Hell's Consort

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Vampire King Apollyon

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"What did you do to make him unconscious, Luna, when the Goddess Hecate had already taken her magic from you?"

No one in this Realm could get the upper hand or pull one over his military general if that person didn't have magic or power stronger than an ancient vampire.

Unfortunately, Luna had none of those things because she had already lost her High Priestess Magic the moment Apollyon had claimed his wife's virginity.

The real Luna will not have any magic left except for her strength as a vampire and an Amazon.

Apollyon finally caught something from this confession, wondering if this Luna can make such a believable excuse.

Turning around, Apollyon was supposed to stare at her with a look full of hatred and accusation, but his mind had turned blank when she found Luna leaning against the headboard while her naked, lithe body was securely tucked under the sheets.

Her seductive and confident pose had screamed Luna as the owner of Apollyon's pleasure.

Their eyes met, and Apollyon hated the sexual tension rising in the bed-chamber.

"The Goddess Hecate had bestowed Underworld Magic back to me in Hell, Apollyon."  Luna was nestled comfortably against the cloud of pillows with her head cradled against one hand. "I was her favoured High Priestess, and I accepted her blessing."

"I needed it so that I could come back to you." Luna shrugged, smirking. "Aren't you happy that I am back, stronger than ever?"

It was ironic how she was crying a few minutes ago, upset by Cederic's actions.

Still, the tears that had stained Luna's cheeks had glistened prettily in the sunlight unfiltered by the silk curtains of the room.

"Of course, I am." Squinting at her, Apollyon's face tightened as he focused on anything that was above Luna's neck so that he wouldn't be tempted with her allure. "I was just asking you questions so that I could make it clear to Cederic and Aspen not to doubt you."

Her scarlet lips pouted prettily, "I am disappointed that you weren't here with me the moment I woke up, husband."

"I wasn't here to watch over you because we had things to do in the Whispering Forest."

"What were you doing in this Whispering Forest with the Faerie Prince, Apollyon?" Luna gave him a furtive glance, "You aren't trying to search for Spring Faeries to fuck while I was unconscious because you couldn't wait for me, right?

"No." Apollyon kept his response vague. "I had accompanied him there to investigate."

"What is it about?" Frowning, Luna pressed.

"The Faerie Prince wanted to keep it discreet, wife, so I can't tell you." He couldn't bear to trust her yet, so Apollyon lied to her. "I have sworn an oath to the Faerie Prince not to tell others. This is between the Royal Family of the Spring Courts, King Zephyr and me."

It would be bad to reveal their secret about capturing the leader of this demonic faerie cult in front of a suspected Archdemon who had allegedly claimed his wife's body.

"Don't you trust me, husband?" Gripping a fistful of her blankets, Luna lowered her head, and her chin had trembled as if she was about to cry again. "I know you don't want to tell me because that Cederic and the Faerie Prince had influenced you of his nonsense."

Apollyon didn't respond, and it made Luna drag her nails down her wet cheeks in desperation.

"I don't know what else you want me to do, husband. I am passionate and loyal to you." Luna screeched at him as she threw punches on the mattress.

Luna was having a temper tantrum, and Apollyon tried so hard to keep his indifference.

"Why can't I leave a mark on your heart of stone?" She screamed, thrashing about like a child, "My love for you will transcend even after death."

"I think I am regretting my decision of coming back to you, Apollyon, when you act like you don't trust me all of a sudden." Now, Luna had grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled at them, whimpering, "You let what Cederic said to get to you, playing with your thoughts, entertaining the idea of me being an Archdemon and that dead High Priestess Lilith at the same time."

At this point, Luna was hysterical, her face contorting with rage, "Did you know how ridiculous that sounded?"

He said, devoid of emotion, "It felt like you have changed, Luna."

Eyes widening at Apollyon's sharp tone, Luna rubbed at her upper arms for comfort. "Nothing had changed. I am still me. I think you are the one who changed Apollyon." She muttered anxiously to herself, "If  your love for me had cooled and died down, we should start everything from scratch. I'll do anything in my power—"

It was this discomfort that he couldn't understand, like, all of those loving emotions—sadness and yearnings-- inside his heart had gone stale.

Mayhap, Apollyon was exhausted from everything that happened for the past years, and he finally found relief.

He had hated to see his wife shed tears, but he had no desire to be accidentally mated to an Archdemon like what happened to Luna either.

Apollyon sighed as he lowered down his gaze.

He couldn't afford to make the same mistake as his wife because that would destroy them.

He changed the subject. "Didn't you recognize Prince Aspen when he asked you who he was?"

"Of course, I know, Prince Aspen, husband, and I know he was your cousin. I was merely jesting." Luna's posture went rigid before blowing out a noisy breath. "Who cared about other men when I have you by my side? You are the most important man to me, and I had no interest in anyone else."

"I love you, Apollyon, and if you really loved me as a husband, you should punish that Cederic and that cousin of yours." Luna raised her voice, but it sometimes wavered, "I didn't deserve this kind of treatment as your Empress. I couldn't bear to face them every day with their hostile gazes accusing me of Lilith."

"I will always be met with guilt and shame for something I didn't do." She sputtered, "I don't like to see them ever again because they are making me fear for my life."

Luna was so angry that she had shifted in her position.

The coverlet dropped from her breasts, playing peek-a-boo with Apollyon's flaming passion.

As beads of sweat ran down his forehead, Apollyon's fingers ached from the need to touch and caress.

He crossed his arms over his chest defensively, slightly parting his legs to accommodate his size because he could feel himself getting hard.

If Apollyon can confirm that this lady's soul was, in fact, Luna, then he shouldn't have to waste his time, drooling over how tempting his wife was, and jump her sexy bones at once.

Now, he wondered if his wife was doing this on purpose to play with his desires, but there was this nagging possibility that this wasn't his wife.

Apollyon had taken a few steps backwards.

He didn't want to look at her because a part of him felt like it was wrong.

A sudden realization had shed light into the darkest corners of his mind.

Clutching his heart, Apollyon realized he couldn't feel the blood bond between them.

The soul tie wasn't there, and he couldn't sense Luna's consciousness like he used to before.

It wasn't that his wife had improved on blocking him from her mind.

This Luna right here wasn't her.

"Apollyon. Why are you so quiet?" Biting her lip, Luna asked, "Do you not believe me as your wife?"

"Do you hate Cederic, Luna?"

Gritting her teeth, she declared with utmost conviction, "I hate the bastard with my entire being."

"Why?"

"Because… Because…" Luna trailed off as if gathering her thoughts, "Cederic was the one who captured me to be part of the Consortium."

"So you hated becoming the High Priestess, saving me from the Archdemon of Gluttony and becoming my blood mate?"

"No. " A shake in the head. "Things might have turned well for us. You know how much I love you, Apollyon, right?"

"Cederic had said he had liked me first. What do you think of that?" Luna curled her hands into tight fists, and her green eyes were wide, glossy and feverish. "Aren't you concerned that he would take me away from you as the Archdemons had done?"

She insisted, "You must kill him, Apollyon, for our peace of mind."

"I'll think about it," Apollyon said flatly.

"Thank you, husband." She exhaled a huge relief, and her body sagged, "You are the best."

"Alone." Apollyon said coldly, "I'll think about it alone."

Her hackles rose again, alert, "You aren't going to sleep here?"

"Prince Aspen's butler had prepared another room for me."

"No, I want you now, husband."  Luna insisted as she climbed out of bed, reaching out to him with desperation, "I am a champion who had defeated the Archdemons who wished to take me. You are my reward, Apollyon."

"You should not have stripped, my Empress." Apollyon shook his head as he stalked through the door, leaving her behind, "You are wandering in the wilds of peril, and I do not wish to join you."

Unperturbed, Luna chased after him.

There was aggression in her voice as she bared her teeth, "You are obliged to do your husbandly duties now that I am back."

"I think I should sleep alone for now so that I wouldn't disturb you."