Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

"You exude the aroma of snow and the delicate plum blossom," Drayce replied.

"Snow? Does it even have a scent?" she inquired.

"Indeed, it does. Once we return to Megaris, I'll allow you to experience it," he promised.

She nodded and continued, "As for that flower, I've never seen or heard of it before."

"It's a variety of flowering tree that thrives exclusively in the northern wilderness of Megaris, rarely found anywhere else on this continent," he explained.

Curiosity shining in her eyes, she inquired further, almost as if she were questioning her own scent, "What do they smell like?"

"They emit a sweet, flowery fragrance with a hint of fruity notes," he replied, leaning closer to her nape to take a deep breath. "It's a beautiful and comforting scent."

Pulling back with a content expression, he looked at her only to hear him ask with a serious student like expression on her face, "Is there a reason why my scent resembles snow and that particular flower?"

He nodded, his gaze fixed on hers. "I personally adore the scent of the Plum Blossom, and my Dragon side has an affinity for snow."

Seren's eyes widened as understanding dawned on her. "So, does that mean Erebus enjoys snow?" At least she was getting to learn something about Erebus.

Drayce nodded once more, his eyes locked with hers. "A mate's scent is meant to provide comfort to their partner. Your scent is unique to us and brings comfort to both of us."

"Why do you have such an affinity for that particular flower?" she asked, intrigued by his choice. In her opinion, it was an unconventional selection, given that most people favored common flowers that were easily seen and appreciated by others.

He explained, his hand gently caressing her cheek as he gazed deeply into her eyes, "They are tenacious yet fragile flowers, symbolizing purity and resilience.

That's what I needed the most." Drayce caressed her cheek as he gazed into her eyes, "I had darkness inside me so I must have sought for the one so pure, who won't be corrupted by my darkness, and her sweet fragrance leading the way for me out of that darkness. A white plum blossom and a snow, as pure as one can feel it.

I hated the darkness inside me, maybe that is why I longed for purity," he answered and repeated, "You are the light to the darkness inside me, Seren."

"It's incredibly beautiful to hear." Her voice was a tender whisper as she looked deeply into his eyes, her hand inching closer to caress his cheek, "There is no darkness inside you, Dray. I've told you before, you and your heart are the purest I've ever encountered."

A faint smile graced his lips as he replied, "Still, we cannot ignore the presence of Erebus, my darker side."

Seren offered a compassionate perspective. "Perhaps he isn't as you perceive him to be. To me, he seems like a lost child in need of care and attention. You need not be wary of him thinking he might hurt me. He won't, I can tell."

"How are you so sure?"

"Because in the end Erebus is you and I know you won't hurt me ever," she replied, her gaze showed she meant every word she said.

Drayce felt a sense of relief that Seren held a positive perception of Erebus, "I'm glad to see you're not afraid of him."

She shook her head, her expression determined. "In fact, it seems like he's afraid of me. Whenever I sense his presence, he retreats."

Drayce chuckled softly, his relief deepening. "That's good to know. It means you can tame him effectively, and he won't pose a threat to you."

Resolute, Seren declared, "The next time I encounter him, I won't let him escape."

Drayce reassured her, "As long as you feel safe with him, and it feels right to you. If not, you can call for me, and I'll be there."

Seren returned to their previous topic, her curiosity piqued. "So, when you mentioned that my scent is exclusive to you, does it mean that only you perceive my scent like that flower while others experience it differently?"

Drayce explained, "To others, you may emit the scent that your body naturally carries, but to me, it's akin to that particular flower and the season that brings me comfort."

She pondered this for a moment. "Rayjin once mentioned that I smell like flowers," she recalled, then questioned, "So, is scent really crucial for mates?"

"It acts as a catalyst to expedite the bonding process once the beast marks his mate. Once marked, they have no choice but to complete the bond," Drayce answered. "Not only me, but you will also experience the same and won't be able to resist my scent."

Seren responded with a hint of playfulness, "Your scent? You do smell quite nice..."

Drayce corrected her with a knowing smile. "Not the scent you're experiencing now. The one I'm referring to is the scent you'll sense once I mark you. Since you're not a beast woman, you won't be able to perceive that scent just yet."

Seren understood and said, "Then, I look forward to discovering what you smell like."

Drayce hesitated for a moment before replying, "For that to happen, Erebus needs to mark you."

With a comforting gaze, she assured him, "I've read about it. I think it will be fine. Don't worry."

Understanding that the bonding was inevitable, Drayce resolved to gradually introduce Erebus to her so she wouldn't be frightened when the time came.

Changing the subject, Seren's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she asked, "I forgot to inquire, how does Oriana smell to Prince Arlan?"

Drayce replied, "She smells like honeysuckles in summer."

She pondered this for a moment and remarked, "So, Prince Arlan's human side favors honeysuckles, and his beast side associates with summer."

"You're absolutely right," Drayce confirmed.

"I can't help but notice that Dragons seem to have a preference for different weather." Seren mused aloud, "Now I am curious about Black Dragon, the king of Agartha. What weather does he like?"

Drayce responded, "There's a chance we might meet the King of Agartha, at some point. Then you can ask him yourself."

he seemed concerned, "Can I really? I don't want to trouble him."

Drayce reassured her, "You're free to do as you wish. I'll be there to support you."

Her smile hidden behind her veil, she hugged him affectionately and teased, "You do enjoy spoiling me, don't you?"

Drayce smiled warmly and held her close, cherishing the feel of her soft body against his.

There was a knock on the door.

Drayce let go of Seren and said, "You can enter Slayer."

Slayer entered the study, his gaze lowered, "Your Majesty, Prince Arlan's aide will be here soon. I have sent message that we need her help to treat Her Majesty."

"You did well. Arlan won't be able to say no even if he doesn't wish to part with his mate," Drayce smiled only to hear Seren, "You are using me to trick your friend."

"I am doing it for his own good," he assured.