FALLEN ANGEL: MARRIED TO THE DEMON KING

Arella felt as if the world had come to a complete standstill. Heat spread ever so steadily from where their hands held, all the way up to her pounding heart. It was as if with the simple touch, something had changed between them. "With this ring, I symbolize our union." Varziel's gaze was focused on Arella's hands.

Arella would have felt self-conscious were she not her mother's daughter. She let him stare at her hands, sure they were pretty with all the work the young angels had done.

The room erupted in a chorus of hymns once the ring was settled in her finger. It was a perfect fit.

The sound of the chorus reverberated through the hall, so much so that the walls shook ever so slightly. The sound caused King Varziel to snap out of looking at her fingers.

That was the final blessing that the angels were giving her; that was the one thing Arella knew.

"You may now kiss the bride." The officiant's voice was loud over the voices of the angels.

Arella looked up at her new husband, suddenly aware of the close proximity between them. She couldn't even handle their skin touching, and the officiant wanted them to what?

To kiss?

To kiss!

Arella felt her heartbeat increase. She was not ready for this.

Was she attracted to the demon king?

Yes!

Did she want to kiss the demon king?

Fuck yes!

Would she survive if she kissed the demon king?

With the way her heart was threatening to leap out of her throat, she doubted it.

Still, if she was to survive the wedding night, a simple kiss was not supposed to be an issue for her.

Therefore, she looked back at the demon king, determined.

The demon king took one look at the expression on her face, and another smile bloomed on his face. It was as if he loved the expression that she had on her face. "Don't worry, my angel." He said as his hands slid to the nape of her neck, pulling her closer to him. His fingers touching her skin felt like little fireworks blooming, leaving a trail of fire at its wake.

He paused for a fraction of a second, and the air seemed to still. His touch was surprisingly gentle, and he leaned over, his crimson eyes searching for something in hers.

"This is your last chance to run, my little angel." His voice was a deep rumble that only she could hear.

"I thought I had no choice but to wed you, mister, big scary demon."

"I would not force you into something you don't want." His brow furrowed, as if even the thought of it was ridiculous.

Arella's lips curved into a smirk. "My demon king, I never do anything that I have not set my mind to." She grabbed the wrist that held her head in place.

He smiled again, and a dimple appeared in the wake of that smile. Without another word, he closed the distance between them.

When his lips finally met hers, it was as if the word itself stopped spinning. His lips were warm, even softer than she had expected, and the way they moved against hers made her knees weaken. The kiss was slow at first, hesitant, as though testing the boundaries of what they were committing themselves to.

Arella could feel the halo at the top of her head flutter due to the momentary loss of control she had on her holy power. The ends of her wings fluttered ever so slightly as a ripple of warmth spread through her.

They broke for a second, taking a breath to look into each other's eyes. Then his hands were sliding to her lower back, wrapping around her waist, and she was pulled flush against him. The air between them seemed to ignite. Her wings fluttered open, and pristine white feathers fell around them. The kiss deepened, igniting something between them. It became hungrier, and she was sinking a hand in his soft hair, desperate to touch every inch of skin on his body. It was almost as if she was trying to fill a void that she did not know existed.

There was no one else in that little bubble apart from them, and Arella relished the feeling, bathing in it, basking in the thought that in that moment, she was his entire world.

This kiss was more than a display for the gathered witnesses; it was a vow, unspoken though it was. Varziel's lips moved against hers with a hunger that surprised even Arella.

When they finally broke apart, Arella's cheeks were flushed red, and her breathing was uneven.

Varziel's eyes were trailed on her lips, as if he wanted to claim them once more.

He settled for brushing his thumb over her cheekbone. There was a softness in his expression. "You are mine," his words sent a shiver down her spine. Arella expected to be terrified by the thought that she was now married to the demon king, and she was now his; she did not feel scared. There was warmth in her heart and on her lips as she worked through her feelings.

Yes. She did not hate being the demon king's bride.

She grabbed his tie, pulling him closer to her, but just slightly, "And you are mine." Her voice was firm, and her gaze was unwavering. Her words shocked even herself. He seemed confused by her actions at first, but her words caused that smile to grace his face once more.

Arella was sure coming to like the demon king was not something the angel realm wanted. Just like how she was sure the only reason they had agreed to this union was for a purpose that they had not divulged to her. There was no way they would have expected that she would like the way the demon king looked.

The officiant's voice drew her out of her thoughts once more: "By the power vested in me, by the council of angels, this union has now been sealed." He raised his hands, and light streamed up into the air before falling back down like raindrops. Arella looked at the demon, wanting to see if the light would harm him.

King Varziel's lips were set in a frown as he raised a hand to touch one of the light drops with his palm. It did not burn him even though the officiant was a high-tier two angel, Arella noticed.

The hall erupted into applause.

Arella and her husband turned to look at the angels. His hand was still holding hers. At the end of the aisle that Arella had just walked a few moments prior was no longer the same. Two angels of light flanked either side of the door, holding their staffs. A massive portal gleamed in the place of the door.

It simmered, the holy energy of the angels a deep golden color.

Dark energy seeped through the portal and into the hall. It was immediately purified by the holy power that filled the hall. Even at the distance that Arella stood from the portal, she could see shadows dancing. However, that was all. She could not see the land on the other side, which meant that she had no idea what to expect. They began the walk to the portal.

"You hide your fear quite well." King Varziel's voice was low, only for her to hear.

"And you play the part of a gentleman surprisingly well." His lips curved once more at her words.

"Really now, I thought the kiss had taken away my title of gentleman, dear wife."

"Don't test me." Arella was tempted to pretend to slip and dig the heel of her shoe to his foot.

She realized that his words had caused her frazzled nerves to calm down.

Whether it was intentional or not, it caused Arella to smile. As they approached the portal, Arella turned back to look at her family. Lailah's head was pressed into Camael's side, and he patted her hair ever so slightly.

Castiel was standing next to them, his hands clenched into fists. It was obvious that he was trying his best not to drag her away from the demon king. Their eyes met, and she mouthed out the words, 'I will be fine, brother.' His eyes widened, and she could swear she saw him tear up.

Camael's expression was hard to read. However, he gave her a shallow nod. Arella nodded back, not needing any more from him.

She turned once again to the portal that now stood in front of them. "Are you ready, my angel?"

"No." She admitted, "But you will be by my side, won't you?" Arella was not sure what had compelled her to say such words. Still, she needed to know.

Varziel looked completely shocked by her words, and his eyes flashed with an expression she did not understand. "I see no other place I would rather be."

With that, together, they stepped through the portal.