Chapter 186: Secret Behind The Scent Of A Mate
Chapter 186 of "The Devil's Betrothed" opens presenting twists: Chapter 186: Secret Behind The Scent Of A MateArlan and Drayce, who were still discussing... Keep following!
Chapter 186: Secret Behind The Scent Of A MateArlan and Drayce, who were still discussing inside the drawing room, heard the petty quarrel between Oriana and Rafal. Arlan was amused to witness Oriana growing irritated, and by the time she finished treatment, the grin on his face widened.
"Are you proud? Drayce commented. "You got a fierce one."
"Fierce is good. Interesting to tame."
"I wonder if you will end up tamed instead."
"I am not like you."
"Do not forget she is your mate."
"Not mine. I am a human and we donât have your concept of mates."
"We will see." Drayce smirked at him mockingly. "I will wait for the day when you eat your own words."
Arlan sneered at him. "All I want is her presence."
"And her scent?"
"It comes with her presence."
"Does it?" Those red eyes seemed amused at his denial. "Itâs a scent only unique to you."
Arlan threw a cautious look his way. Drayce had little to no humor. For him to be like this, it seemed like a trap.
"Hmm," Drayce nodded. "Do you want to know the secrets behind why males are tempted by a potential mateâs scent and why they are only unique to you?"
"Something that has to do with a unique scent, since you so kindly mentioned it earlier."
Drayce nodded. "Why are you initially attracted to her? It is because her scent is specifically only for you, the kind you want, the kind you need. What does her scent remind you of?"
Arlan did not even have to think about it. "Honeysuckles. She smells like honeysuckles in summer."
"How does it make you feel?"
To such a question, Arlan took a while to collect his honest thoughts. "Gives me a feeling of summer, I guess. The kind of sunny summer where there is no darkness and just bright light everywhere. Like the warm refreshing breeze of summer that takes away the chilly coldness I feel in the darkness..."
"Exactly what you need," Drayce commented. "Thatâs the kind of unique scent that pulls you towards her. Our mateâs scent is tailored by the world on what brings the greatest comfort to us. That is what it means to have a destined mate."
Arlan continued, "Those flowers were what my mother liked the most. I grew up always having them around me. After her death, I forgot as no one seemed to like those flowers in the palace. That scent brings me comfort from my childhood, back when I was with my mother, how protected and comforted I felt with her."
"You got your answer then," Drayce commented.
Arlan sighed, his gaze distant. A bitter smile hung on his face. Memories about his mother, no matter the good or the bad, had never failed to evoke pain in him. He changed the subject, "What does Seren smell like to you?"
Drayce answered, as if expecting this very question, "Do you know of white variety of plum blossoms?"
"Iâve heard of it. Isnât that a kind of flowering tree that grows in the northern wilderness of Megaris?"
Drayce agreed. "They are flowers that bloom amidst the snow, their sweet fragrance creating a sense of calm and peacefulness towards travelers who often climb the dangerous rugged peaks of the snowy mountains in the North. They are tenacious yet fragile flowers, symbolizing purity and resilience. Thatâs what I needed the most. One so pure, she wonât be corrupted by my darkness, and her sweet fragrance leading the way for a lost traveler in a dangerous terrain like me. 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."
Both kept quiet for a while as they thought about the unique scents of their mates that captivated them.
"Now you seem to be interested in mate stuff," Drayce commented as he smiled lightly.
"Donât try to get me into it. I was just curious as you raised the topic."
"My advice is for you to start accepting the truth as soon as possible."
"You mean offer her to that creature? Never. I am the one who found her. That vile thing has no right to claim what is mine. She is mine. Mine alone."
Drayce chuckled as he leisurely leaned back in the chair. "Can you hear yourself? You donât sound like you think of her as a mere servantâ like what you always claim. The way you are talking now is that of a beast laying a claim on his mate. You are slowly becoming him."
"Are you having fun?" Arlan glared at him. "It wasnât long ago when you were cursing your dark side, that Erebus, for having a claim on your wife?"
"Situation forces you to change. You will understand that as well. No need to hurry. Take your time." Drayce stood up. "I have to go to my wife. I am sure you must be dying to personally check if your mate is hurt somewhere."
Arlan frowned as he watched his friend disappear.
"This Red Dragon is talking too much these days. I kind of miss the old him who barely opened his mouth. It was so fun to tease him back then...Tsk, how the tables have turned."
After Oriana returned the medicinal supplies she borrowed, she went to the servant quarters to change out of her dirty outdoor clothes. The familiar fabric of her attendant uniform gave her a strange, calming feeling.
âThat was not a dream, right? That really happened, right? Right?â She stared at the small rips on the dirty linen on the table. âA group of mysterious people attacked us. They wanted to get Queen Seren, and they would not mind spilling otherâs blood.â
Inside the safety and comfort of her room, accompanied with nothing but the sound of her own movements, the fear she suppressed came rushing back. It was the first time she experienced being surrounded by a hostile group like that, each of them with the intent to kill. The events inside the temple made her shudder.
âThose assassins...â
She felt confused, powerless and helpless.
She recalled how Rafal received a deadly attack. How the knight vomited blood as he slammed against the wall. How those robed people were thrown off the ground when she accidentally called forth that tornado.
âHas it always been this easy to hurt people?â
Though she did save her group, she had also inevitably hurt other people in the process as well. When the wind raged outside of her control, even Seren and Xena were affected. Her body shivered at the memory of the temple nearly collapsing on them. If Yorian and Slayer did not pull them to safety...
âThe world of magic and witchcraft is dangerous. Do I,â she hesitated, âdo I really want to be a part of this world?â
Oriana didnât know. She wished someone would answer that question for her.