Pregnant by the Prince of Lust(BL)

Azriel

Today was the coronation of Seraphel and our bonding ceremony.

Every time the thought crossed my mind, my heart slammed against my ribs with a fierce and unnatural speed, while an intoxicating rush of adrenaline flowed through my veins at the thought of what was about to come.

In just a few hours, Seraphel would be crowned beside me, and our souls would be permanently intertwined through the royal bonding ritual. He would be mine, fully and indisputably bound to my life force for eternity, and the mere anticipation of that connection sent a thrilling shiver down my spine.

Yet beneath that burning excitement, a sharp edge of anxiety gnawed at me.

We still had Elysium to deal with, and I knew they would not sit idly by while a Sin took a mate. They could launch an attack at any given moment, and the thought of any threat coming near Seraphel on this day made me uneasy.

I paused in front of the tall mirror and adjusted my attire.

I was dressed in a majestic midnight-red ceremonial robe, heavily embroidered with intricate gold threads that shimmered beneath the light.

A long, sweeping cloak made of dark, ethereal fabric trailed behind me, secured at my collarbone by a large white brooch that stood out against the deep red of my robes.

My silver hair had been combed back impeccably and tied neatly behind my head, while a dark crown rested upon my head, completing the appearance of the Prince of Lust.

I looked every bit like the formidable prince I was, yet my mind was entirely consumed by a single human.

Unable to remain cooped up in my chambers any longer, I made my way down to the ancestral hall where the sacred bonding ceremony would take place.

The grand hall was already filled to capacity when I arrived. The air was heavy with the rich scent of burning incense and rare oils, while high-ranking nobles of Katula stood in their finest silks, ministers of the court whispered among themselves, and rows of lesser humans gathered to witness the historic event.

Off to the side, the palace concubines stood in quiet formation, waiting for the ceremony to begin.

The moment my arrival was announced, the entire hall fell silent.

Everyone lowered their heads as I entered, and I walked through the hall without acknowledging anyone, my gaze fixed ahead as I made my way toward the ceremonial dais.

"Have you reinforced the wards around Katula?" I demanded, turning my sharp gaze toward Malachi the moment I reached the dais. "I want the perimeter doubled. If a single fly so much as breathes near the outer barriers without authorization, I want it incinerated instantly."

Before Malachi could answer, a familiar and smooth voice came from behind me.

"I have already personally overseen the setup of the wards, Azriel."

Lumiel stepped forward with a calm expression and a reassuring smile.

"Do not worry so much. Everything will be completely fine, dear brother."

I narrowed my eyes at him, my jaw tightening slightly.

"Pardon me if I refuse to leave Seraphel’s safety to chance, Lumiel. Elysium’s shadows run deep, and today of all days is when they are most likely to strike."

"Oh, do calm down, Azriel." Luceriel’s voice came from the side, and when I turned toward him, I found him leaning against one of the stone pillars with a smirk playing on his lips.

"You are pacing around like a panicked fledgling. Have a little faith in our defenses. Or is the great Prince of Lust suddenly losing his composure over a human?"

"Watch your tongue, Luceriel," I warned softly, allowing a dangerous crimson light to flicker in my eyes. "This is not a game."

Before the tension between us could escalate, Sariel stepped forward and waved a hand dismissively.

"Azriel is right to be cautious, but you can rest easy, brother. My shadow sentinels are stationed at every corridor, entryway, and high point across the entire city, so no one will be able to move without my knowledge today. We have everything under control."

Anomas, who would officiate the sacred bonding ceremony, nodded in agreement before speaking in his deep, steady voice.

"I have personally swept the spiritual plane surrounding Katula, and there is no dark energy, celestial presence, or unusual magical disturbance anywhere in the area. The realm is completely quiet, so you can put your worries aside and focus on the ceremony."

I let out a slow, controlled breath and forced the tension in my shoulders to ease as I absorbed their assurances.

They were right.

The entire strength of the Sins was gathered here, the palace was heavily guarded, and every possible entrance had been secured.

Katula was practically an impenetrable fortress, and there was no reason for me to believe that Elysium could reach Seraphel today.

And even if they did, I would protect him.

Then, the heavy stone doors at the far end of the ancestral hall slowly began to swing open.

The low chatter among the ministers and nobles disappeared almost instantly, leaving the entire chamber in a deep and breathless silence.

I turned my head toward the entrance, and the moment I saw who was standing there, my breath caught in my throat.

Seraphel stepped into the hall.

He was dressed in traditional blood-red robes adorned with exquisite white lotus flowers embroidered in shimmering silver thread.

The rich red fabric draped beautifully around his slender frame, moving gracefully with every step he took and creating a striking contrast against his pale skin.

His long, dark-blue hair fell softly over his shoulders, with a delicate chain of teardrop-shaped pearls woven through it, each pearl catching the warm candlelight whenever he moved.

He looked regal and serene, but more than anything, he looked so breathtakingly beautiful that the entire hall seemed to disappear around him.

The ministers vanished from my sight, the nobles ceased to exist, and even my brothers and the grand ancestral pillars behind them faded into the background until there was nothing left for me to see but him.

There was only Seraphel.

My heart began to hammer violently against my chest, beating so hard that it felt as though it might burst straight through my ribs.

A wave of overwhelming emotion crashed over me with such force that I almost forgot where I was standing.

Seraphel took his first slow steps down the crimson carpet toward me, and as I watched him approach, a truth I had spent so long refusing to acknowledge finally pierced straight through my soul.

What I felt for Seraphel was not mere obsession, nor was it simply a protective instinct or a fleeting fascination with a human who had somehow managed to capture my attention.

It was something far deeper, far more dangerous, and far more absolute than any of those things.

It was a word I had never dared to whisper and a feeling I had once believed was completely impossible for a Sin like me to possess.

It was love.

I loved him completely, unconditionally, and with a terrifying depth that even I could no longer deny.