Page 49 of Bound By Lust (Sinful Seven #2)

“Of course, Milord, and to what you represent,” she corrects, voice precise. “Each Sin is a spiritual archetype to them. They don’t just worship, it’s ritualized devotion. They believe aligning with the energy of Sin leads to transcendence, power, and awakening.”

I glance again at the temple and I can easily point out my statue near the front gate. My face is carved in marble, smirking like I know I own everything I want. One of the elves is praying beneath it, whispering my true name like it’s holy, and it makes my stomach twist.

“So… it’s a cult.”

My mother huffs, sitting back on her side.

“No. It’s faith, and that faith not only strengthens you and powers the statues, but also enriches the miasma.

” I shake my head slowly, not getting what’s so great about us but whatever…

I don’t need to hear anymore. I just fall quiet, eyes lingering on the curved spires rising above us, clean, sharp, pristine.

It’s beautiful.

And I still hate it.

After we pass the temples, the carriage speeds up and thankfully it takes little to no time to get to where we’re going.

We pull up to a massive coliseum that is cut into the side of a volcanic cliff, with stands stretching up into the clouds and pits so deep I can’t see the bottom. The crowd’s already buzzing when we arrive, cheering even louder when we get to the podium.

I slump in my throne, fingers tapping the armrest, wishing I’d never came.

I was more content laying in my Jessica Nest. On the side of me Saint sleeps, Genesis is growling because he can’t check his stocks, Pierce is has his nose turned up in the air, Gannon is munching on a feast laid out for him, Echo looks annoyed that he’s not the center of attention, and Wilder… is growling at a video game. Typical…

When my mother stands, the crowd once goes quiet. Her voice echoes through the arena with no mic, only magic and her undeniable presence.

“Today, the Hunt begins anew, but this time will be different… because today, we are joined by the Seven!” She turns to hold her hand out to us and we ignore her.

“Our Lords, they have returned to us, born again in flesh and reunited in the demon realm. Their presence alone blesses this tradition with greater meaning, greater glory. Let this be not just a contest of instinct and dominance, but a celebration of their awakening. May the worthy rise. May the weak fall. And may the blood spilled today honor the sins that shaped hell itself.”

She lowers her hand. The crowd erupts in thunderous howls and chants.

“KILL THOSE OMEGAS! KILL THOSE OMEGAS! KILL THOSE OMEGAS!”

I barely pay attention. This shit is weird and unsettling to even us. I think about leaving until I look and see one of the dragon orbs pan over to a group of people on stage and I freeze, and so do my brothers, all watching in horror.

The Omega’s they have been chanting to be killed… they’re not warriors, or beasts.

They’re fucking people… dozens of them. Girls, boys, men, women…young and old, scared and thin.

These are Omegas?

I don’t even know what the fuck an Omega is, but I know what fear looks like. I know what prey looks like. And this? This isn’t sport. It’s a fucking slaughterhouse!

“Uh. Is this legal?” Wilder leans forward, pausing his game.

“What the hell were we thinking? We made this?” Genesis frowns.

“We’re fucking monsters…” Saint opens one eye and shakes his head…

“This isn’t a game. This is a fucking genocide,” Pierce mutters

“For once… I couldn’t agree more,” Echo snorts.

My mother steps forward, hands clasped around a staff and her excited voice rings out as she point to a hoard of beings called Alphas, who they let out some barbaric ass chant then…

“Omegas,” she sneers. “Speak your rules.” Rules… for Omegas and oaths for Alpha’s… what kinda shit is this?

But fuck that… I watch with gritted teeth as the guards begin stabbing at them on stage and my heart beats so fucking loud when I hear their words that fill the arena as those fucking orbs circle around them slowly, broadcasting each of their faces.

Some in tears, some looking dead already, and some standing with dread and hope.

“We enter by choice or chain. We are prey. We may run, fight, or die. If claimed, we are no longer our own. If we cross the boundary, we die. If we reach the checkpoint alive on the seventh day, we may earn freedom. There is no mercy. No savior. This is the Hunt.”

“FUCK THIS!” we shout together, and it’s as if it’s one fully coordinated attack, we move perfectly in sync like we’ve done this a thousand times.

Wilder, Gannon, and Genesis shoot forward in blurs of orange, blue, and gold, crashing into the stage like fucking meteors. They snatch the Omegas into their arms without hesitation, shielding them with wings, shadows, and raw muscle as screams erupt from the onlookers.

At the same time, Saint, Echo, Pierce, and I rise into the air. My body buzzes with heat, my horns pulse, and my miasma flares so hard it makes the clouds overhead ripple.

I drop hell on this mother fucker, power exploding from my palms, slamming down into the stage like divine wrath along with as my bothers. Stone statues shatter, pillars crumble and collapse. The central platform is obliterated in a flash. The crowd panics, and I barely hear my mother scream.

“MILORDS! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!” I ignore here, hell, we all do, but she keeps going as my father holds her back. “THIS IS TRADITION! THE HUNT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SACRE?—”

I snarl, rounding on her, my tail flicking like a live whip as I hover midair, panting from the release. My brothers gather below, their arms full of frightened Omegas, eyes darting between us and the rubble.

“Fuck you! This,” I pause and point to the Omegas. “Was a never a fucking tradition! This was a slaughterhouse dressed in ceremony!” I grit out as the fire burns hot behind my eyes.

“LORD LUST, YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND!” her voice rings out, skin fire red, eyes all black while flaming with literal fire as she cries lava tears.

“Oh I understand plenty, and we still don’t give a fuck,” I let her know, eyes cold, low and heavy lidded, as the air snaps around me. The crowd hushes as my voice cuts through the ash and chaos, sharp and full of command.

“This Hunt is over. Forever, and with all disrespect… fuck tradition!” I growl, landing on the rubble, causing the ground to split.

“Oh and if any of you sons of bitches have an issue,” I pause and smirk, razor sharp teeth showing, feeling my horn grow and my body become taller.

“Then come see me,” I point… but of course no one dares.

They all shuffle out, screaming like the roaches they are.

After that, my brothers and find staff and order them to take the Omegas away and give them everything they need with warnings that they will die if we hear anyone try anything.

By the end of the night, I barely have the energy to crawl in my Jessica Nest, but when I do, I stare at the ceiling, heart unsettled.

Then write in my journal…

I think I'm dying... hell is a harsh place... I've popped open all of my bags of panties! There is little smell left. I never want to come here again. They will have to drag me from the depths of my Sweet little baby before I leave her side. This place divine punishment...

What the fuck kind of monster was I to call this place home? Yeah I can never let Jessica come here.