Pregnant by the Prince of Lust(BL)

Azriel

I knew it. He probably did not feel the same way I did.

Why else would he try to avoid the question? Besides, I had treated him so poorly in the past, so perhaps this was simply my karma.

Maybe I deserved it, or maybe I had just expected far too much from him. But even if he could not return my feelings, I still desperately wished he could like me even half as much as I loved him.

By the time we returned to Asmodeus Palace, the sun was already dipping below the horizon, and the grand courtyard had been transformed for the post-wedding banquet.

It was a breathtaking spectacle. Lanterns woven from dark silk and glowing with crimson flames hung above the open courtyard, casting a warm, romantic radiance over the feast.

Melodic notes from zithers and flutes echoed through the air, creating an atmosphere that was both elegant and intoxicating.

Low wooden tables groaned under the weight of exotic fruits, roasted meats, and decanters of fine spirits.

The entire realm’s high society—nobles, ministers, palace concubines, and my royal brothers—had gathered in their finest robes to celebrate.

The moment Seraphel and I stepped into the courtyard, every single guest stood up in unison, lowering their heads in deep reverence.

I paid them no mind, sweeping past the sea of bent heads while guiding Seraphel toward the central dais. I made sure he was comfortably seated on his throne before I sat down beside him, prompting the rest of the court to finally take their seats.

My brothers were seated at the neighboring royal tables. I tried my absolute best to ignore them, but their eyes were pinned on us, brimming with unspoken questions.

Raizel was the first to break the silence.

"How do you find my styling?" Raizel asked smoothly, looking between Seraphel and me, clearly seeking praise for the robes he had designed.

I rolled my eyes at his trivial question and answered coldly, "Well, for a start, they smell like sex now."

The bright smile on Raizel’s face vanished instantly, replaced by an annoyed scowl.

"I draped you in the finest shadow-silk in the realm, only for you to bring up sex. Is there truly nothing else occupying your mind, brother?"

I ignored him entirely, turning my attention to Seraphel. Analisse was attending to him, quietly plating his food and pouring a spiced beverage into his cup.

He had been awfully quiet ever since we returned from our tour of the Tower of Prosperity.

I was desperate to know what was running through his head and to figure out if he was still weighing my confession.

Would his answer be different if we were alone? If it were not for this mandatory banquet, I would have demanded his answer already, but tradition bound me here, and no Sin shies away from courtly tradition.

"So, when does this human’s cultivation training begin?" Luceriel’s voice boomed across the table, breaking my train of thought. "Now that he is the royal consort and the wedding is over, cultivation is the natural next step."

I pretended not to hear him at first, shifting my gaze toward the dancers performing in the center of the courtyard. But my mind played tricks on me; as I watched the lead dancer sway, her form morphed into Seraphel’s in my mind.

The memory of the mesmerizing, hip-swaying dance Seraphel had once performed just for me flooded my senses, making my throat go dry.

"Azriel!"

Luceriel’s sharp tone cut through my trance.

I finally turned my head toward him, my expression unreadable.

"Brother, I heard you clearly the first time. There is plenty of time for his cultivation. He is already soul-bonded with me for all eternity. There is no rush."

Luceriel scoffed loudly.

"Oh, you absolute fool! The soul bond does not become fully permanent until the day after the ceremony. It is not sealed yet, which means neither he nor the child is completely protected," he said through gritted teeth. "We have countless mysteries to unravel and missing memories to uncover, yet you sit here boasting about a bond while Elysium could strike at any moment. You would not be able to protect him if they attacked right now!"

I glared at him, my power flaring as I prepared to put him in his place, but Lumiel quickly intervened.

"Can we please refrain from bickering tonight and focus on resolving this peacefully? Elysium will not be attacking anytime soon. My defensive wards are raised high across the border, and if a single breach occurs, I will be the first to know. Let us simply enjoy the feast tonight, and we can discuss our strategy tomorrow."

"I do not believe in waiting for ’tomorrow’ when anything could happen while our guards are down!" Luceriel fired back. "The human is in constant danger, and most of us are returning to our respective kingdoms tomorrow morning. We will not be here to aid you if Elysium launches an ambush."

I narrowed my eyes.

"With the way you keep bringing it up, brother, it almost sounds as though you are hoping Elysium attacks me."

Luceriel shrugged indifferently.

"I am merely stating facts out of concern, dear brother."

"Well, your concern is misplaced because this is my kingdom, and Seraphel is my mate, not yours!" I snapped, my voice laced with dark authority. "Though the child may be destined to liberate our curse, it was still conceived from my essence. I do not require your unsolicited opinions on how to protect what is mine."

"And that is your fatal flaw, Azriel," Luceriel retorted fiercely. "You are always so quick to pick a fight that you fail to recognize genuine concern. No one is disputing that the human and the child belong to you. But we have all witnessed the dangers he has faced, and there are still dark mysteries surrounding us, including the reason why Castiel appeared to him in the first place! He needs to begin his cultivation immediately, and the only realm equipped with the proper resources for a human is my kingdom, Verolona."

I slammed my palm onto the table, the wooden surface cracking under my sheer force.

A volatile mix of jealousy and rage burned in my chest. It felt as though Luceriel was far more interested in keeping Seraphel by his side than actually protecting him.

"I do not care if your kingdom is considered the best place for cultivation, brother!" I growled. "There are plenty of other options. Uriel’s realm possesses some of the finest grandmasters, and Sariel could easily—"

"Leave me out of your squabbles," Sariel interrupted lazily, looking thoroughly unimpressed. "My realm will not be taking the human in for training. I can sense your jealousy loud and clear, Azriel, but Luceriel is the last person you should suspect of ill intent. He may be an arrogant snob, but he is genuinely concerned, as are the rest of us. We are not safe yet, and Elysium is utterly unpredictable. Who knows what they are plotting as we speak?"

Before I could fire back at Sariel, a quiet, melodic voice spoke up beside me.

"I actually agree with Luceriel and Sariel," Seraphel said softly, turning his blue eyes toward me. "I think starting cultivation should be our next step."