The Devil's Cursed Witch

By late noon, Yula arrived at the King's study to update him about his mate.

"So she is still not out of her bed?" the King asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I personally checked on her twice but she responds to no one, not even her servants, and even refuses to have any food or drink. She is not sleeping and merely lying in bed."

Draven simply nodded to show he understood and allowed Yula to leave.

'Instead of working on the task I gave to her, she is wasting time like this?' He could not help but pinch the bridge of his nose. 'Seven days left till the full moon and if she is still not able to understand intimacy by then... Was it too soon for her? Was it wrong to let her understand what's bound to happen? It's stupid to not accept things that couldn't be changed. I only helped her to know what she would be facing soon…'

Draven thought about it again, but if he were given another chance, he would do the same thing. To be honest, he thought he was being quite patient with Ember.

'Maybe she will be fine in the morning.'

Unaware of the various reactions of the people to her, the human girl lying in lethargy finally stirred in bed. She had no idea how long she'd been there unable to sleep, but she had no will to move nor think.

Ember, who had been left inside her chamber alone, only sat up when her stomach growled due to hunger.

'Why…? This stomach is so troublesome. I don't want to eat…' She tried to ignore her hunger but it was not easy. 'There were times Gaia couldn't buy food back when we lived on the mountain. There were days when I spent days without eating three meals, surviving only on water and a piece of bread a day, yet I could handle it… It seems like eating lots of food here has made my stomach used to this luxurious lifestyle.'

As she sat with her legs bent in front of her, she rubbed her hands over her stomach, trying to bear the loud hunger that's overwhelming anything else in her mind. At this moment, there was no chaotic thought, no frustration or anger, or whatever she was feeling after coming back from Draven's study.

All she knew was hunger.

'What should I do?'

Her servants had left a glass of juice and cookies earlier on her table, but after they returned and saw it untouched, they brought it out with them while apologizing, concerned that Ember was displeased with them or the snacks. Of course, that wasn't the case, but the servants had no way of knowing that…

Just as Ember felt her stomach grumble under her hands, there was a knock on the door.

"Miss Ember, pardon us for disturbing your rest, but may we come in?."

Her emerald green eyes brightened up with the voice of Reya and felt like her savior had arrived just on time. She looked at the door of her chamber that just opened and relaxed upon seeing her two servants enter inside.

Reya almost tripped as she half-ran towards the bedside. "Oh, Miss! How are you feeling? Do you need anything—"

When the elves saw Ember sitting on the bed, they finally felt a bit of their worry disappear. Everytime they checked on her earlier, she remained unresponsive as she hid under her blanket.

The calmer Clio stopped her cousin from talking and turned to Ember. "Miss, you must be starving. We have already asked the kitchen to prepare a meal for you, just in case. Would you like to eat now?"

Ember could not say no to this as this was what she wanted to hear at this moment.

Seeing her nod, the two servants could not be happier. They helped Ember freshen up and then took her to the dining hall. She finished everything that was prepared for her as she was truly starving.

Ember had a realization after looking at the empty dishes in front of her. 'My appetite is of a monster's now. I can't believe I ate this much.'

Still, she felt content with her stomach full and stepped out of the dining room.

"Miss, would you like to go out for a walk?" Clio suggested.

Reya clapped her hands as she thought it was a wonderful suggestion. "Right, Miss. You ate a lot so taking a stroll will help you digest food faster before retiring to your room. Though it's dark now, I think you've never seen the garden at night? It's a lovely sight, Miss!"

Ember thought about it for a while.

'What if I come across him? I don't want that to happen. I don't even want to see him.'

She frowned inwardly and replied, "I am fine," before returning to her chamber.

------

The next day, though Ember wasn't in a mood to do anything, she forced herself to move. She didn't want to come across the King, but she had to come out of her chamber as it was the time for her morning lesson with Fire Fae Helia.

Ember arrived at the rear garden of the palace where the training grounds were located. It seemed empty aside from her instructor who's waiting for her arrival near the entrance. There were servants with water attributes observing from afar, assigned in case of emergency, but there was no one else to watch her lesson.

"Good morning, Miss Ember," the red-haired Fire Fae greeted her.

"Good morning, Lady Helia," Ember replied and her gaze wandered around to make sure that the red-eyed man was not around.

She felt relieved to not see him and then focused on her teacher as they walked towards the middle of that circular meadow.

"Miss, how are you feeling? Do you still feel tired from yesterday's attempt?"

Ember shook her head. "I'm fine after I rested."

"That's good. Then, do you remember what I told you yesterday?" Helia asked.

Ember nodded. "I do."

"Good! Today, we will have to continue your practice. Just do the same thing. We cannot proceed further in our training until you find the core of your fire power inside your body."

Ember took in a shaky breath as she assured the fairy, "I will try my best."

"Let's start with meditation," Helia instructed. Her voice once more began to sound soft and soothing as she guided Ember. "Close your eyes, relax your body…take a deep breath…yes, just like that… Try to focus on what's within you…"

Ember did as she was told. Just like the previous day, she stood up with relaxed shoulders, putting her body in the most natural and comfortable state possible. She tried to focus on searching for her magical core but…

A pair of red eyes…

The taste of his lips against hers..

The sounds of his rugged breathing…

The smell of the woods and the earth, both masculine and familiar…

All that came into her mind were Draven. Draven and the moments she shared with him the previous day inside her study. The more she concentrated, the more vivid she remembered what happened.

The way their bodies were pressed close to each other, the way his hands roamed her thighs before touching her most intimate part, the way she responded to his touch. She could remember each and every nerve of her body humming under his seductive touches and how she craved for something more…

'No! I must—the magic core! Yes, I'm looking for my magic core. I have to relax. I have to calm down!'

But there was none of the darkness she saw during her first lesson with Helia. Forget about locating her core, she could not even reach the energy spread within her body, the one she already knew how to use because of her shapeshifting spell.

Her panicking mind was occupied with nothing but those intimate moments with the King.

Furrowed lines appeared on her forehead, and her heart started to beat faster and faster and faster. With a heavy gasp, she opened her eyes in shock. She didn't know how to handle herself or how to control her mind.