her. "It's not bad. It's… fine."

"Then tell me about it. Is it the same as Draven's? He gets the scent of first rain and jasmine from me."

He shook his head. "It's different."

"I'm waiting," she insisted.

"You… smell like sandalwood and tuberose," he finally answered, trying to shift his focus away from that scent—especially the tuberose, which drove him crazy.

Draven looked at Morpheus and raised a brow. Tuberose?

Morpheus sensed his gaze and looked back at him. Yes. It's not in my control.

Draven smirked as they silently communicated. You get what you want. You've always wanted her for yourself—that's why you get the most irresistible scent from her. You won't last long.

Morpheus frowned. Of all the floral scents, tuberose was considered the most seductive to a beast's senses. He was in deep trouble.

Ember looked at the two. "Once again, you two are just staring at each other."

They both turned to her, only to hear Ember ask, "What does it mean? Do you like sandalwood and tuberose?"

"Sandalwood gives me the comfort and warmth of a cozy home, and tuberose… it just smells nice," he answered, deliberately avoiding the deeper meaning behind the scent.

"So you seek the warmth of home?" she concluded. "Well, that's not wrong. I am your mate, so I'm meant to give you the comfort of a warm and cozy home. I am your home."

He swallowed hard, staring at her. She had said it so casually, but it meant everything to him. He had lost his family long ago and had always longed for them. For so long, he had been a wanderer, lost in the memories of the warm and cozy home he once had.

"Hmm?" she prompted.

Morpheus simply nodded and lowered his gaze to his food so she wouldn't see the emotions in his eyes.

"And since you like the scent of tuberose, I'll make sure we have plenty of them in our nest once you build it."

Morpheus wished for all his senses to go numb. He could barely resist the tuberose scent coming from her already, and now she wanted to surround him with more of it.

He was doomed for real.

To change the topic and give Morpheus some space to maintain his sanity, Draven said, "I am taking Ember to the human territory today to meet her brother."

Morpheus looked back at him. "I'm coming with you."

"They set a condition that only I am allowed. Their excuse is that they're afraid of supernaturals harming them," Draven said.

Morpheus chuckled. "And you believe them?"

Of course, Draven didn't. Those brazen humans always tried to mess with supernaturals, so what kind of pathetic excuse was that?

"I'm coming with you two. That's final," Morpheus declared. "I don't trust those vermin, and I can never allow my mate to be there without me."

"Alright, you two are coming with me," Ember said, feeling happy that Morpheus had called her his mate. "If they don't agree, I won't go. Let them know that not everything will go as they want. I am the one who decides."

Draven hummed in agreement, and they continued their meal in peace.

Morpheus stood up to leave, only to hear Ember ask, "Are you starting to build the nest?"

He hummed.

"Then I'll come watch you from the balcony."

"Don't come out until it's entirely ready," Morpheus said in a warning tone, then looked at Draven. "Keep her busy somewhere."

"Why can't I watch you—"

If you come there, I won't be able to build anything at all, and you might just end up mating with me, Morpheus thought but instead answered, "Females are not allowed to see the nest until it's completed." Then he flew away, in a hurry to go away from her.

"Is there such a rule?" she asked, turning to Draven instead.

Draven didn't want to lie to her and said, "Maybe he wants to surprise you with a fully completed home. That's what most beasts do."

"Oh, alright. I won't go see it," she said, then mumbled, "maybe peek once in a while…"

Draven heard her and smiled.

He had thought that having another mate would make their lives tense, but it was the opposite. They were getting along well, and the atmosphere was more playful and homely. He could see Ember acting more mischievous, and it was delightful.