Chapter 140: A love Stronger than the Curse
Azriel
I desperately tried to suppress the feelings, the urge to not attack him but the voices grew louder in my head making me pull my hair.
’’kill Seraphel!’’
"Azriel," Seraphel’s soft, sweet voice called out from behind me, the light tap of his footsteps approaching the dais.
please don’t come over. please don’t come over. I whispered desperately under my breathe hoping that he would listen and he wouldn’t take another step.
"I would strongly advise against getting close right now, human," Lumiel warned, raising his axe slightly. ’’The curse is taking over him.’’
Seraphel didn’t listen and continued walking. ’’he is not going to hurt me,’’ he responded.
But he lied because i wanted to hurt him. The curse was burning me from inside him, consuming me and killing him was the only way to end it.
I spun around, my eyes glowing a fiery, unholy red as the curse forced me to view everyone in the room as a mortal enemy.
Dark vines lashed out from my wrists, shooting straight toward Seraphel! But before the thorny tendrils could touch a hair on his head, a heavy, pitch-black cord slammed around my torso.
It was the Shadow-Suppression Rope—the very artifact Raizel had used to bind me in the council room. The moment the dark cord tightened around my chest, the crushing bloodlust and dark madness dissolved in an instant, vanishing as though they had never existed at all.
"I must say, my timing is positively divine," Raizel announced with a dramatic flair, popping up from behind a pillar while fanning himself with his golden fan and smirking proudly. ’’else you would have attacked your beautiful mate.’’
I let out a shaky, ragged sigh, closing my eyes tight as the cold reality of what I had almost done washed over me.
I couldn’t bear the thought of Seraphel looking at me right now.
Shame pooled heavy in my gut; I had turned into a monstrous, uncontrolled beast right in front of him. What must he think of me now? Does he hate me? Is his love gone? I wanted to melt into the shadows and hide, because facing his disgust would shatter me completely.
"It’s alright, Azriel," Seraphel murmured softly.
I felt his warm arms wrap securely around my waist from behind, his cheek resting against my spine. Through our bond, I braced for the worst, but all I felt flowing from him was warmth, gentleness, and complete devotion—not a single drop of fear or disgust.
I slowly turned around in his arms, lowering my head, unable to meet his gaze.
"It’s okay," Seraphel whispered, reaching up to gently cup both of my cheeks, forcing me to look into his soft eyes.
"You... you don’t hate me?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
Seraphel shook his head with a small, tender smile. "Why on earth would I hate you? Besides, you still owe me more sightseeing before I leave tomorrow. Since you’re finished here, shouldn’t we go?"
A massive wave of relief washed over my chest, knowing his feelings for me hadn’t wavered. I turned my head toward Raizel. "Raizel, is there any way to suppress this curse long enough until—"
"DIE, YOU MONSTER!"
A desperate, crazed shriek shattered the air from our right. It happened in a fraction of a second—Lord Vaust, having broken his bindings in a fit of suicidal madness, lunged forward with a concealed divine dagger aimed directly at Seraphel’s heart!
Before I could even step in front of him, Seraphel’s instincts flared. He thrust his hand forward, and a blinding beam of pure divine light erupted from his palm, blasting Lord Vaust square in the chest!
Lord Vaust didn’t even have time to scream. The intensity of the celestial magic disintegrated his body instantly, reducing him to a cloud of glittering gold dust that drifted lazily to the floor.
Raizel clapped his hands together dramatically, bursting into an amused laugh. "Oh, my word! What magnificent power! I am thoroughly impressed!"
The surviving concubines and ministers shrieked in terror, cowering against the far walls, while Seraphel stood frozen, staring blankly at his glowing palm.
"He... he lunged at me," Seraphel stammered, horror and guilt washing over his face as he swallowed hard. "I didn’t mean to... I wouldn’t have used my power if he hadn’t tried to kill me..."
Seeing the self-reproach threatening to consume him, I immediately turned to Raizel and gave him a sharp nod. Raizel understood instantly, releasing the pressure of the suppression rope around my chest.
I pulled Seraphel into my arms, pulling him tightly against my chest to shelter him from the gruesome sight.
"He tried to take your life first, my love," I whispered fiercely into his hair, stroking his back to soothe his trembling frame. "If he were alive right now, I would slaughter him ten times over for daring to touch you. You did nothing wrong. Let me take you away from this place. There is one more hidden sanctuary I haven’t shown you yet, and I know you will love it."
Seraphel raised his head from my chest, his soft eyes looking into mine. "Then show me. I want to see it."
I nodded, turning back to face my brother.
Raizel let out a dramatic, exaggerated sigh.
"Fine, fine, I shall lend you the suppression rope for the rest of the day," Raizel grumbled, snapping his fingers. The dark black cord resized itself, wrapping neatly around my right wrist like a sleek bracelet, keeping the inner demon pacified.
"Thank you, brother," I said softly.
"And what of the remaining traitors, Azriel?" Lumiel asked, resting his heavy axe on his shoulder as he gestured toward Lady Lydia.
I glanced coldly at Lady Lydia, my voice cutting through the silent hall like a icy blade. "Malachi, Publicly execute her at dawn. Issue an immediate, domain-wide manhunt for Eiren and Kaevian—announce their treason to every one for their hand in the siege of Katula."
Without waiting for a response, I gathered Seraphel up into my arms, cradling him close against my heart.
"Let’s continue our lovely moments, my little lotus," I whispered in his ear.
A warm, shimmering magic enveloped us both, and in a flash of golden light, we vanished from the Hall of Justice.