Betrothed To Six Lovers

Lila’s P.O.V

The sun beamed its bright light on my forehead as I stood at the mountaintops of Palms Spring, retreating one step at a time, checking out my suitors one after another.

The wind howled around me, tugging at my dress as I faced the six men, each standing between me and the sheer drop behind them.

My pulse hammered in my throat. "This is madness," I said to myself.

Gazing at the crowd, my hands stiffened. I had my fingers crossed behind my back and my heart wide open to declare and accept the man I choose for the rest of my life. My feet trembled as I fell to my knees.

"Huh!" the crowd chorused, turning to one another in astonishment.

The ring bearer stepped forward, opening the glass case that bore a silver ring. I picked it out, looking at it hungrily while he stepped back.

Before I knew it, the priest declared very loudly with eagerness, "It’s been years, months, and weeks since you’ve been betrothed to six. Now it’s time to fix the ring to its owner."

He continued...

"Here are Damien, Julian, Kai, Ethan, Lucian, and Shay. They're all handsome men with a great build, but we're gathered here to join you to one."

"Who’s going to be your man? Who’s going to be the man you spend the rest of your life with?" he declared.

"Step forward!"

Damien stepped forward first, his eyes burning. I was to give my marriage vows to the man I would be married to for the rest of my life.

"You don’t have to do this, Lila." His voice was rough, edged with desperation.

"We could talk about this privately," he said pitifully, with yearning in his eyes.

"Today, it’s made public," the priest interrupted. "Say the name now, before the crowd here watching."

Julian smirked, adjusting his cufflinks with deceptive calm. "Of course, I'll be chosen. I'm charming enough to steal Lila's heart."

Damien, looking at him with disgust written all over his face, said, "Either you’re afraid, or you’re just a coward who’s incapable of being her lover."

Julian hesitated, turning to Damien, "Unless she wants to watch us fall one by one."

Damien reacted, but he switched immediately, locking his eyes with mine.

Behind them, Ethan laughed, but there was no humor in it. "I always knew you’d be the death of us, sweetheart."

He seemed to be the first to utter such sweet and poetically daring words.

His words always calmed me, but struck me deep in my heart. They weren’t exactly sweet.

I knew the men needed something peculiar to themselves, which, of course, was me. I was the prize!

Without thinking, I turned over to Kai, not letting Ethan finish his statement. I knew Kai had something else to say, I was certain they wouldn't be soothing words, so I moved on to the next man. "Lucian." He stood there, rigid, as though distracted by something. His fitness-trained body was enough to make a woman lose her focus.

His attention shifted to me when I stumbled on something. Making eye contact, he seemed worried. Putting his hands around my waist and holding me up, he asked, "Are you okay?"

I stuttered, "Yeah... I'm fine." I turned around in shock. Gosh, that was awkward...

"Make your choice now," he said, disrupting my thoughts.

His icy gaze locked unto mine just straight away. There was no way Lucian would make a good husband, he was always cold and impatient.

And then there was Shay, the wildcard, his tattoos stark against his pale skin as he flashed me a reckless grin. "Guess this is where you find out who really stole your heart, but I mean best because I stand alone, and I’m worth it."

"I’d climb every mountain to be with you. You’re my ride or die, Lila." Searching through his eyes for sincerity, he seemed serious about what he had just said.

My hands trembled as the flowers I held fell to the ground, as roses from its anthers began to spread by the wind.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen.

They were all good-looking, but they never felt genuine to me.

I couldn't make a reckless decision as to who to go home with that night.

The chords from the "Hallelujah" chorus began playing, calling me back to reality.

It was about time to pick a man to walk down the aisle with.

The priest waved his hands, swinging them forward and down the red carpet that led down the mountain.

The men occupied my thoughts. I've never felt this indecisive before.

I realized my hands were shaking. I wasn't used to this kind of attention...

I closed my eyes tightly as the Hallelujah song continued sweeping through my mind.

I finally came to a decision that the man with the best speech would win my heart.

The last man standing stole my heart with his words.

He said,

"Lila...

I’ve tried to find the right words for this moment, but the truth is, I’ve never known how to explain what you do to me.

When I doubt everything, I look at you and remember why I stayed alive long enough to feel this.

You’ve held my flaws without flinching. You’ve made me laugh on days I didn’t think I could speak.

I’m not promising a perfect life. But I swear, every time you reach for me, I’ll be there. I’ll choose you in the quiet, in the storm, when it’s easy, when it hurts.

Because with you, Lila, I know I don't stand alone. I have you by my side through the pain, the joy, the harmony, everything life brings to us."

Paying attention to his words, I chuckled as I walked slowly back to my position. The priest ordered all six men to turn, facing back.

It was a moment of deep emotions for me as I walked across towards him, beaming a smile while closing my eyes very tightly.

I inserted the diamond ring into his finger. I flung open my eyes as I uttered, "Fate has joined us together." He replied, saying, "Fate, it is." He lowered my hands to his chest. "You have my heart now."

Looking into his eyes, I reached for his chin as I caressed his lovely face.

He pulled out a ring box from his pocket and opened it, taking out a silver ring and inserting it on my ring finger. He took my hands up and kissed them passionately. I couldn’t erupt the joy that was brooding down in my mind. "From your beloved," he quoted.

He just knew the right words. I waved my hand, showing off my ring to the crowd.

My cheeks were burning red as I couldn't stop smiling.

Taking his arms up, he crossed them with mine as we walked toward the priest for the blessings.

The rest of the five just looked at us with disbelief and disappointment.

Some had their heads up, some buried their heads in their hands, ashamed and angry.

I and my newly wedded husband walked past them.

Each step I made was armored with boldness and guise. "Lord, let it be great, and shall I see no regret," I said to myself.

The pianist became more intense with his keys and other percussion instruments, even louder.

The priest blessed us and said his prayers, and the crowd chorused "Hallelujah." It was a moment of joy, sweetness, and gladness for me.

The wind whispered through the peaks as we stood at the edge of the cliff, and the world spread below us like a painting.

His warm and steady hands cradled my face as I leaned into him, my heart pounding in rhythm with his.

Everywhere fell silent, breaths held as our lips met, crashing into one another, soft at first, and then deeper, fiercer, as if sealing an oath written in our souls. I tangled my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer, while his arms wrapped around my waist, anchoring him tighter to myself. He tasted like a mix of honeyed-scented wine.

A cheer erupted from the crowd, as the "Hallelujah" song became even louder, and just in time, we began walking down the aisle, with our hands crossed together.

As we walked past the red carpet to the end of the aisle, we were star-struck by the flowers, balloons, and cash waving all around us.

The rest of my suitors had spread out, and I couldn’t note any one of them again. I hoped earnestly that my choice would not make me an arch-enemy.

I know they were disappointed, but I literally could not pick everyone, and just as I kept pondering in my thoughts, I felt a hand sweep up my sleeve. It was Ma Felicia, my stepmother.

"I’m so happy for you, child, that you found love today," she said with a wry smile.

"From all your suitors, you chose Shay. That’s an impressive choice you made.

You better be worth the man," she added, looking up at him.

"Yes, ma'am," he replied with a mix of smile and trepidation.

Walking away, she greeted and exchanged pleasantries with the guests.

Shay held me by the hand and tightened my grin just to gain my focus, and then, he took my hand up and kissed the knuckles where he inserted our matrimonial ring. It caught my attention as I turned, facing his eyes that were like that of a child. "I love you," he proclaimed. "Now, even more than ever."

"I love you too, Shay," I responded.

"Are you okay?" he said, looking me deep in the eyes while rubbing my shoulders.

"I’m fine."

I didn't expect him to notice the change in my countenance.

"Are you worried about what your stepmom said to you?

Do you think I'm not good enough for you?"

"You are," I said.

"Your eyes seem to be lost in the crowd, in search of Julian and the rest.

They’re all gone, Lila. I’m your man now." I see the worry in your eyes.

"I will be sure to make things right with them. You have my heart now.

The suitors who stood at the top of that Palms Spring mountain were your friends, and it’s good we don’t leave things in a cruel way with them."

"Yes, yes, yes. That’ll be on the way as life goes on between us."

"Look around. Today is our day and we have all eyes on us. We’ve got to make it worthwhile. Everything else has to stay on the side for now," he said.

I chuckled. Although I had an intent to make out with the rest of the men, I guess Shay was not ready, especially because he felt like a competition. Later, we jointly signed our marriage vows on the marriage desk, and in minutes, we were issued a marriage certificate.