3 chapters today.
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“Erlos, why are you shouting?” she offered him a smile, “Please do not raise your voice like that. It is rude. Besides, I wonder what you are doing listening to a conversation between two women.”
Erlos was about to walk towards her but Ember looked at him as she shook her head lightly. Ember, despite being generally naive, realized now that this young lady seemed somewhat unhappy with her despite her smiling face.
As Erlos stopped, Isa looked back at Ember. “Oh, apologies. I hope you do not think badly of me. I am saying this only out of concern for you, Ember.
“I know we just met, but it is precisely because I am a stranger to you that I see things objectively. I am from the beast clan. All the males would consummate the bond once their intended female woke up. I am just concerned between you and His Majesty, since males wouldn’t have waited for this long,” Isa said as she glanced at the incomplete mark on her neck. “But from what I see, it’s more than two weeks since the marking yet you have not consummated the bond.”
“There is a reason—”
“Of course, there is a reason,” Isa interrupted her with a gaze full of pity, “and that reason is His Majesty doesn’t truly want to bond with a human.”
All the time, her expression had become so emotional, it was hard to decipher the true meaning of her words unless one truly knew her personality.
Ember could only wordlessly stare at her, and Isa used this chance to speak again.
“Well, I think I am saying something you already know. I apologize again. You, more than anyone, would know how His Majesty doesn’t have any feelings for you so obviously he would not want to consummate a bond,” she sighed, “But, His Majesty would be forced to fulfil his responsibility on the night of the full moon even if he doesn’t want to…”
Ember was maintaining her calm composure but she could not deny that Isa’s words were starting to affect her. Her pretty green eyes held venom in them as she pulled her hands back from the fox’s grasp.
The entire time, Isa acted as if she was ignorant about how offensive she sounded, causing Erlos to immediately intervene. He stood in front of Isa with Ember behind him.
“Isa,” he said in warning, “I am sure you would not like this to be known by His Majesty.”
The young fox maintained the same innocent smile on her pretty face. “You cannot stop meddling between women, can’t you? Why do you sound so indignant? I am just stating a fact to her so she won’t be disappointed later.”
“Facts? How can you say that when you don’t even know a thing?”
Erlos’ anger was rising, but just in time, someone landed at the balcony, breaking the tense atmosphere.
With the pair of large wings folding behind him, Morpheus caused those in the balcony to back off from each other. With the gaze of an adult looking at a bunch of children, he raised a brow at Erlos and Isa.
“You kids started arguing again?” He then opened his arms at Isa. “Little fox, when did you return?”
Isa immediately went to him, giving him a friendly hug, smiling ear to ear. “Morph, good to see you!”
“How have you been? Let me guess, did you succeed at growing three tails?” He smiled teasingly and tilted his head to look at the space behind her. “But I don’t see any.”
Isa knew he was just teasing her and simply giggled endearingly. Morpheus tilted his head towards Erlos—-in particular, he was glancing at Ember who was behind him.
“Little female, why are you hiding behind that kid?”
This was the main reason why he was always unhappy with Morpheus’ presence around. Though he found it annoying that Morpheus would make him clean their mess every time he met with Draven, the one that really irked him was that he was also Isa’s backer.
No wonder she acts so spoiled. Whatever she did, he always supported her as if she could never do anything wrong.
“Why are you here?” Erlos frowned. “Sire doesn’t allow you to be in his palace.”
“I am here to visit my friend and that dimwit Dragon won’t stop me from visiting her. You can step away and quietly go serve by your master’s side.”
Erlos didn’t budge. “It’s better if you leave.”
Morpheus sighed. “I’m in a good mood so I will refrain myself from arguing with a kid like you.” He then glanced at Ember once more. “Little female, will see you later.” He then offered his hand to Isa. “Shall we go out? I want to hear what you’ve been up to since we last met.”
Isa immediately nodded, and the next moment, Morpheus flew away with her in his arms.
The moment they left, Erlos turned to look at Ember who had her head lowered. Her eyes were closed, and no one could guess what she was thinking from her face. “Miss, that fox is gone.”
Ember didn’t reply and continued to stay like that.
“Miss, are you alright?” Erlos felt worried. Just a while ago, he swore he saw a flash of anger in her eyes. At that moment, he felt a strange fluctuation around the human girl’s body, and he had to interfere in their conversation upon remembering the incident with the butterflies.
Ember remained silent for a while. When she finally opened her eyes, she saw the elf looking at her with deep concern. She didn’t know what happened to her, but she felt the confusion inside her turn to anger and it rose suddenly, overwhelming her senses.
Fortunately, Erlos blocked her from Isa, and she was able to use that opportunity to calm herself. She was unable to spare care for what was going on around; that was why even though she had heard Morpheus, she didn’t bother to talk to him.