Chapter 91: Clues from the Concubine Halls
Seraphel
My eyes widened when I knew who else had the colors. It was the concubine halls.
I always memorize things quickly and I figured it out when he mentioned it.
Someone had tried to hurt me from the concubine halls?
Who could it be? I knew that I had so many enemies but who could have a connection to elysium? Who hated me enough to put me in that dreadful dream that almost took my life?
"Ah..." Azriel breathed, his soft tone twisting into something terrifyingly dark. "So one of the palace staff managed to poison Seraphel right under my nose while I was occupied."
Lumiel let out a booming laugh, shaking his head. "Your castle defenses are utterly pitiful, brother. But I suppose that is what happens when you spend your days indulging in lustful distractions instead of watching your back."
"I haven’t engaged in a single lustful act since..." Azriel caught himself mid-sentence, biting his lower lip as a rare, faint flush dusted his high cheekbones.
His blazing crimson eyes slowly shifted toward mine, holding my gaze with an intensity that made my throat go dry.
I stared back, completely captivated, desperately wondering what was running through his head.
Raziel scoffed loudly, fanning himself at a frantic speed. "Well, if that is the case, we simply must drag this traitor out into the light. Uncovering the servant will lead us straight to whoever orchestrated this little plot from the shadows."
"Malachi!" Azriel roared into the quiet chamber.
In a fraction of a second, a swirl of jet-black shadow materialized in the center of the room, resolving into the tall, dark figure of his commander.
"Your Highness, I am at your command," Malachi barked, dropping to one knee with absolute military precision.
"Summon every single servant in this entire palace to the Hall of Justice immediately," Azriel ordered, his voice laced with venom. "Force them all to their knees until I arrive to address them personally. Keep a tight watch on every single one of them. Do not let them catch even a whiff of what this is about until I stand before them. Do you understand me?"
"Understood, your highness," Malachi answered sharply.
With a swift movement, he dissolved back into the shadows and vanished.
Azriel turned back to face the room, his jaw clenched tight. "I will find the rat who dared touch what is mine, and I will tear them apart."
"I would gladly assist you with the interrogation," Lumiel offered with a dark, terrifying grin. "It has been far too long since I had the pleasure of breaking a traitor."
Azriel gave him a sharp nod of approval.
"Well then, I shall take my leave to ensure the wedding arrangements are nothing short of spectacular," Raziel chimed in cheerfully, floating toward the exit. "I will personally prepare the grandest, most extravagant domain of pure luxury for the ceremony and sariel would be joining me.’’
’’No, I won’t,’’ Sariel refused immediately.
’’Oh yes, you will,’’ raziel responded with a grin and Sariel let out a groan but said nothing after.
"If we are finished here, I am taking Seraphel," Azriel announced, stepping up to the edge of the bed.
Before I could even process his movement, Azriel leaned down, slipped his large, warm hands beneath my back and knees, and effortlessly scooped me up into his arms.
The sudden movement caught me off guard, and instinct took over—my cheeks flushed a fiery, burning red, and I instantly buried my face directly into the crook of his neck, hiding my embarrassment against his cool skin and breathing in his scent.
"Oh, look at that! I knew it! This is true love!" Taizel and Raziel both squealed in unison, pointing at us with ridiculous, mocking grins.
"Oh, shut up!" Azriel snapped, his face reddening as he snapped his fingers in annoyance.
A sudden blast of dark crimson energy shot across the room. A second later, a pair of fluffy, long animal ears burst right out of the top of Taizel’s head, while a splash of bright, glowing red liquid rained down out of nowhere, completely soaking Raziel’s immaculate clothing.
Azriel let out a petty, satisfying smirk as he looked at their ruined appearances.
"Azriel!" Raziel shrieked in absolute horror, looking down at his drenched, stained robes with his jaw hanging open. "This silk was imported from the highest celestial realm! It cost a fortune, you arrogant, mindless brute!"
"Right back at you, brother," Raziel hissed through gritted teeth. He whipped out his golden fan, flicked his wrist, and hurled a bright, sparkling sphere of magic straight at Azriel’s head.
The spell hit Azriel square in the face with a soft poof.
A cloud of glitter cleared, revealing two long, soft, floppy white bunny ears sprouting directly from the top of Azriel’s head, twitching awkwardly with his every movement.
I peeked out from the crook of his neck, saw the ridiculous white bunny ears sitting proudly atop the fearsome Lord of Lust’s head, and completely lost it.
A sudden, unstoppable burst of laughter erupted from my chest, my shoulders shaking violently against his body.
Seeing my reaction, the rest of the Sins couldn’t hold back either. Lumiel let out a thunderous roar of laughter that shook the ceiling dust, while Taizel doubled over, clutching his stomach and twitching his new animal ears. Even Luceriel let out a sharp, amused huff, shaking his head at the utter absurdity of the scene.
"To hell with your stupid, ridiculous magic, Raziel!" Azriel barked, his face turning an even deeper shade of crimson as he tried—and failed—to shake the twirling bunny ears off his head.
"Consider it a gift for the groom, Azriel!" Raziel retorted smugly, smoothing down his ruined robes with a proud huff.
I buried my face back into his neck, snickering uncontrollably as Azriel grumbled curses under his breath, stomping out of the grand chamber while his fluffy bunny ears flopped uselessly with every angry step he took.
And I couldn’t stop laughing.