The Devil's Cursed Witch

When the door opened, the pair of female elves nearly jumped out of their skins to discover Draven standing before them. Both immediately bowed to the King and stepped aside to make way for him.

"G-Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Ember felt as if she was a thief caught red-handed, her face burning in embarrassment as she looked at the doorway, wondering when the man returned and how much he had heard. She had been originally sitting lazily in bed, her back on the headrest, but upon meeting his gaze, she corrected her posture and straightened her back.

Draven stepped inside the chamber and the two servants immediately found their way out. They tactfully closed the door behind them, leaving the couple on their own.

Ember watched on as the expressionless man walked towards her bed without speaking a single word, and she didn't know what to do, whether to get out of bed or say something to him about the conversation she had with her servants.

Even before she could decide on what to do, he was already standing by her bedside and his deep gaze was fixed on her.

"You seem tired."

Three simple words, but hearing his voice made all the nerves of her body come alive. She cleared her throat awkwardly. "Uhm…yes… a little."

He sat at the edge of the bed, and with him being close to her, she could smell that refreshing forest scent coming from his body. It was obvious he had just come out of the bath as she could see his short black hair was still a little damp.

'Did he come straight to her after he had a bath?'

Ember could not help but feel her heart skip a beat at that guess.

She observed his handsome face, appreciating each and every little detail as if she had not seen him for long. The way those wet hair strands fell casually against his smooth forehead, that pair of captivating red eyes, his high ridged nose, those thin pinkish lips, the sharp lines of his jaw…

'Devil? Isn't a devil a monster? What kind of sane person would dare call him a devil with this kind of face?' Ember could not help but wonder.

Of all supernatural beings she had ever laid her eyes on, Draven's appearance could be said to be matchless. He wasn't conventionally beautiful like the elegant elves, and he didn't have the rough charm of the warrior-like beastmen. His good looks embodied dignity and divinity, his manly appearance rather imposing in a way no mortal should have such perfect features. The arrogant way he carried himself added more to how dangerously attractive he was.

"Did you enjoy visiting the witches?"

"Huh, what?" His question pulled her out of her wandering thoughts and her gaze settled at his deep red eyes, making her gulp. "Yes, I did…"

"What did you do and what did you like there?" Draven asked, his tone low.

These were the things Erlos wanted to report to him earlier, but for some odd reasons, Draven felt compelled to hear these words straight out of his mate's mouth.

Unaware of her mate's mood, a small smile graced Ember's face as she excitedly started recounting her experiences, beginning from what happened after they left the palace. "...then we stopped by the river and ate roasted fish. Erlos told me that you personally taught him those wilderness survival skills."

Draven nodded, somewhat finding his shoulders relaxing the more he listened to her voice. She reminded him of a small bird chirping, and as his eyes observed her lively expressions, he became more positive that she strongly resembled her naughty pet bird, Ray.

"....and then, they gifted me those items even though I said no…"

His gaze zeroed on her animated face, moving between her beautiful bright eyes and those plump lips which opened and closed so many times while making different shapes to make words,  that small tongue of hers being particularly eye-catching as she talked.

For a second, he couldn't understand her words, the loud beating of his heart drowning out all noise. He could not wait to grab her and claim that talkative mouth of hers, to play with that small alluring tongue—

"....we somehow saved Albina, thankfully, or else I would not have been able to forgive myself if she truly became orc food. Those orcs are so cruel to want to eat such a beautiful horse!"

At this point of her narration, she was pouting her lips, and only vaguely realized that her lips and throat were quite dry. Draven had not said a single word and she was the only one doing the talking.

"Draven? Are you still listening?" she asked, feeling confused about how he was looking at her. "Uhm, did I say boring stuff?"

He shook his head. "But there is something more interesting I wish for you to do."

"What is it?" she asked, but inside, she could guess his meaning. Her womanly instinct was warning her about the man's intentions.

Just as she expected, the man leaned closer, his rough hand moving to hold her chin and not let her look away. His eyes fixed on her lips with growing intensity, she gulped and could only let out a barely audible whisper of his name before he cut her off with a kiss.

Her lips were sealed by his, and the rest of her words were buried in her throat.

Though she was scared of the consequences of intimacy between them, those were worries of the mind when one had time to think. This was not such a time. With the seduction of her mate's manly scent, and the temptation of their own needs and desires surfacing, she could not help but be lured into giving in. Her body reacted before her mind could.

"Mmm…"

His strong scent overwhelmed her senses, his lips sucking and nibbling hers, sometimes gentle, sometimes rough, seemingly playful as her head was pushed back to rest against the soft pillows under her, not leaving her an inch to move away from under him.

"Draven…haaa….mmph!"

She wanted this, wanted him, wanted… more. She ended up responding to the kiss with hunger, demanding more from her mate. Her delicate lips moved with urgency against his, and when he kissed back just as fiercely, she swore nothing could feel better than this.

More...I want more!

Her hands moved, one holding onto his broad shoulder, while the other moved to the back of his head, her slender fingers entwined with his hair, pulling him into a deeper kiss.

Draven let out a needy groan, the fire of desire in his chest burning. His little mate was being passionate and demanding, and there was nothing he could ask for more.

The man's hand moved to the back of her waist, and her slender body  was led to lie more comfortably on the bed. Ember circled her hands around his neck, and the couple didn't stop kissing even for a moment even when Draven hovered over her, pressing her delicate body under his.