Lover Sacrificed - Chapter 47

At quarter to midnight, Darius was ready. Well, as ready as he could be. In the back of his mind he was still of half a mind to run off and to hell with it all. He was wearing his mating robe and… was so not ready to do this.

He felt as if he were about to be unfaithful to Nalla and the thought made him sick to his stomach. The thought of someone else’s name on his back, carved into his skin for the rest of his life…

Ahgony was with him in the room, but stuck to one of the sides and didn’t say a word, as if he knew he needed space.

- Darius, are you ok?

- Mahmen. Yeah I am.

Beth had just walked in and looked at him with concern and love. She looked as if she were about to cry.

- I wish…

He gave her a hug.

- Don’t worry mom, we’ll find a way, we’ll figure this out. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, isn’t that what they say?

She nodded.

- Well, they can’t get any closer than in my bed, in our house. I’ll make things all right again. Someway, somehow. No matter how long it takes.

Someone knocked on the door and as Beth went to open it to leave, Zsadist and Bella walked in.

Bella hugged him straight away.

- We love you. You know that right?

He nodded.

Zsadist didn’t touch him, he never was too comfortable with that, but Darius saw respect in his eyes, which meant a hell of a lot more, coming from a male like him.

Zsadist handed him a little box.

- I don’t care who the fuck you mate tonight. You are my family, and not just because we helped raise you and live in the same place. I know, if you could have it your way, it would be my girls’ name you would be carving on your back today. So, this is yours.

Darius opened the box to see the family signet ring. Exactly like the one Z and Phury had. It was the same Ahgony wore.

Shit, he was gonna cry.

He cleared his throat as he put the ring on his finger, next to his own family ring.

- Thanks man.

Zsadist nodded just as Wrath walked in with George.

- Come on son, let’s get this shit over with.

Zsadist and Bella left and he walked out with his father to go to the garden part of Rehv’s camp.  It would be cold, but outside they fit better, as the whole brotherhood had come down here. The security measures were crazy and the place was surrounded with mhis.

After the ceremony, he and Penehlope would have an individual cabin to spend their first night as a mated couple.

He had already asked Phury to get him some of the salve the Chosen used to use, back in the day, to keep the Primale hard. There was no way he would get hard for his shellan otherwise.

He breathed in deeply and came to an abrupt halt when he saw all the brothers stand in a semi-circle. Ahgony and his father joined them and all of them bared their chests.

Okaaaaay, what the hell?

The shellans were all standing to the side and watched as all the brothers moved as one.

Taking out their daggers, they all made deep cuts across their chests, carving the shape of an X on themselves.

He knew this was yet another way for them to show their respect and support. Of course, his father’s cuts were the deepest. His father removed his wraparounds and for the first time, looked into his eyes, even though he couldn’t see. Wrath never did this. Ever.

- Son, I have no words to say how much respect I have for you right now.

The brothers shouted in agreement.

- The sacrifice you are being forced to make… just to stay alive…

He nodded at Wrath and then at the brothers, appreciating their support.

He took a deep breath.

- It’s almost time. Let’s get this over with. V, can you send Feron the location details so they can dematerialize back here?

- Done, true?

- Thanks man.

Vishous came up to him and whispered so only he could hear.

- Jane tells me your female is fine. Blood works have been done and she’s ok, no infection or anything. Just thought you might want to know.

He sighed in relief.

- Thanks V.

He spoke up again.

- Ok are we ready? The Scribe Virgin should be here in…

- I already am here, Darius, son of Wrath.

He bowed in respect and so did everyone else. He heard a chuckle and looked up, baffled by what he saw. Was that a kid by her side?

Whoa… he had heard the stories of John giving her the ghost baby but he never would have thought he would actually get to see the girl, and growing, no less!

- Where is the shellan to be?

- Ah, she should be here soon. We have already informed her of the location.

- Good.

The Scribe Virgin floated towards his father and they talked.

More than an hour later, the Scribe Virgin was really not impressed as Penehlope, Feron and his wife, Philesa dematerialized into the garden.