The Devil's Cursed Witch

Ember continued to stroll on the walkway within the garden which was covered with beautiful pebbles. She soon reached the side garden where she had a view of the burned trees at a distance.

"Will they cut those trees?" Ember asked, guilt colouring her voice.

"No, Miss. Those trees might have been burned,  but the damage wasn't much—only up till the branches. I heard from Dame Yula that tomorrow the gardeners will cut those branches and then Elder Leeora will come to treat those trees."

Hearing Leeora's name, Ember's eyes lit up as she could not wait to meet her.

Ember then looked at the sky where the moon was shining brightly. It looked like a silver plate against the darkness, almost but not quite a full moon yet. Despite being incomplete, it gave off a sense of elegant beauty in the sky, wrapped in a dark curtain with nothing but those scattered stars to accompany it.

Ember was so lost in thought that she didn't realize her servants had retreated away from where she was standing and someone else had come to her side. In a while, the evening breeze picked up and she smelled a familiar scent. She gulped as she realized the presence of the owner of that scent.

With her heart racing, she turned around to look at the person standing a distance behind her. Red eyes seemingly glittering like gems against the dim lights offered by the lanterns. The man's charisma made her unable to gather her thoughts.

Under the pale silvery moonlight, his masculine form was less intimidating, the soft glow emphasizing his good looks that it was difficult to take her eyes off him.

"Are you not feeling cold?" she heard Draven ask.

Unknown to her, the spell of the moon didn't just affect her but her mate as well. Draven was also immersed in how beautiful she looked under the moonlight.

She was a sight to behold.

'Simply breathtaking…'

Her delicate skin was akin to the clearest white porcelain, and her long dark hair framed her small face, emphasizing her lovely grace. Her long dress clung to her slender body, her flowy sleeves and skirt gently moving along with the evening breeze.

And the moment she turned around and their gazes met, his heart—

"A little," he heard her say.

For a second, Draven was at a loss, forgetting he initially asked her a question.

Fortunately, Erlos came at the right time, holding something in his hands. "Sire, I have brought the item you requested."

Drayce regained his composure and nodded to him. He then said to Ember, "This belongs to you."

It was a palm-sized wooden box which Ember recognised right away. She was shocked to find out Draven had it with him.

Erlos promptly went towards Ember to hand the item over to her. After that, he bowed to both his master and his mate before leaving.

With shaking hands, Ember opened the box to check if the important thing inside the box was there as well. Seeing the familiar beautiful jade pendant sitting on the cushion inside the box, she felt equally overwhelmed and relieved. Her eyes turned moist and her lips curved into a light smile.

She had almost forgotten about this important thing that her nanny told her never to lose. It reminded her of one of the most memorable conversations she had with the woman.

'Little princess, never lose this jade pendant. This is a token that represents your identity.'

'Token? What is a token, Gaia?'

'It's the proof of your true origin and identity. Not now, but in the future, it might help you in some way.'

'I do not understand. How will I use…?'

'There is nothing to understand. You will know when the time comes. Just remember to never lose it. Understood?'

'Yes, Gaia.'

Ember caressed the pendant with her thumb.

She had many questions in her mind. About how Draven found her. About why he entered the cave. About why he took her token with him.

That night, she clearly remembered everything that happened as if the forest fire happened yesterday. The mountain was burning and she had to run far away from the cave to save herself from suffocating in the smoke. She was yet to ask him how he found her and why he saved her…in the first place, why was he on that mountain that night?

She was aware that supernatural beings living in Agartha wouldn't normally wander in the human kingdoms, and she refused to believe it was a pure coincidence that he saved her.

To get the answers to her questions, wasn't the solution to ask the man in front of her?

Ember raised her head up to look at him but…he was gone. She looked around the garden but Draven was not in sight.

'I couldn't even thank him.'

As Ember let out a sigh of regret, her two servants approached her.

"Miss, what is that?" Clio could not help but ask, her eyes on the jade pendant. "Jewelry?"

"Could that be the gift from His Majesty?" Reya asked excitedly. "So he really did prepare!"

Ember looked at them and was about to say that it was something that belonged to her in the first place but…

"Miss, can we see what His Majesty has given you?"

"Yes, Miss. I want to see it as well. I heard every male tries to give the best gift to their mate."

Ember watched the excited servants fawn around her and gave in. She held the box in front of them. The two elves gasped in awe at the beautiful jade pendant inside.

"It's so beautiful, Miss!"

"Look at that delicate craftsmanship. It's not something that we saw commonly in the area. I wonder where his Majesty got it. Did he commission the dwarves to make it?"

"Maybe? But aren't the dwarves hiding underground somewhere outside of Agartha?"

"Miss is His Majesty's mate so of course, His Majesty will give her something that no other male can give to his mate."

"Seems like His Majesty is trying his best to make his mate happy before the night of the full moon."

Both servants giggled like excited young girls.

Unknown to Ember, a light blush covered her face upon hearing what her servants said.