The Devil's Cursed Witch

"I... I will try to be fair to you. I will try to be a good mate."

"You mean you will force yourself to be a good mate to me while I watch you shower all your true feelings on your first mate. Do you want to save me or plan to torment me for the rest of my life?"

"I..."

"Enough!" Morpheus interrupted her. "I have heard enough. I do not need pity, especially not from a human. Save it for someone else."

"It's not pity..."

"Then it must be greed," he said.

"Greed?" she asked, disbelief coloring her voice.

"Just like those females who want all the powerful beasts as their mates, you must be greedy as well. Having Draven as your mate and then me, the two most powerful beasts as your mates, you would be the most powerful female in this kingdom."

Shaken by his words, Ember could say no more. She felt her willpower slipping away, unable to stand against his bitter words any longer.

Seeing that he had hurt her enough, Morpheus knew she would back down eventually. He didn't wait any longer and left the council hall.

No one had a word to counter his claims; they could only watch him leave in silence.

The moment he stepped out of the council hall and took a few steps down the corridor, all the strength he had been clinging to vanished, and he fell to his knees, unable to move any further.

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He tried to stand, tried to open his wings, but nothing worked. He cursed inwardly, not wanting anyone, especially Ember, to see him like this. If she did, everything he had done in the council hall would be in vain.

I need to get out of here quickly.

He tried to gather the last shreds of his strength to get up, but his legs wavered, and he was about to fall again when a pair of strong arms held him steady.

"Uncle!"

With his barely open eyes, Morpheus looked up. "How are you here?"

"Mother sent Erlos with a potion for me, so I regained my strength, but it won't last for long."

"How far can you take me?" Morpheus asked, knowing both were in a dire situation.

"At least to the peak of the mountain," Aureus replied.

"That's good enough," Morpheus chuckled weakly. "Take me there."

Aureus' wings opened, and soon both of them flew away. Erlos, standing at a distance, watched them go, his own emotions conflicted by what was happening to the people he cherished.

Aureus carried Morpheus to the peak of the mountain, to his uncle's favorite place—the cave. Supporting Morpheus as they walked, they entered the cave. When they reached the makeshift bed of dry hay with an animal hide over it, both of them collapsed onto it, losing all their remaining strength.

Not just Morpheus, but Aureus was also covered in beads of sweat, having used all his energy to get his uncle there with the little strength he had left. He had chosen this mountain because he knew it was where his uncle would want to be.

"How does it feel to have no strength left?" Morpheus asked, breathing heavily.

"I must say, I hate it," Aureus replied, in the same condition as his uncle. He helped Morpheus to turn to lie on his back and himself did the same, "Now I know what you're going through."

"Thank you for bringing me here," Morpheus said. "This is the place I always wanted to take my last breath if not while fighting against the enemy. I can stay here and die peacefully now."

There was silence from Aureus. His uncle was ready to die, but he was unwilling to let him go.

"Once I am gone, this cave is yours. Make sure to keep everything as it is here, so you never forget me," Morpheus said, staring at the rough, stony ceiling of the cave. "I always wished there would be someone to remember me, even after I'm gone. Now I'm glad I have you. Make sure to perform a memorial service for me every year."

"It is performed for the people who are dead, but you won't be as your soul would be in hell," Aureus commented, he had long accepted the truth as he would do the same for Seren.

"Then there is more reason for you to do it," Morpheus said, "During that torment in hell, at least once in a year it would sooth my soul to know someone out there still misses me."

To all his calm and casual comments, Aureus opened his eyes to look at the ceiling as well and responded, "I heard everything you said to Ember. You have hurt her deeply. Don't you want her to miss you once you're gone, or do you want her to hate you?"

"Of course, I don't want her to hate me. How can a beast bear the hatred of the woman he loves?" Morpheus replied. "But I had to say all that to make her back down. She is a stubborn woman, Aureus. That was the only way to make her give up. If not, she would go to any length to make things happen her way."

"I don't think she's like that," Aureus commented. "I believe everyone shares the same opinion."

Morpheus chuckled, "That means you do not know her well. I have spent enough time with her to understand her. Behind that beautiful face and kind heart lies a hellishly stubborn woman who can stop at nothing. What I did today was necessary, though it was a bit overboard. It was the only way to shut those council members up as well.

After this, they won't pester her again or blame her for anything that happens to me afterward."

"You thought through all this before going there, didn't you?" Aureus commented.

"I had to, for her sake," Morpheus closed his eyes, "Let me rest now. If you see me in pain, just stand outside the cave."

Aureus sighed helplessly. "What more can I do?"

"It won't be long till it all ends," Morpheus murmured.

Aureus had nothing to say. What could he even say? His uncle was telling him it would end soon, meaning he was going to die anytime now.

He turned to look at his uncle. Seeing him fast asleep from exhaustion, Aureus sat up, a small vial appearing in his hand. He drank it, hoping that if Morpheus had another attack, he could provide at least a little of his strength and make it less painful for him.

Just then, he sensed someone's presence outside the cave. He stepped out and found Evanthe standing at the edge of the cliff, looking at the sea of clouds.

"Mother."

Evanthe turned to look at him and observed him. "Seems like you have used what I sent."

"Thank you for the help, Mother."

In response, a small wooden vial appeared in the air. "Keep this with you. You might need it to help Morpheus."

"Thank you, Mother."

"How is he?" she asked.

"Drifted to sleep."

"You do know that he doesn't have many days left," she asked.

"I know. I am with him, do not worry."

She hummed, "Take care of him."

Aureus nodded, and Evanthe disappeared from sight.