Seraphina had woken up and now her head didn't feel heavy and her eyes didn't burn like the previous day. She felt good. She moved on her bed but felt her right hand had been restricted. She moved around her eyes and saw Demian was there beside her bed, seated on the chair but his head was down on the bed. He was sleeping in his shirt and trousers. He hadn't changed.

The vest and coat he had worn yesterday hung from his chair. He hadn't gone to his room but stayed there. Was it for her?

Seraphina didn't understand why he sometimes acted cold toward her when he would end up worrying about her anyways. Was that some dragon hormones acting up? Not to forget, her anger had long been forgotten in the process.

Her belly fluttered and warmth spread across her cheeks. She moved her eyes at her hand and saw Demian's hands were entangled with hers. Had he slept like this the whole night?

Had he been waiting for her to wake up? Her heart thumped and even though she didn't want to, her lips curled up. But then the words Master Valentine said chanted in her mind like some voodoo magic and the smile evaporated.

Him and her were never meant to be together. They were from two different races. The two strong races which had been fighting for a very long time. No one would accept this and maybe after Demian came to know of her identity, he would not accept her.

Her heart sank but her eyes stayed on Demian's boyish face. She had never noticed, he had thick eye lashes and thin lips. He looked very peaceful and she wanted to carve his memories in her mind for eternity.

Her chest suddenly felt tight with the thoughts of leaving him. Her lips trembled and she didn't know why it hurt. It hurt so much that she didn't want to be a wizard anymore. If only she hadn't been a wizard maybe, just maybe she could have stayed with him forever. But if she wasn't a wizard, she could never have met him. Because she had a disastrous power, her father had placed a seal and sent her to marry the water guild master. Because she had powers she fought with the bandits and got exchanged with the human bride. It was all because of her being a wizard that she had come across Demian.

For a moment, she tried to imagine what if she wasn't a wizard. Had she met him?

She looked at him and got up slowly, careful not to wake him up while she pulled her hand. She put a sheet on him.

Maybe it was for a very short time but she liked everything about Dragon Land. She liked the times she had spent with Demian and she would cherish it forever. She would live in a faraway land and remember him in her memories forever. A drop of tear fell from her eyes she hadn't realized.

Demian opened his eyes and immediately she averted her gaze away from him. But the damn tears wouldn't want to stop!

"You are awake..." Demian sat straight as he said in his deep voice and saw the sheet covering him. As he looked at Seraphina, she turned around.

She said, "Ye-yes..." Her voice cracked a little but she managed to stop her sniffs.

"Great. Now I will get going..." He removed the sheet, "I have work..."

As soon as he stood, his legs trembled and pain shot through his entire body as he was about to fall. Seraphina immediately went to him and held him as Demian started to heave for air.

"Wh-what is happening?" Seraphina asked rather panicking as Demian pushed her away and held his chest. He sat on the floor clutching his chest with his clenched palms. The pain had returned and he had to reach his chamber before anyone witnessed him in this state.

"N-nothing." He could not even say a word. It felt like someone was squishing his heart. Seraphina sat next to him on the floor as she rubbed his back knowing so well it won't help.

As she touched his forehead, she found out his skin had started to warm. Had he caught her fever?

Soon his eyes started to close as he leaned against her still heaving for air. His chest rose up and down and Seraphina held him close to her as his body redirected intense heat.

She recalled his curse burns that he suffers all the time. It must have started to act up now and Seraphina felt so pained to see him in that state. He could barely move. As if the pain had increased tenfold. Why couldn't the pain just go away? Why did he have to suffer? Her mind was clogged with questions, fear and sadness.

Demian somehow gained his consciousness and pushed away her hand and growled angrily, "I said it's nothing! I have to go to my room." His voice was breaking and hoarse and he could barely stand but he held the bed and stood up. Sweat appeared on his forehead and it seemed his consciousness was hanging on the thread.

He had started to walk but as his body trembled, Seraphina could see he was trying not to show his pain on his outer walls.

"Demian..." She mumbled and stood up as well. 'Why do you have to act all tough before me?' She wanted to ask but knowing him, he would lash out on her.

He was just a stubborn brat!

Seraphina went behind him and held the door closed as he glared at her, "What do you think you are doing?"

"Just stay here."

"I need to go back to my-" before he could say anything Seraphina dragged him to the bed as he growled, "What-?"

"Just sleep here! You are not in a good condition to go to your room." Seraphina growled, making him stop but she could feel the daggers he was sending in her way. Seraphina had to praise him as he was still in pain yet he had the energy to lash out on her.

"And why should I obey your orders!" He said through his gritted teeth as she dragged him to the bed. He had no power to fight with her but his glares could make anyone cry.

"Because," Seraphina stubbornly pushed him to the bed as he fell on the mattress and growled as her anger was reaching at the tip of her head, "I am your wife!"

Demian for a moment went stunned at her boldness but the anger he had perished immediately as he looked at her with wide eyes. Seraphina huffed in anger but as soon as she realized what she had said, she flustered.

"I mean, stay here today and after...err...after recovering go to your room." Seraphina's eyes drifted everywhere but him, "O-okay?"

Demian's eyes stayed on her for a while and then he moved his head away in a grumpy manner. He moved toward the other side of the bed. He had almost forgotten his pain. He might be angry but Seraphina's stubbornness felt so adorable that he couldn't help but listen to her.

What was she doing to him...

*****

Demian woke up wrapped in Seraphina's arms as her sandy smell hit his nose. Her wild curls fell on his face and he slowly stretched his hand to move them away. Her chest heaved as soft snores came out of her.

His bare body with cursed marks was on full display where Seraphina had no problem touching him. He didn't quite remember much but the memories of the previous night slowly came into his mind. He was burning yet she held him against her as if she was extracting all the pains away from him. If she had the power to do so, she would have done it. He recalled her worried face. It was all genuine and he could feel it. He knew Seraphina felt the same pain as he did.

Demian had never thought he would find someone who would have no problem to share his pain. The burns had subsided and now he could move but he didn't feel like it. He wanted to lay there wrapped around by her and watch her innocent face while she slept peacefully.

Somehow her sleeping in peace made him calm. His hand went to her cheeks and he rubbed his thumb on them feeling the soft surface of her light brown skin. She was beautiful.

Her soft carves felt comfortable and he wanted to lay there the whole day, however, he had work to do as he had no time to waste. He didn't know how much time he had. If he never came back to his consciousness but changed into a berserk dragon, he could never get the work done that needed to be done.

His deep blue eyes washed over Seraphina and stopped at her lips which were slightly parted. He wanted to spend more time with her. Forever. His heart thumped painfully as his thumb moved toward her soft lips. He stroked on it as his face neared, there was only an inch left as both of their breaths fanned on each other's face.

He recalled her angry face, her pouting face, her happy face, even her crying face. He liked everything about her. He didn't know when Seraphina sneaked into his heart where he had built long iron walls. Before he could register what his body wanted, his lips touched her.

His eyes were half hooded as he saw she mumbled in her sleep and he departed immediately. He didn't frown as he knew what he wanted. He wanted her. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

At that moment, Demian knew two things. One, he got himself a weakness that was her and two, she was the strength he needed.

He needed to go back to his work and he called, "Seraphina..."

She mumbled something and he sighed. She was a deep sleeper.

"Seraphina!" This time he called her with a high tone in which her eyes slowly opened and she rubbed them with her hands as she moved away.

"What?" She asked as she sat up and yawned. And as soon as she remembered that he had a rough night, she looked at him worriedly and asked, "Are you alright? Is the pain still there? Do I ask for a physician?"

"No!" Demian sat up as well and Seraphina's eyes saw the marks had spread wider to his chest. It was devouring him slowly. She felt dolour at it and recalled she needed to do something but what?

"I have to go to work." Demian said as he took his shirt and wrapped it around him.

"But would it be a good idea to go now since you have been feeling the burns so often now." Seraphina's voice coated with worry as Demian assured her, "Don't worry. I would not go after tomorrow since it is only a few days I have."

He said as if he would die after 7 days and she didn't like the sound of it as she said, "Why are you saying you would not be here after 7 days..."

Demian smiled dryly and looked at her, "What if I don't?"

"No! That's not going to happen!"

"Of course, the curse would listen to you." Demian commented as he buttoned up his shirt.

"I don't want you to leave me..." Seraphina mumbled, her voice low as her gazes fell on the floor as if it was the most interesting thing she had ever seen.

Demian had heard it as he looked at her and noticed the redness on her cheeks. He would have been flattered or he would have teased her; however, he knew what kind of curse it was. "What if I end up killing you, Sera... Would you still want to be with me?"

Seraphina's worried glance fell on him as he looked into her eyes. By his intense gaze, she could tell he was serious. Her belly knotted into a tie as she said, "I do. I do want to stay with you even if it meant to die."

She meant it. She felt selfish wanting to be with him when her friend's life was in danger. She didn't want to harm Celia but she wanted to save Demian as well. She of course did not just want to leave him.

Demian scoffed. "You are stupid."

He got up from bed and went to the door as Seraphina said behind him which startled him a little, "If me being stupid would make this curse to leave you then I shall forever stay stupid for you."

Demian tightened his hold on the door knob as he knew she meant everything she said just now. She would die for him and he had witnessed it many times but he could not bear to see her hurt and he certainly didn't want her to die a meaningless death in his hands.

He didn't say anything and as he was about to open the door, he saw the maid was coming. As soon as her eyes fell on him, she bowed and said, "I-I shall come later then..."

"No need." Demian said, "You may prepare her as we have to reach the breakfast table in an hour."

"Yes, Your Highness."

And he left.