Pregnant by the Prince of Lust(BL)

Azriel

Luceriel was getting married. That was the last thing I had expected to hear after two agonizing months away from Seraphel, and the rest of my brothers.

I had pictured my arrival in Verolona going very differently, imagining Seraphel running into my arms the moment I stepped out of the portal. Instead, I was met with a chaotic announcement that sounded far too absurd to be real.

"You are to be married?" I said, disbelief and shock clashing violently in my voice. "You," I said, pointing at my arrogant, overly reserved brother, "intend to marry him?"

I turned my hand toward the grandmaster. I had expected Luceriel’s chosen partner to be remarkable, but this man was beyond anything I could have anticipated.

An undeniable, suffocating presence radiated off him, marking him an Alpha the moment I laid eyes on him. Beyond his striking looks, there was a heavy, commanding weight to his aura, a dark authority proving he stood on the very same tier of power as Luceriel himself. That, I supposed, had to be the reason my brother chose him.

"Why do you find it so hard to believe, Prince Azriel?" the master drawled, a smirk playing on his lips. "I am, after all, the Prince of Pride’s fated mate—"

"Enough!" Luceriel snapped, whipping his head away and slamming a hand against his face.

My eyes widened in shock. In all the centuries we had lived, I had never once seen Luceriel look so unraveled. He had always held his head high, wearing the Pride like an unshakeable crown. Yet here, standing beside this man, he looked defeated, as though fighting a losing battle against his own supposed groom.

Still, setting this sudden, bizarre marriage aside, I could not ignore that this master had had his arm wrapped tightly around my mate’s neck, choking the life out of him only moments ago.

"I care little whether you are marrying my brother, though I confess I still find it hard to believe, knowing the sort of man Luceriel is," I said, resting two fingers against my temple before pointing sharply back at him. "What I still fail to understand is why your hands were around his throat at all."

The master let out a strained groan as my thorny crimson vines constricted tighter around his limbs. "I... apologize, brother-in-law."

"Do not call me that," I warned through gritted teeth, my aura flaring dangerously. "I am not your—"

I cut myself off, letting out a long, shuddering breath as I felt a soft, warm hand slip gently into mine.

The sensation of holding Seraphel again after two long, agonizing months felt almost surreal. The sharp edge of my anger softened at once, and I squeezed his fingers tight, silently swearing never to let him go again.

Luceriel released a sharp sigh, breaking the quiet moment. Stepping toward Paziel, he raised a hand and lifted the bound master into midair with a flick of his power. "You came here for Seraphel," Luceriel said coldly, eyeing me. "Go be with him. I am taking Paziel away."

"He has yet to answer my question," I said, stepping forward. "Why were his arms around my mate’s throat? Why did he threaten to kill him?"

"Do not concern yourself with it," Luceriel replied, his voice unnaturally flat. "I assure you, Paziel is not going to kill the human."

I lifted my brows, thoroughly astonished that Luceriel was defending this man at all. He had never once defended a single soul in his entire life.

"He speaks true. I have no wish to kill Seraphel," Paziel added, a knowing, predatory smirk spreading across his face. "I merely sought to force out whatever blocks his internal energy. Since you are here now, why not discover what hinders him yourself? Perhaps under your care, his spiritual energy will finally flow, and he may break through that pitiful first stage."

I opened my mouth to snap back, but Luceriel was already tearing open a swirling green portal in the middle of the arena.

"And when do you intend to tell our brothers of this madness?" I asked, taking a step toward the rift.

Luceriel did not bother turning back. He took hold of Paziel and stepped into the portal. "Since you have returned, I suppose I had better make the official announcement soon," he called over his shoulder, his voice echoing a second before the spatial tear snapped shut behind them, vanishing entirely.

I stood there in silence, staring at the empty space where they had been, trying to piece together what had just happened.

A gentle tug on my hand brought me back. I turned to face Seraphel, my expression softening at once.

"Are you all right?" I murmured, placing my hands on his shoulders and scanning him quickly, head to toe, to make certain he had not been harmed.

He nodded softly, stepping into my space and burying his face against my chest, arms thrown around me. "I missed you so much, Azriel."

"I missed you too, Little Lotus," I whispered, resting my chin atop his head and pressing a deep kiss into his soft hair. "I want to kiss you properly, but this dusty arena is no place for us. Come. Let me show you the domain I have been building these past few months, just for this moment."

I raised my hand and snapped my fingers.

In an instant, the stone training grounds dissolved into thin air. The harsh arena light faded, replaced by an ethereal landscape.

We stood atop a grand, sweeping stone bridge suspended over a massive, crystal-clear river.

Hundreds of glowing white lotus flowers floated along the water’s surface, radiating a soft, silver light. Above us, the sky burned a striking shade of clear azure, lit by a gentle, golden warmth without any of the sun’s harsh heat.

Before Seraphel could even take in the horizon, the sky shifted into a deep, velvet dusk.

Brilliant bursts of enchanted fireworks exploded across the heavens, showering the river in cascading shades of ruby, gold, and violet.

Seraphel let out a sharp, breathless gasp, his eyes reflecting the colorful light above. "Wow... Azriel, this domain is unbelievable!"

I smiled, stepping up behind him and leaning down until my breath brushed the shell of his ear. "This bridge is only the entrance, my love. Let me show you the rest of it. It is where we shall lock ourselves away until we are both thoroughly spent." I paused, a low rumble echoing in my chest. "Are you curious just how desperately I have missed you, all these long months?"

Seraphel flushed, a beautiful smile spreading across his lips as he turned to face me. "Show me."

"Climb onto my back," I instructed softly, turning and bending my knees slightly.

"A piggyback ride?" he asked, an amused giggle lacing his tone.

"A... piggy-what?" I glanced over my shoulder, brow furrowed, trying to understand his strange phrase. "What does that mean?"

Seraphel laughed brightly, hopping up and wrapping his arms securely around my neck while locking his legs around my waist. "This is called a piggyback ride!"

A fond smile broke across my face as I hooked my arms beneath his thighs, securing him tight against me. "Ah. Then, shall we?"

"We shall!" he cheered excitedly, his voice ringing out happily over the blooming fireworks.