Page 32 of Under My Bed

I already took my spot at the altar with the rest of the shadow princes, sans one. "Where's Levianth?" I questioned, looking around for the last of us. Aesophedus was missing, but I knew he was with Stella right now to go over the ceremony with her one last time before things went down.

"Think he's with his soulmate in the bathroom while she's throwing up," Amaldin answered with an unsure scratch of his horn. "You ready for that, Kastoron? Morning sickness and all its glory?"

Sighing nervously, I shook my head. "No, but I don't think anyone ever is. I'll be there for her when she goes through it." Stella wasn't pregnant… Yet.

We both wanted to wait until after the ceremony to start trying for a child, so I had been more than cautious with using a protection spell and artifact on both of us to prevent any accidents. Also, Stella wanted to fully become solid with her studio move to the house and get her footing strong before shifting her focus onto other things besides her career and our relationship.

"You two gonna have children? Are you ready for that responsibility Kas?" Zaesiel questioned in a wary voice as he looked at me with a raised brow. "I don't mean to sound doubtful, but you've been the most immature out of all of us ever since I can remember."

I didn't blame him because I still was an immature asshole most of the time. Well, at least I knew how to reign it in now. I still pulled pranks on Stella to this day, stole and hid her shit, teased her clients sometimes, and acted more like a man-child—as she liked to call me—more often than not. But I knew my limits after all this time, and I knew when to be serious for Stella and the sake of our relationship.

"I've grown up, mostly. I wouldn't have entertained the idea of children with Stella if I wasn't remotely ready to step up." I assured the older demon with a confident smile before nervously fixing the collar of my dress shirt. "Is it getting kind of hot in here?"

Chuckling, Amaldin pats my shoulder and shakes it in an attempt to comfort me. "Breathe, everything will go off without a hitch, and you two will be bound before you even know it."

Levianth's sudden appearance cut into my tense nerves. "Sorry about that. Baby's not giving Emma an easy time with the morning sickness today." He apologized with a heavy exhale as he straightened out his suit jacket and took a spot amongst us.

"Don't apologize. It's not like either of you wanted that to happen," I said with a dismissive wave of my hand. "Just glad you could join us before—"

The heavy creaking of the church doors opening silenced the whole area and captured their attention. From it emerged Aesophedus with Stella next to him, holding his arm.

Yeah, I want to throw up.

Unfortunately, Stella probably won't let me live it down if I throw up at our ceremony. I couldn't calm my nerves down enough as my vision zoned in on her ethereal form, clad in a white wedding gown fit for the queen of heaven. She filled out the laced and gem-embroidered gown so well, and the train dragging behind her made her look like she was on a cloud.

Step by step, my heart raced like a fearful human's heart when I scared them. I was nervous and terrified beyond my own comprehension.

"Kastoron, do you accept your soulmate that Heaven and Hell have destined for you?" Aesophedus's question barely registered in my clouded mind as I was too lost in Stella.

If it weren't for the nudge from one of the other demons and Stella's giggle, I would have stood there like a complete idiot for the rest of eternity.

"Yes, I do." Fuck, I sounded so stupid with how stiff that came out. Damn nerves.

Shakily, I reached a hand out and took Stella's outstretched one and brought her before me at the altar. I wanted to tell her that she looked beyond beautifully radiant, but nothing came out of my mouth when I opened it. No matter how many times I tried, my words kept getting caught on my tongue.

"Kastoron, are you okay? You're acting like a dying fish." Stella whispered with a nervous and worried chuckle as she brushed her fingers over my knuckles.

Swallowing my nervousness, I warily nodded in response before offering her a reassuring smile. It'd be a damn miracle if I made it through this without passing out or making some fool out of myself.

I sucked in a sharp breath when I felt a sharp nudge on my back. "Kas, breathe. If you keep holding your breath like that, you're gonna turn bluer and pass out." Valphan whispered with a fleeting chuckle.

As the ceremony continued, I could not focus on Aesophedus's words because I was too starstruck by my soulmate, who stood there looking at me as if she'd won the lottery. I don't know how she remained so calm with a smiling face full of adoration and happiness. Pretty sure if someone took a picture of this moment, then I'd look like an awkward grinning duck while Stella looked like perfection and beyond.

"Kastoron…!" Aesophedus's booming voice made me snap out of my stupor.

"Y-yes, my king?" Shit, did I fuck up already? What did I do? Did I smile too much? Too awkward? Did I stare at her too much?

"Your vows? If you have any?" Aesophedus chuckled softly with an amused smirk as he gestured a hand toward Stella, who looked at me patiently.

Shit. Vows. Right.

Nervously, I gripped Stella's hands tightly as I let myself get lost in her sparking eyes to calm myself. "From the moment I heard your voice that day you toured the house, I felt myself truly come to life. Your voice woke me from a slumber I had lulled myself into after all these centuries. To say you are unlike anyone else would be an understatement because there is only one you out there in the world, the one standing before me as my soulmate. And I wouldn't want for anything else in the world than this moment and the day you accepted me into your life. I will forever be grateful for the one and only chance you are willing to give me."

Taking in a shaky breath, I forced my leaping heart back down before continuing. "I swore to you on that day, and I will swear to you now before everyone here and the high entities who are watching us at this very moment: I will spend the rest of our lives apologizing for my stupidity by spoiling you with every ounce of love and attention that you deserve and more. I will love and cherish you until the end of eternity, through sickness and in health, poor or rich, for worse and better, until death do us part. My life is yours from this day forward, and so is my heart and soul. I only ask that you grant me the blessing of having yours to cherish and protect in return."

I nearly had a heart attack when Stella's smile faltered, and tears started to stream down her face. I mean, what kind of idiot makes their soulmate cry on their ceremony day!?

But then, relief washed over me when she started giggling and laughing. "Kastoron, I still can't believe this is happening, given how we started off on the wrong foot with each other." Slipping a hand from mine, she quickly wiped away her tears before looking at me with a smile that would brighten up the darkest of days. "From the first night you scared the soul out of me, I knew you would be in my life for the long run. I just never imagined it would be forever, but I am ever so grateful that it will be. I never thought I would meet my match in the demon who terrorized me around my own home, let alone fall so deeply in love with you with each and every one of your antics."

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