"I... I will try to be fair to you. I will try to be a good mate."
"You mean you will force yourself to be a good mate to me while I watch you shower all your true feelings on your first mate. Do you want to save me or plan to torment me for the rest of my life?"
"I..."
"Enough!" Morpheus interrupted her. "I have heard enough. I do not need pity, especially not from a human. Save it for someone else."
"It's not pity..."
"Then it must be greed," he said.
"Greed?" she asked, disbelief coloring her voice.
"Just like those females who want all the powerful beasts as their mates, you must be greedy as well. Having Draven as your mate and then me, the two most powerful beasts as your mates, you would be the most powerful female in this kingdom."
Shaken by his words, Ember could say no more. She felt her willpower slipping away, unable to stand against his bitter words any longer.
Seeing that he had hurt her enough, Morpheus knew she would back down eventually. He didn't wait any longer and left the council hall.
No one had a word to counter his claims; they could only watch him leave in silence.
The moment he stepped out of the council hall and took a few steps down the corridor, all the strength he had been clinging to vanished, and he fell to his knees, unable to move any further.
He tried to stand, tried to open his wings, but nothing worked. He cursed inwardly, not wanting anyone, especially Ember, to see him like this. If she did, everything he had done in the council hall would be in vain.
I need to get out of here quickly.
He tried to gather the last shreds of his strength to get up, but his legs wavered, and he was about to fall again when a pair of strong arms held him steady.
"Uncle!"
With his barely open eyes, Morpheus looked up. "How are you here?"
"Mother sent Erlos with a potion for me, so I regained my strength, but it won't last for long."
"You thought through all this before going there, didn't you?" Aureus commented.
"I had to, for her sake," Morpheus closed his eyes, "Let me rest now. If you see me in pain, just stand outside the cave."
Aureus sighed helplessly. "What more can I do?"
"It won't be long till it all ends," Morpheus murmured.
Aureus had nothing to say. What could he even say? His uncle was telling him it would end soon, meaning he was going to die anytime now.
He turned to look at his uncle. Seeing him fast asleep from exhaustion, Aureus sat up, a small vial appearing in his hand. He drank it, hoping that if Morpheus had another attack, he could provide at least a little of his strength and make it less painful for him.
Just then, he sensed someone's presence outside the cave. He stepped out and found Evanthe standing at the edge of the cliff, looking at the sea of clouds.
"Mother."
Evanthe turned to look at him and observed him. "Seems like you have used what I sent."
"Thank you for the help, Mother."
In response, a small wooden vial appeared in the air. "Keep this with you. You might need it to help Morpheus."
"Thank you, Mother."
"How is he?" she asked.
"Drifted to sleep."
"You do know that he doesn't have many days left," she asked.
"I know. I am with him, do not worry."
She hummed, "Take care of him."
Aureus nodded, and Evanthe disappeared from sight.