By the way that my bump was expanding, it was clear that my pregnancy would not be nine months long.
It was the eve before the Summer Solstice. The celebrations were to be hosted within the First Circle. Pyres made of stripped trees over ten feet tall were placed strategically around the sculpture garden. The party was to be held at the courtyard.
Although Litha, more commonly known as the longest day of the year in the Human Realities, had been a Fae tradition, Luc loved a party. He fed on interaction with others.
Each Hell Sovereign held their own celebrations, but no one celebrated like Lucifer did.
I was dressed in an emerald gown with a golden choker. It clashed against my cuffs but I did not care. My hair was braided and arranged artfully on the top of my head. I wore flat shoes, but only because of my fear of tripping due to my recently changed centre of gravity.
Layla, my handmaiden, had placed a diadem on my head. It was a tasteful affair. Sterling silver, with blackened edges that implied that it was somehow enchanted. With what, I could not say. The centre of the piece held a perfectly oval Treachery stone that glinted in the light, obsidian with thousands of flecks of starlight in the darkness.
I heard the thumping sound of the drums. The carnal music began to sift through the castle and told me that festivities had begun.
Smiling to myself, I recalled the last time I had stood in front of my gilded mirror and waited for Luc to lead me down to greet out guests.
Many festivals had resulted in the same actions. In the past, we had drunk a casket of Vinum between us and fucked like dogs in heat bathed in the crackling warmth of the bonfires.
Luc knocked on the door and let himself in quietly. He leant back against the closed door and surveyed me slowly. His eyes raked from the tips of my toes to the crown on my head. His gaze was dark, and although his posture was languid, I knew that he approved of my outfit.
Stepped forward, Luc sauntered behind me so that we both faced the mirror. He placed his head on my shoulder and pushed a stray tendril of hair out of the way as he placed a delicate kiss on my shoulder blade.
I shuddered into his touch.
“My Queen.” Luc punctuated his words with kisses. “My Consort.” His hands dipped under they cupped my hips. I felt his skin as if he electrocuted me through the thin and flowing satin.
“...My Mate...”
My eyes welled up and I held back my gasp. I wanted to ask if he was certain. If he was ready to share his soul with mine. To connect us and to corrupt each other.
“When I remove these cuffs, I plan to claim you. Mark you. Never again will you question my love and loyalty to you.” Luc promised. His eyes closed as he kissed my cheek. I stayed still as I watched his assault in the mirror. My legs quivered, but I smiled sanguinely.
“The party awaits my King.” I chided, turning around. I placed a chaste kiss on his closed lips.
His smile was crooked and his silver eyes sparkled.
“I think you'll love the surprise I have for you.” Luc whispered.
When we left the room, and walked down the steps to the entry hall of the castle, we were greeted by the wide-open doors of the castles and a crowd of guests that spilled throughout the grounds.
I was not inclined to drink, as I did not want anything to endanger my child. Luc stayed by my side and refused all inebriation when offered as a show of solidarity.
The Devil stole touches constantly. His hand on my back. A gentle and possessive rub of my belly. A finger on my chin as he placed a kiss on my lips.
Abaddon reached the throne platform and bowed lowly. I could not help but laugh. Formalities.
“My King.” Abe smiled sweetly. “Consort.” He nodded in my direction.
The room was full of various Purebloods, mingling. I saw Charon in the crowd, awkwardly bobbing his head to the primal thud of the drum beat. He adjusted his thick rimmed glasses and I noted the absence of his birds.
I stood up, manoeuvring myself around my extra weight before Abaddon held my elbow and eased me to my feet with a gentle smile.
“I want to speak to the Ferryman.” I told Luc as I rubbed his hand. “See you shortly.”
Luc nodded as an Imp, one of the Pureblooded demons that resided in the first circle. He bowed in front of his throne to pay him fealty.
The crowd parted for me, and I noticed that many of the faces turned away from me. I did not know why but I kept my head high. I had no reason to be embarrassed, even if I wore my disconnection from Hell like a glowing signpost.
“Enjoying yourself?” I asked Charon as I came up to his side.
The Ferryman’s smile was always a strange thing. Curiously smug with pretence.
“I remember not a few months ago, when we spoke of that damned prophecy.” He took a sip of his wine, eying me over the rim. “It seems that you got what you wanted.”
I nodded, and could not help the coy smile that graced my lips.
“I am happy for you. Truly.” Charon enthused, never breaking eye contact.
“Thank you, old friend.”
I eyed his checked tweed suit with interest. I had not seen one like that in the Human Realities in an age. It was a marvel how fashion came full circle.
My eyes zeroed in on the writhing bulge in his pocket. I narrowed my eyes.
Charon smiled sadly when he followed my gaze.
Reaching inside of his pocket, he pulled out a raven. As soon as his fingers clasped the bird with a tender grip, the creature stopped wiggling. It’s black beady eyes stared into mine. Unwavering.
“Is that what I think it is?” I asked with uncertainty.
Charon stroked the bird, the winged creature had his undivided attention. “This is my most precious soul.”
The bird clicked its beak in agreement.
“The last ingredient,” I whispered reverently.
Charon grasped the bird as if he planned to snap its neck, but with a deft twist of his fingers and the spark of Hellfire, it became a smooth black pebble.
Charon handed it to me without pause. “A gift.”
“I know what this means to you.” I eyed the pebble as if it was a priceless gemstone. “I know that this is Cecile’s soul.” Cecile had been Charon’s sister.
Charon shifted uncomfortable and twirled the end of his short ginger beard.
“The Flower of Envy has very little purpose, save for opening the gateway to the Ice Prison. I knew the second one of coins passed into Angelic hands. There was only one explanation.” Charon shrugged. “I know that you are not stupid enough to try and trap Luc.”
“Maybe I am,” I crooked my brow in defiance.
Charon eyed my pregnant belly. “You deserve happiness, Dahlia.” He clapped his hand on my shoulder. “But please do not do something stupid.”
The Ferryman disappeared in a wisp of smoke, leaving the smell of salt water and burnt wood in his wake.
The festivities were fevered. Sweaty and carnal. The Devil played his fiddle with such abandon that, if he were human, his fingers would have bled. Abe spun me around on the dance floor until I was giddy and lightheaded. Never straying far from the platform where the band played. Luc watched my dancing, his eyes alight with mischief as he plucked the strings to create fiendish tune.
Every so often, Abaddon would transform his body or face to make me laugh as we danced. Ram’s horns, bat wings, Leviathan tail. I had not laughed with such an abandon in an age.
Fanning myself, I took my leave from the dance floor and hovered at the edge of the band. I watched Lucifer play with a smile on my face.
Every person in the crowd of First Circle Purebloods loved him. They adored him and worshiped the ground that he walked on. I understood. He was magnetic.
Lucifer smiled playfully at the crowd and placed his foot against the chair for leverage. Bent over his violin, he seduced the crowd with a flirtatious grin.
I found my cheeks flushed and my chest heaved.
When everything had shifted - and I was confident that he had changed into someone that was too far out of my reach - the pull of his gravity was enough to make me stumble.
With a violent but beautiful note, the composition ended. Lucifer took a bow, his instrument and bow was tucked against his hip. He placed it into the case with care and handed it to his personal attendant.
“My friends!” His voice boomed over the crowd, but they remained in silent awe from his performance. “Litha is upon us. May the falling leaves bring a prosperous season for the First Circle.”
Abe stepped forward and handed Luc a goblet of wine. He clapped the Devil on the shoulder with one hand. Despite Abaddon’s hulking size, Luc did not budge an inch. The Devil raised his glass and waited for the rest of the crowd to do the same.
When every Pureblood that had gathered in the courtyard had begun the toast, Luc turned to me and crooked his finger.
Still unused to being able to stand at his side, instead of at his feet, I hesitated. Lucifer nodded encouragingly and I gathered my petticoat in my hands and ascended onto the raised platform. I slipped my hand inside of Luc’s war toughened grip. He leant forward and placed a lingering kiss on my lips. Luc turned back to the crowd, holding my hand up to the sky in triumph.
“My Queen is with child!” He beat his chest once with his free hand and the audience responded with a roar that could pierce the heavens. Luc grabbed me and swung my body into his hold, as if I was nothing but a doll. He dipped me and the proceeded to devour my lips with such fury. It was as if we would never have enough time to taste each other and he hated the lingering idea of my absence.
It tainted the happiness, but I pushed the niggling fears to the back of my mind. I begged myself to think like a Hellion so I could enjoy the moment with my King.
When our embrace ended, and Luc tugged me back to my room as if he could not wait another second, my eyes scanned the crowd.
Not everyone was pleased with Luc’s display of affection.