Chapter Seventeen
Silas
The day has finally come. Our bonding ceremony is here.
I find myself extremely nervous as I pace my room. Serenity was with my dad getting ready. He has been her support, since she doesn’t have any of the brides or Lilith to support her.
Dad took her from me last night because she needed to do a full-on pampering. I have no idea what that entails, but I barely slept being away from her. I at least knew she was safe somewhere in the palace though.
My brothers have made their way over to my side of the palace and are trying to get me to relax.
“It’s times like these that I wish our powers worked on each other. Silas could use some of Jasper’s laziness and chill right now,” Gareth mutters.
“I don’t know why I’m so nervous,” I mumble.
“Probably because you are bonding with your bride; tying her to you forever,” Lorenzo suggests.
I shake my head.
“I can feel that we are already tied together.”
“Maybe it’s because you haven’t had sex with your bride, and tonight that’s finally going to happen?” Otis teases.
I still and swallow hard. “Fuck.”
I run a hand through my hair.
“I am lust; I have had sex before. I have been having sex for centuries; why is this time so nerve wracking?” I ask.
“Because she’s your forever, and she has never had sex before; you basically have to make it good because you don’t want to make her first time a disappointment,” Leopold adds.
Fuck, I said that out loud. I’m really going nuts.
“Everything will be great. She really loves you,” Fredrick tries to reassure me.
“Did she tell you who is next?” Gareth asks.
I shake my head.
“No, she didn’t. You guys will find out in a couple hours who is next,” I state.
A couple of my brothers look hopeful that it will be them, but there are still a couple of them that dread the idea of finding their bride.
We have the family and some people we would consider friends joining us today for our bonding ceremony.
Serenity didn’t want it to be a huge event, which was fine by me.
With Furcas still out there, I didn’t want too many beings of Hell near her; just those few that we were very confident were loyal.
The door opens, and my father walks in.
“It’s time, son. Are you ready?”
I blow out a breath.
“Yes, I have never been more ready in my life,” I respond.
He smiles.
“I knew you being first was the right choice,” he declares.
We head out to the back of the palace that my brothers had worked hard to decorate. I guess if we lived topside then it would be considered the back yard, but this is Hell so you pretty much see a bunch of rock, lava, and some hills.
We have special decorations here because of how hot it is, and there are black chairs set up with red cloth over each chair.
There are red fire lights around the space, creating a low glow.
I nod my head to beings that have come as I make my way to the end of the aisle. My father stands beside me to perform the ceremony, and my brothers take seats in the front row.
Everything goes quiet when music starts playing. It’s low and ominous, but I keep my eyes trained on the end of the aisle.
My eyes widen when I see Serenity walk up.
She’s wearing a red dress with black lace. The skirt on the dress is flared out a bit. She looks like a princess of Hell right now.
She’s smiling at me, and tears well in her eyes but don’t fall as she slowly makes her way to me.
I can see and feel how much she loves me in this moment.
I take her hands in mine and resist the urge to kiss her as we wait for our official bonding to be completed.
“I’m very proud to be standing here today.
Centuries ago, Lilith and I had decided to create our sons.
Before we did, we searched the world for souls that would match with theirs perfectly.
In those moments, we had cemented a bond ensuring these souls would be together when the time was right.
My son, Lust, has found his bride, Serenity. ”
At this point, he stops, clears his throat, and swallows hard.
“I know my Lilith would have loved to be here today to see the beginning of the bonds form. Lust and his bride are joining their life forces together. I believe they would like to say some words to each other,” my dad says before gesturing for us to begin.
I look at Serenity and smile softly at her.
“Serenity, for centuries I wanted to have a partner of my own, someone who wasn’t influenced by my sin.
When I found out there was someone out there for me, words can’t describe how excited I was.
Then I met you, and you are more than I could have ever hoped for.
I love you more every single day and look forward to an eternity with you. ”
A couple of tears fall from Serenity eyes as she smiles at me.
“Silas, I spent years alone and afraid. I wondered why I bothered to keep living when I was without anything to keep me going. I wasn’t living, I was simply existing.
When you came into my life, I had no idea that you would become my whole world.
You gave me a family and taught me how to let someone in and love someone, even if it’s terrifying.
I found out that you are the reason why I needed to keep going.
I’m lucky I get to spend an eternity loving you and being loved by you. ”
Her words hit me to my core. I can see it in the way she looks at me, the way she talks to me, and they way she holds me how much she loves me. I haven’t had to doubt how she felt for a second because she has always been honest and true.
My father continues to say more, but I don’t pay much attention as I look at my beautiful bride.
She thinks she’s lucky, but I am the lucky one and will never take that for granted.
Serenity
The ceremony was perfect. It was everything I had imagined it would be. Afterwards, we took pictures that we will put up in the palace. Black bands appeared on our fingers to show our commitment and bond being completed.
Once the bond was formed, I felt what was like a string attaching us together. We could now communicate through our thoughts, and I would instantly be able to find him like he did with me when we first met.
We had a bunch of different foods at our reception since I couldn’t narrow down what I wanted to feed everyone.
Some of the guests had special diets because of what they are, and there are some hellish beasts that I discovered some of them eat.
That stuff is a hard no for me, and some people and beings did appreciate the human food that I had picked out.
Everyone is having a good time. There is music playing, chatting, and laughter.
I see the sin brothers looking at me, no doubt waiting for me to announce the next sin to get a bride.
Lucifer told me that I could tell them any time after the ceremony, but I enjoyed holding the information to myself a bit longer.
During the dinner, I was able to meet some of the people closest to the family.
They are friends, but since everything has been on lockdown for me and I rarely leave the palace, I haven’t been around anyone but the family.
“Silas! How did you get such a stunning bride? She’s way too gorgeous for your ugly mug,” a man shouts while walking over to our table, causing everyone in earshot to laugh.
I can’t help but blush as his words.
Silas keeps his arms around me and smiles.
“Maybe my dad knew I needed a beautiful bride after staring at your ugly face for centuries,” he retorts.
I roll my eyes at them.
“Bride of Lust, it’s officially nice to meet you. I am Luka, an incubus. I have worked with Silas for a long time,” he says, introducing himself.
My eyes widen when I find out what he is. I look at Silas who is watching my reaction.
“Wow, that is… ummm… great? Way to go?” I say throwing a fist in the air since I clearly don’t have a smooth, cool bone in my body.
They chuckle at my actions.
“It really doesn’t bother you? What being I am?” the guy asks.
I shake my head.
“No. I knew when I was going to be living in Hell that I would see and meet beings of all kinds. This is hell. You guys clearly aren’t the good guys, and there are questionable souls here; once again, it is Hell.”
“Good point, we aren’t exactly the good guys here,” Luka mutters.
“Sister, when are you going to tell us?” Gareth asks.
Luka looks at us in confusion.
“What is he talking about?” he asks.
“I get to tell them who the next bride is, and he wants to know if it’s him,” I say, chuckling.
“Well, tell everyone then? I’d like to see who is next,” Luka says, rubbing his hands together.
Everyone is looking at me, so I decide I might as well get on with it.
I look towards Lucifer and nod my head. We both make our way to the middle of the room.
“This evening with our loyal friends and family, we decided to let everyone know who is getting their bride next. I am giving Serenity the honours of telling the sins who will be next,” Lucifer states loudly.
I look towards the brothers and smile.
“I’ve had the privilege of seeing all of your brides, and I can’t wait until each one of them is a part of the family. The next bride of sin will be wrath,” I say with a smile and look towards Lorenzo.
Everyone looks at Lorenzo with amusement while his face drains of colour.
“You must be mistaken,” he rasps.
I shake my head. “No, your bride’s soul is ready for her sin.”
“Fuck,” Lorenzo spits out before turning around and heading into the palace.
“This is going to get interesting,” Otis whispers.
“I think our lives are going to get more interesting and intense with each bride,” I whisper back.
“Anything you can tell me about mine?” he whispers.
I shake my head.
“Nope,” I reply.
Lucifer lets out a sigh.
“You can’t know anything about your bride. Everything you discover about her has to be done on your own.”
“I know, but it was worth a shot,” Otis says with a sigh.
I pat him on the back.
“Your time will come.”
“I wonder how Lorenzo will approach her,” Fredrick says.
“I don’t see any of you being smooth with your brides. You are all likely to scare them like Silas did with me,” I say with a laugh.
Gareth nods in agreement.
“I can see your point. I don’t think we have ever had to try to get anyone in our bed before, and this time it’s for a lot more than sex,” he states.
“You guys will have to actually try, and I think it’ll be hilarious,” I tell them.
Silas wraps his arms around me.
“They all told me to stalk you and show up with burgers when you ran away from me.”
“Did they not realize how creepy that would be? Flee hours away to get away from you just to have you show up with food? I think that would have been scary,” I admit.
“That’s what I told them. That’s why I think this will be interesting to see all of their approaches to earning their brides,” Silas replies.
I smile as I listen to everyone talk, although I’m extremely nervous on the inside.
I know this is what I want, and I have wanted it for a while now, but it’s going to be my first time and with the literal sin of lust. I don’t know how I can even compare to anyone that has been in his bed before.
I don’t know what I’m doing, and it’s not like there is exactly anyone I can ask who isn’t related to Silas.
Yet another reason I wish I had another woman to talk to.
I’m going in blind, and I don’t know what to expect.
I just know in my heart that I can trust Silas, and I know he would never hurt me.
With everything we have done so far, and how much patience he’s had, I know he is worth giving this part of myself to.