[Xanthea]
Squalls gushed into the ballroom, announcing the arrival of a storm. I stood near the foot of the altar as they swirled around me.
A quiet gasp escaped my lips when a swift wind fluttered my veil off my face.
Entangling with the free strands of hair, the winds tucked them behind my ear.
My breaths shivered when I realized it wasn’t the touch of the air that brushed past my cheeks. Goosebumps ran all over my body as another zephyr caressed my neck.
I parted my lips, letting out a silent, shaking breath.
‘Sweet.’ A whisper kissed my ear.
Pressing my lips together, I gulped hard.
Seconds felt like an eternity as I lifted my eyelids.
Maybe those seconds were enchanted, or maybe my existence had come to a halt. But something surreal lingered in the distance between us when my eyes locked with the three demon lords.
I half-gasped and half-gaped at the three of them. My heart pounded faster and faster as the three of them gazed back at me with their dark and cold eyes, holding the mystery of the night.
The power they emitted was so overwhelming it made my existence seem insignificant.
They were dressed in shades of gray and black three-piece suits that hugged their well-built and tall frames in all the right places, highlighting their chiseled features that only enhanced their otherworldly sinful charms.
Their sharp jawlines and palely handsome faces drew me into a blank space and their alluring eyes trapped me in an abyss. I could feel my fear amplifying with every heartbeat. Danger lurked in their eyes and it appeared they had already possessed my heart, my body, and my soul.
There was no escaping them, but I wasn’t sure how long I would survive them. Or maybe there was no survival in this marriage at all. There was only surrendering. Surrendering my life, my fate and my destiny to them.
As long as I surrendered to the three of them, I might survive.
“Requesting the bride on the altar.”
The voice of the man, dressed in a hooded black robe from head to toe, brought me out of the triplet’s bewitchment.
Stalling my breaths, I gingerly walked up to the altar. It felt as if, even if I breathed the wrong way, they would break me apart.
I didn’t dare look at any of them again.
There was no priest on the altar, but a sorcerer. In fact, there was no one anywhere close to the altar.
I glanced at Alpha, who peered at the triplets, then lowered his gaze when he looked at me.
My breath hitched as a shudder ran through my body when one triplet held my chin. He lifted my chin, making me look into his eyes. Up close, his light gray eyes were even more predatory. And my heart ran wild, just like a prey.
An unsettling dread ran down my spine, breathing in the same air as him.
His gaze dropped to my parted lips. Sucking in a quick breath, I lowered my gaze, pursing my lips. He let go of my chin and stepped back, standing in the middle of the other two.
I stood in front of them, clutching my hands near my belly even tighter.
“We are here to witness the soul pact being formed between the Infernal Triplets and the Earthly princess of the Virgo pack, princess Xanthea Virgo,” the sorcerer said. “A wedding.”
I knew a wedding with the demon lords would be anything but normal. But a pact? It wasn’t just my body they’d claim in this marriage. They’d imprison and imprint my soul with theirs.
My nails dug into my skin as tears stung my eyes.
Is this really how my life will end? A soul trapped for eternity in the shadows with no escape, no light, no salvation?
“Alpha Raven Xipher step forth and create the first soul pact with your bride,” the sorcerer said.
The Alpha standing left to the gray-eyed Alpha stepped closer to me until he stood right in front of me.
His brown eyes contemplated me. He had long hair tied in a ponytail, his hair styled in a wolf cut.
“Look into my eyes,” his deep voice cut through my chest. His words were impassive and colder were his scrutiny.
The sorcerer walked close to us and lifted a double-ended dagger between us.
I peered at the dagger that hung in the air, levitating between us. My mouth turned dry at the sight of the sharp blades.
“Princess Xanthea Virgo and Alpha Raven Xipher, I will request you to stab your ring fingers at the ends of the pact dagger,” the sorcerer said. The handle in the middle of the pact dagger had a huge gem that looked as if glowing blood was constantly flowing in it.
I stepped back, curling my fingers into fists.
Raven held my gaze, and my body stiffened. My body wasn’t under my control. I involuntarily stepped closer to the pact dagger and stabbed my ring finger at one edge of the dagger while Raven stabbed his ring finger at the other end.
The double-ended dagger sucked in our blood and the gem in the middle hilt glowed even more red.
A sharp pain ran through my body as, for a few seconds, it felt like I was having a heart attack. I struggled to breathe. Holding back my tears, I clenched my chest.
I glanced at Alpha Valdimir, pleading for help, but all he did was lower his gaze. Everyone in the ballroom stood with their heads low.
My head snapped back towards Raven. It seemed as if invisible hands were controlling my body. I looked into his eyes as the sorcerer read.
“Do you, Xanthea Virgo, entrust your body, blood and soul to Raven Xipher, your lord, your owner and your first husband?”
I bit my lower lips, letting out a moanful sob.
I wanted to run away and hide somewhere far away. A grave seemed like a safer place to belong than with the triplets.
I wish I had an option to die. But I chose this destiny for myself. I had to take the responsibility.
“I-I… do,” I said, through the pain.
“Do you swear your eternal loyalty, obedience, and submission to him and his will?” the sorcerer asked.
“I… do…” I said, breathing heavily as a feverish sensation ran up my spine.
“Do you promise to accept the punishment if you breach the first two vows?”
I knit my brows as tears trailed down my cheeks.
“I… do!” My words came out as a moan.
“And do you, Raven Xipher, tie your soul to hers?”
“I do,” he said, stoically.
I stumbled back as I got back the control over my body and I instantly withdrew my finger from the dagger’s pointed end.
“Alpha Ezra Xipher step forth and create the second soul pact with your bride,” the sorcerer said.
This time, the eyes that forcefully locked with mine were deep blue. He had short, frivolously styled hair. A mischievous glint flashed in his eyes when he saw my tears. My body was under Ezra’s control. I was losing control, even over my tears.
I stabbed my ring finger again at one end of the dagger while Ezra stabbed his ring finger on the other end.
“Do you, Xanthea Virgo, entrust your body, blood and soul to Ezra Xipher, your lord, your owner and your second husband?” the sorcerer said.
I accepted the same vows with him as I had with Raven.
“And do you, Ezra Xipher, tie your soul to hers?”
“I do,” he said in an amused tone as he took me in.
“Alpha Asher Xipher step forth and create the third soul pact with your bride,” the sorcerer said.
Ezra stood back while the gray-eyed man with ruffled shoulder length hair.
With him, my body was more under my control and he waited for me to stab my ring finger with the dagger’s end instead of forcing me to do it.
“Do you, Xanthea Virgo, entrust your body, blood and soul to Asher Xipher, your lord, your owner and your third husband?”
The pain during the vowing process was no less excruciating, but at least I was ready for that pain now.
“I do…” my voice was weak.
“And do you, Asher Xipher, tie your soul to hers?”
“I do,” he said, holding my teary gaze.
“I pronounce their souls pacted. In the words of the earthly realm, I pronounce them married!” The sorcerer said, and polite claps filled the ballroom.
The double-edged dagger in the sorcerer’s hands turned and twisted itself until it took the form of a pointed thorny crown with glowing blood adorning it as gems.
“Alphas, I request you to place this crown on your bride’s head and seal the pact for eternity,” the sorcerer said.
The triplets held the crown and placed it on my head together. Its thorns and pointed ends pierced through my skin and hair. I could feel blood trail down my forehead, over my face.
I shut my eyes, feeling my blood leave behind its fleeting warmth on the cold skin of my eyelids.
The crown got heavier and heavier on my head. It felt like I would be buried right under its pressure. Every inch of my body was throbbing with pain like I had never felt before. It was worse than having a broken hand.
My soul was tearing apart, and I could feel it in my veins.
The ballroom spun before my eyes.
My vision faltered and so did my struggle to fight the pain and stand strong when I was breaking from inside. My chest heaved faster.
Before my failing body hit the ground, Raven grabbed my upper arms. Ezra held my shoulder while Asher’s firm arm wrapped around my waist as my back rested against his chest.
“You can’t be weak, wife. You now have three husbands to please. Tonight’s the night we claim you. You can’t let a simple wedding tire you, for our nuptial night holds trials far more demanding.” Ezra whispered huskily, tucking my hair behind my ear. My heart pounded with its left over strength as I shook my head slightly.
“Please…”
I succumbed to the darkness before my words could find their voice.
AM