Hiding behind one of the tall pillars of the healing chamber while waiting for his mate’s recovery, Morpheus watched as an old deity who had just arrived there with his apprentices was checking on Ember and Seren.
There were first frown lines on his forehead and then expressions of surprise as he checked Ember first and hurried to check Seren. "These two are recovering faster than I had expected," he commented, disbelief evident in his voice. "This is incredible. But how is this possible?"
"Deity Malen, are you sure?" one of the two apprentices asked.
The other added, "Maybe because they are bonded with dragons and their cores are strong?"
The deity hummed as he looked at Ember. "Especially this child has two mate bonds with two divine beasts, which makes her core incredibly stronger."
"But I only see one bond mark," the apprentice said as he looked at Ember’s neck.
In response, the deity moved his hand as a soft glow left his fingers and moved across Ember’s body, only to settle just above her heart. "The other mark is over her heart."
"What kind of beast mark is it? Another dragon?" the apprentice asked.
"Not a dragon," the deity replied. Then a small magical stick appeared in his hand, and he used it to move Ember’s dress’s round neckline slightly lower to expose the mark—keeping the dignity of a woman by not exposing her entirely, only keeping the mark visible to them.
"A pair of gold wings?" an apprentice asked in surprise. "What beast must it be?"
"It looks like the wings of a majestic bird beast," another apprentice added. "But I’ve never heard about such a mark or a divine beast marking a female."
"It’s a divine eagle," Malen said, his own expression filled with surprise.
"Are they even in existence?" the apprentice asked.
"There used to be one," the deity answered. He himself had many questions now. "I have to report to Deity Solon about these two and this new discovery. These two will wake up anytime soon."
They left, while Morpheus, who heard it, was in deep thought. ’Seems like the prediction of my soul belonging to Heaven is in fact right. Anyways, now that they said Ember and Seren are fine, I can just take them away.’
He came out of hiding and went to his mate. "Ember," he called her gently, caressing her cheek. "Wake up."
After a while, she opened her eyes weakly and looked at the familiar face. "Morph?"
"Yes," he said softly. "I’m here to take you back."
Realization dawned on her—what had happened until now—and then she realized that finally, her mate was there to take her back. "D-Draven?"
"He’s there as well, but he has something else to do. We have to leave," he instructed.
"Seren?" Ember wondered, and Morpheus made her look at the stone platform next to her. "Is she alright?"
Morpheus hummed, "We have to hurry."
Ember sat up while Morpheus went to Seren. "Seren, can you hear me?"
There was no response from her. "Seems like we have to carry her out."
Ember felt weak, but she knew she could manage on her own and said, "Carry her. We will leave."
Morpheus lifted Seren in his arms. "Her mate is going to kill me for touching her, but whatever."
"I don’t mind my mate touching another female to save her," Ember commented as she walked by his side slowly, holding onto his arm with one hand.
"I can’t use magic inside here, or I would have used my power to carry you two outside," he said as they proceeded to walk out.
"I see no one here. We can escape easily," Ember commented.
Morpheus, being the commander and with his senses toward security very much alert, thought, ’It’s in fact worrisome, but I can’t just let this chance of escaping slip away—even if it is meant to be created purposefully. Let’s see whatever happened.’
As they finally came out, carefully looking around, Drayce—who had been restless but waiting patiently till now—let out a sigh and hurried to them.
Morpheus was about to hand over Seren to him when many angels appeared all of a sudden, surrounding them, hovering in the air beneath the brightly lit, magical-looking celestial sky, their white wings wide open.
They got alerted. "As expected," Morpheus commented, while Drayce looked around.
"I will take care of them," Drayce said. "Just take care of Seren."
"Go ahead," Morpheus said and took Ember and Seren away so they could stay out of the fighting zone. Morpheus set Seren to sit against one of the stone pillars outside. "Ember, take care of her. I need to help Drayce."
"Be careful," Ember assured as she sat next to the unconscious Seren and let her head rest on her shoulder. She gently patted Seren’s cheek and whispered, "Seren, if you hear me, please wake up. We have to leave this place."
There was no response from her. The hellfire had caused her body a shock stronger than Ember’s—who herself was the owner of hellfire. It was going to take her time to recover, just like Ember.
The angels didn’t look merciful, as they were ready to harm the intruders. Petra had instructed them not to kill, but to hurt them gravely and capture them.
Have I become more powerful here all of a sudden? Morpheus was equally shocked. Either it’s the divine power here, or a bond with my mates. It reminded him of Draven. I wonder what he is doing, and if he has found his sword. It would be more helpful if an invisible God of War is on our side with all his power regained.
Isis looked at Ember and Seren, and instructed the angles, "capture them and bring them to Celestial throne hall."
Drayce, Morpheus and their mates were captured and take away.
----
Evanthe, who had finished narrating everything, was talking to Solon. "Sierra said you will definitely help us. She is still being held captive by Isis."
Even before Solon could respond, they felt vibrations caused by the use of powers.
Evanthe quickly stood up, thinking it might be Drayce and Morpheus—if they had been caught while saving their mates.
"I have to leave," she said, ready to go, but—
"Princess Evanthe, be patient. If you go out like this, you will be captured, and we don’t want that yet," Solon commented.
She looked at him. "Then you have to hide me. I have to go look for my son if he is in—"
Solon stood up. "Your son is a dragon. He can be captured, but he can’t be killed just like that by some angels and deities. Please have patience and stand behind that shelf to hide yourself."
Evanthe did as she was told, and just then, a celestial guard arrived to inform Solon of what had happened.
"I will head to the throne hall," Solon dismissed him, and then Evanthe came out of hiding. "I told you, Deity Solon—"
"Are you fine with your appearance, Princess Evanthe?" Solon asked. "You no longer look like the princess I used to know."
"Does that matter in this situation?" she asked, clearly displeased. "I don’t care what I was before. Now I am just a queen of witches."
"Tells it clearly—the way you’re curious to know your past, while trying to guess which scroll among those must be yours," Solon commented, playfully sarcastic.
"Lord Solon, I am sure when I was a princess, we were not quite on good terms," she retorted, angrily. This deity was infuriating.
He simply smiled and said, "We are leaving, but you are not allowed to show up so soon."
"Then use some magic to hide me," she said, as if it was her right.
"As you wish," he said, and used some magic which hid her existence by his side, and both of them left.

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