The Devil's Cursed Witch

'This thing has lost her mind but I can't. I need to get hold of myself.'

He backed away from her once more, keeping himself more than an arm's length away, and she stopped following him, her eyes pinned on his body that was visible over the water.

'So daring!'

He frowned at her audacity.

"Turn around!" he ordered in a loud chilling voice, effectively bringing her back to her senses.

Ember shook her head as if someone had slapped her.

"I told you to turn around!" he snapped when she didn't immediately obey his order.

With her entire face turning crimson red in a mix of horror and embarrassment, Ember almost slipped back into the pool after turning around so fast. Draven took that chance to step out of the pool. He was sure if he had not told her, she would have boldly admired his naked body.

He picked up the silk bathrobe waiting on the side and wore it. After securing the belt at his waist, he ordered, "Get out."

That entire side chamber was filled with her overwhelming scent and he wanted her to go away before he lost his mind.

Flinching in fear, Ember quietly followed what he said. However, she was limping as one of her ankles was throbbing in pain.

He saw her getting out of the pool with her arms supporting her body and only after she stood up did he notice something was wrong with the way she stood.

'Did she hurt her leg?'

However, his mind was otherwise distracted by something else he noticed. His little mate was drenched from head to toe, that pale blue dress clinging around her slender body. To no one's surprise, he found the sight messing with his senses once again.

As she took steps towards the door, he didn't miss the soft cry of pain she let out when she had to put weight on one of her legs.

He wanted to groan in frustration.  'How could such a frail and weak human dare to be my mate?'

Anger was the key to suppress his urges and he used it in every way possible.

He walked towards her and stood in front of her. She looked up at him, but before she could understand his intentions, she was swept off her feet. She was in his arms and he moved to take her out of the chamber himself.

She instinctively held onto him because of that abrupt lift. She once again found herself enchanted by his pleasant scent, but this time, she didn't lose her senses. She looked at his face which was devoid of any emotions, his red eyes simply looking ahead.

Holding his breath to avoid feeling anything, Draven carried the unruly little mate of his out of the side chamber, but he didn't stop there. He went out of his bedchamber and carried her straight back to her own lodging.

There was no way he would keep her in his chamber. He felt that if he were to let her stay for a few minutes longer, he would go crazy, but at the same time, he could not let her walk with her hurt foot.

When Draven stepped out of his chamber, it just happened to be the time servants normally do their cleaning chores in this part of the palace. Around this time of the day, the King would normally be in his study or somewhere outside the palace, thus they weren't expecting to see him emerge from his chamber, much less witness him carrying a sopping wet human in his arms.

The handful of servants who were cleaning the windows along the hallway were shocked to see this unbelievable sight, to the point that they neglected to see the messy trail of water left on the floor. They were too excited to see the intimate act of their king carrying his mate.

Seeing the strange appearance the couple were in, it didn't take much for their minds to think that their king was having some good time with his mate, or else there was no way the King would change his schedule out of the blue nor would he step out of his chamber in just his bathrobe. Moreover, since his mate was drenched in water, it implied the unthinkable.

When they reached the southwest wing of the palace, Ember saw Reya and Clio standing outside her chamber. The moment the two servants saw the King carrying his mate, they hurried towards them but as soon as they stepped away from the door, it slammed open on its own making, signifying the mood of the King.

Ember could not help but shake in fear. She had a feeling that the King was very angry at her, probably because she disturbed him or because she intruded in his chamber. Maybe, it was a combination of both reasons. This made her feel ashamed of her behaviour.

'He must be disappointed in me. He and his people treated me so well, but I have been rude in return...'

He put her on the bed, and the next thing Ember knew, she was already wrapped in a thick blanket. Only then did she realize she was feeling cold after falling from the pool. She had been so comfortable in his warm embrace when he was carrying her that she had forgotten she was drenched from head to toe in the first place.

Draven didn't look at her as he was barely holding himself back and turned to leave after he instructed the servants. "Her ankle is hurt. Make sure to treat it and keep the chamber warmer than usual."

Ember heard his instructions to the servants and didn't know what to think about it. On the surface, he showed as if he hated her but then acted caring as well.

Her thoughts were disturbed by the entry of the two servants. One of them went to attend to her while the other one went to the fireplace.

"Miss Ember, how are you feeling? What happened?" Reya asked, seeing her drenched self wrapped in the blanket.

Clio berated her cousin. "Go get a towel and a new dress for Miss to change in first!"

"Oh, of course, of course!"

Ember narrated what happened while the two servants helped her change into another dress and dried her hair.

"Seems like I have angered His Majesty once again," Ember mumbled, as Reya dried her hair. They were now in front of her dresser.

Reya offered her smile through the mirror. "I am sure His Majesty is not angry at you. If I am to be honest, it's more probably he worries about you as you are still so weak, Miss Ember. Didn't he leave instructions to us thinking the cold might affect you? I have never thought the King can be so thoughtful."

"Do you believe so?" Ember asked.

"Yes, Miss." Reya nodded. "You are his mate so it's a given he cares for your wellbeing."

"Is being 'mate' that special?" she asked.

Clio, who brought a new blanket for the bed, answered this time. "Of course, it is special. A person can have only one mate in his life, and the King chose you. That means Miss Ember is very special to His Majesty."

Ember nodded, her mind wandering as she recalled what just happened.

'Still, I think it is best I apologize to him.'