Page 43 of Promised to the Demon King (The Demon Brides #1)
Nova stood before an altar. She was adorned in a deep emerald green lace gown with a deep black corset visible beneath the lace. The thin straps balanced the snow-white paleness of her soft skin. The deep hem of her dress's high-low design revealed her smooth and toned legs and her lack of footwear.
Her bare feet chilled only briefly on the smooth stone flooring.
Her long neck was displayed and bare, as is the ritual tradition. Her accepted King shall bestow his sigil mark and a keep locket upon her neck.
A bit of Asmodeus's essence will be contained within this keeper's locket. This will allow all who reside within Hell to recognize her position and who her King is. It is a reminder that approaching her romantically or maliciously will result in death by Judgment.
Once his mark and keep locket are placed, they become magically sealed by their ritual; it can not be removed. Only through death can the pair separate, but you must also kill the King, as his essence always protects his Queen.
"My beautiful Queen!" Asmodeus's voice came from behind her as she took in her own appearance.
"Assi!" Nova gasped, instantly running into his awaiting arms.
"Happy birthday, my love. I am happy that we can finally be together." He pulls back from their hug and captures her lips. His kiss is possessive, scorching, and branding.
"I missed you all day!" she whispered breathlessly.
"Are you ready to be mine forever, my love?"
"Always!"
He claims her lips once again before pulling away with a big smile. "This is the first day of my existence where I've felt complete and truly happy. There is no bitterness or loneliness in my now beating heart. I will always worship you. Protect you, and above all of that, I will always love only you."
"Awww—" a familiar voice interrupted the moment only to be aggressively shushed by several other voices.
When Nova turned to see who else was with them, she saw her-- in the flesh.
Roz.
Nova didn't think twice; she sprung into an immediate run. She could finally hug the woman who had been a mother to her throughout her life.
A hug. Finally.
She had craved physical touch from Roz her entire life. Although she knew she should be focused on Asmodeus, Roz's ritual was still a big part of her world. She needed this moment, and from the smile and misting in Roz's eyes, so did she.
Their bodies collided, but the impact didn't slow either of the females down. Their arms wrapped around one another tightly, as though afraid the other would disappear otherwise.
"Finally!" Roz whispered in Nova's ear, tightly holding the girl she considered her kin.
"You're real!" Nova whimpered, her face burrowed into Roz's chest, and she breathed her in deeply.
"We can catch up later, little star. We first have to handle business." Roz smirked and gave Nova a suggestive wink that brought forth an instant blush on Nova's face.
"Hello again, Nova. I told you we would see each other again very soon." Lilith smiled warmly. Next to her stood a large and incredibly intimidating male. If she thought that Asmodeus and his brother she had met were intimidating, then this man defined the word entirely.
Noticing her uneasy glance around, Lilith smiled.
"Allow me to introduce you, Nova. This handsome Devil by my side is my King and love, Lucifer."
"Wait, as in the Devil? You're Satan?" Nova stuttered; she looked to Asmodeus for help. With a chuckle, Asmodeus walked over, pulling Nova into his side protectively.
"Nova, this is my Father, Lucifer and my Mother, Lilith. They will not harm you. You do not need to fear either of them. As I mentioned, Hell isn't how it is relayed to mortals by Christians and Catholics. A collaboration of tales and embellishments. It is also a case of mistaken identity. My brother, Wrath, was named Satan when he ascended to his Ring as King. He is a much younger version of our Father in appearance and the personification of our Mother's first Sin. Where Father was created in a balance of light and darkness by the creator, Satan was born with pure fury and hatred. When mortals saw my brother on a mission in Earth's realm, they mistook him for our Father. The name is often used to describe the same Demon, but they are separate beings. A traveller brought that misconception to England in the sixteen hundreds, and it became one of the many names associated with my Father. Much of the stories regarding the Underworld are created just the same."
Taking strength from Asmodeus by her side, Nova pushed back her instilled fear and stepped forward, offering her hand with a timid Hello.
Lucifer smirked at her shyness. "You'll be just fine, my dear Nova. There is always an adjustment period, but don't think of me as the Devil; you may call me Dad since I am your new Father-in-law. Lilith and I never had daughters, so we cherish the selected Queens as such." His smile was immaculate. It was oddly warm and welcoming. Nova couldn't help but return the smile.
She was standing before two of the first living beings on the planet; it was surreal. They were both flawless in beauty, so it made sense where the brothers got their striking features from. It also made sense why they were comfortable within the beastly states. As the first to walk the Earth, they were pure. Humanity, over time, became weaker due to watered-down bloodlines.
"It is nice to meet you both. Thank you again for your help the other day." Nova smiled at Lilith.
"Think nothing of it. It's easy to get turned around and lost around the Rings without a proper guide." Lilith winked at Nova and sent Greed a warning glance. A glance that Asmodeus caught, but with the look his Father gave him, he'd wait until later to press for details.
Asmodeus pulled Nova back to his side and introduced his brothers and the three Queens already selected, but what had Nova's interest the most was the large, beastly man standing next to Roz. His eyes never left hers, glistening in the same bright green brilliance that hers did. She knew who he was.
Nova lunged forward, wrapping her slender arms around his thick waist.
A beastly purr erupted within Thalon as his kin recognized him as her Father. Her demoness called to him, and he responded, the bond silently forming before everyone's eyes.
"I—" Thalon started to speak, but emotions choked him up.
"Hi, Dad!" Nova whispered. No one else spoke; they stood silently, watching the pair. Lords seldom showed emotion; it was dangerous, but inside the safety of the alter room, Thalon let Nova in.
"Okay," Thalon quickly swiped his loose tears with his thick, calloused finger and smoother Nova's away gently with the pad of his thumb. "It's time to bring forth our Queen. We can catch up tomorrow, my daughter." The emotional rumble in his chest at the admittance and acceptance of their bond drew Roz's hand, rubbing Thalon's vibrating chest to calm the emotional beast within.
A Cerberus demon only responds to its master and King, its chosen mate and any pups sired. All three stood before him, and his beast rumbled with joy and contentment.
The ritual began.
Asmodeus and Nova stood across from one another. Lucifer and Lilith stood in the center, adorned in elegant ritual robes and talismans.
Although Nova did not speak the dead language used, she followed Asmodeus's lead and remembered Roz's instructions.
They guided her in the words to say. Her palms were cut and pressed into Asmodeus's palms, uniting them with a sacred blood oath, binding them and their souls together for all of eternity.
"Nova, our end of the ritual is complete. You will now disrobe and consummate this binding union after we depart. Welcome to the family, my dear. You are truly the balance designed for our son, Asmodeus. We wish you health and blessings all of the time. If you ever need anything, you can come and see Lilith and me. You are under our protection now." Lucifer spoke and nodded to the others watching within the room to leave.
In a blink, only Nova and Asmodeus remained.
"Are you ready, my love?" his voice deep with arousal.
"I am." With that, Nova untied the lace, holding it to her body and allowing it to fall to her feet. The corset hugged in, accentuating the curves she never realized she had.
"I have waited a very long time to claim my Queen. I shall leave no part of your beautiful body unclaimed by my touch, my love."
Asmodeus took a significant step forward, his hand grasping his hip, pulling her flush to his bare-chested body.
His free hand tilted her chin up to face him. "After tonight, no one will ever doubt who you belong next to. You shall be my love, my Queen, my whole world for all of time. Never shall we walk alone again."
"I love you, Assi!" Nova spoke, her vision blurred with her happy tears.
"I love you, my heart!"
Gently at first, Asmodeus captured her lips. Teasing her senses, sparking to life her arousal. Nova wrapped her around his thick neck, locking his lips to hers. Leaving no chance for him to escape hers.