"Are you sure Seren doesn't need your protection by her side?" King Armen asked when it was time for them to board the boat waiting by the riverbank.
The hooded woman by his side, Sierra, replied, "Martha will take care of her. Our presence will only endanger her. Given the situation, staying away will be safer for everyone. We will come to her side when the need arises."
"I have given a number of high-ranked vitality potions I personally concocted to Martha. They will be of great help to Seren's body. Do not worry about her health," Evanthe added.
Armen no longer persuaded them, seeing he could not change their minds. "Then, are you leaving Abetha?"
"We plan to go on a search for another vessel for the power hiding inside Seren," Sierra replied, keeping things vague.
It made Armen feel hopeful. "Is there really--"
"We are not sure about anything yet," Sierra replied.
Evanthe turned to look at her son. Drayce had just left the underground cave, carrying the unconscious Seren in his arms towards the boat. The blond woman tenderly smiled at the sight.
"Make sure to not leave her side for long."
Drayce nodded to what his mother said, "I will."
"We have explained a few things to Yorian. Remember to listen to what he says," she added.
Drayce opened his mouth, wanting to say some words, but in the end, he could only nod before climbing the boat with his wife. Soon, the boat left the shallow waters and began to move downstream. The people on the boat could only stare at the two robed women left on the bank of the river.
Sierra and Evanthe wordlessly gazed at their children who were going farther away from them.
After putting Seren on the makeshift bed inside the only cabin of the large boat, Drayce stared at the figure of his mother growing smaller and smaller with each passing second. There were many things to talk about, but neither of them could voice their true feelings at the moment.
'Maybe when we meet again.'
Some time that night, Drayce and the others finally reached the outer walls of the Royal Palace of Abetha. With King Armen making ample preparations beforehand, their group entered through the secret passage without anyone knowing about it.
Drayce brought Seren back to her chamber in her tower with Martha and Slayer accompanying them.
As Drayce placed the unconscious Seren on the bed, his gaze observed her. The worry he had for his wife was evident. She had been unconscious for two days now.
Afterwards, Martha fed Seren one of the bottles of vitality potions that she received from Evanthe. She could understand Drayce's worry.
"She will wake up soon. Her pulse is normal, and there is not a single injury on her body. You can put down your fears, Your Majesty," Martha explained, not expecting any reply from Drayce, she bowed to him. "If you need anything, please let me know."
After that, she left the chamber.
Martha found two young women in sleeping robes outside. It was precisely Marie and Eva who were woken up from the sound of Seren's door opening. Their master had been gone for days and returned in an unconscious state. They dared not ask the King for an explanation, that was why they could only stay outside in worry.
Martha looked at Marie, quickly realizing that the younger woman was a witch. Marie also discovered that the identity of the middle-aged woman was not simple.
"Your queen simply needs rest. You should go back to your quarters," Martha told them.
"You are?"
"I am called Martha, a servant of your queen back when she was still a princess."
Eva exclaimed. "Her Majesty has told us about you! You are her nanny! Greetings, Miss Martha."
Given that a nanny had a higher position than them, mere maidservants, Marie and Eva listened to Martha's instructions.
-----
Within their bedchamber, Drayce sat next to Seren with her hand firmly gripped in his. He stared at his unconscious wife, his gaze filled with worry and confusion. He was at a loss about her current situation, and he was reluctant to obey what his mother told him to do.
If he decided to keep Erebus at bay, how would the future turn out for Seren? Would he regret delaying the inevitable because of his own selfishness?
All he had in mind at this moment was to escape, to take her with him somewhere far, far away, where all these troubles about angels and gods could not reach them and never return.
He closed his eyes and spoke to his other half in his head.
'You can hear me, right? You heard what Mother said as well.'
Though there was no sign of response, Drayce knew that Erebus could hear him. Drayce let out a tired sigh.
'You know it well why I always stopped you from being close to Seren. I don't want you to hurt her. My wife...our mate, she is the most precious person in our life. Since this is for her sake...Erebus, all I want is for you to be good to her. She is going through a lot. Once you take over our body, be aware of what your actions can cause her. Do not let our woman be hurt. You have to be patient with her. You understand what I mean, don't you?'
Despite the silence, Drayce knew he was listening to him. 'I will trust you. Do not fail me.'
When he opened his eyes, the sight of his sleeping wife caused his heart to ache. His heart hurt for her and for himself as well.
'As long as you are safe...'
He lay down next to her in bed, scooping her delicate body into his arms.
He caressed her cheek gently with his palm, the memory of that disastrous fight against the angels flooding him with guilt once more.
'Because I am weak, you will have to go through something that you don't deserve to go through. It's my fault...all my fault. I was foolish and reckless to try living as a human and dividing my soul in order to escape reality. Rather than accepting my darkness, I ran away. This is the price of my mistake.
'Along with me, you have to accept him as well. Blame me, my Queen, for I have wronged you.'
With a bitter smile, he kissed her forehead, before holding her tightly in his embrace as if not willing to let her go away from him even for a moment.
'I want to keep you for myself, but I can't. I have to share you-- share you with my other half, with the scary darkness within me.'
====
A/N- Dear readers, when I say our Male Leads are Devils, it's not just for saying but they all are in fact Devils. They have power of Darkness which originates from the main Devil. Just like him they are the dragons as well.
You all know Drayce is Devil's son but what about others? How come they are Devil's as well? We will know it in their stories that how others are related to the Devil.
That being said, in coming days I am releasing our 3rd Devil novel which is about Arlan and his runaway betrothed (Dragon/Devil and a Witch).
All three novels of the "Devil and Witch" series will run together and will end together in coming months.