“Her womb is the alter, Marcus. Your ego is the sacrifice.” Mother Lune’s words haunted my brain as I stood in front of the contract. I knew signing this meant physically Eleanor would come home to me, but could I handle who she’ll become? I was still reeling with how quick Eleanor took Mr. Virelli’s offer. Am I really about to prostitute my wife for life-altering money and a very prestigious position that would have me rubbing elbows with the south’s elite?

I had to stop. Eleanor wanted this. How the fuck did we get here? The Velvet Covenant was supposed to be a game, a place to act out our desires, not... this.

The thought that I was about to sign a piece of paper allowing another man to violate my wife, at my personal gain, made me sick, but I was hard as a rock.

Mother Lune and Julian both noticed. “I could provide you with some company for the night, Marcus, you don’t have to watch.” Mother Lune brought up one of her disciples. A very beautiful blonde with pert breasts, toned stomach, and a wonderful ass.

“Many men would sell their very souls to sleep with such a woman.”

Here I was about to do just that. I looked back at Eleanor. Her eyes were wide, luminous with a feverish excitement, her lips slightly parted as if she was already tasting the moment. She was about to be used, her old life finding a way to weave back in to her new, and it was all for my gain. I didn’t know who should be feeling powerful, me for using my wife to get ahead, or Eleanor for pushing me to this point.

I looked at the contract, then back to my wife, then to mother Lune. I was searching the room for permission to sign it, some plausible deniability if things went wrong.

Mother Lune granted me the release I wanted, “Marcus, we have witnessed your growth at The Velvet Covenant. This is your last step to become the man you should be, and all you have to do is sign this contract, and get through tonight. You will have the wife you desire, the job you crave, and the confidence that you did the right thing. Not just for you, but for your wife as well. Look at her, Marcus. Tonight, she’s gone no matter what. Marcus is dying tonight, he’s held you back for too long, Corvus. The goddess chose you.”

I took the pen. It was heavy, cold steel. I signed, the nib tearing a microscopic wound in the thick paper, a clean cut through my soul. With the final strokes of the pen, I could feel my soul being taken from me.

Eleanor ran to kiss me, “I love you so much, Marcus. After tonight, we will live our dreams. Thank you for helping me get my confidence back.”

“Kneel, Corvis.” Mother Lune’s voice cut through everything. I knelt at my wife’s feet, kissing them.

“Congratulations, Corvis. You just realized the first step to becoming a real part of our world. You just handed your wife the world, now, you must step back and allow her to rule it, and you.” Julian put a comforting hand on my shoulder. “I know you are still in pain, my brother. You will realize soon enough that what you are experiencing is your first true taste of freedom.”

“Please, worship my goddess, sir.” I was still kneeling, my eyes never met Mr. Virelli’s.

Then, I addressed my wife: “My goddess, I bring you your first sacrifice of my ego.” Part of me felt that I was being over dramatic, but why did this feel right? As soon as I signed that paper, I could feel this urge to castrate my ego in front of her. I wasn’t her husband anymore. I was her disciple, and I would worship my goddess for eternity.