Hell's Consort

"My wife and I fought."

From the valuable faerie antiques and flags as decors, Apollyon can assume that the Spring Monarchs owned the Will O'Wisp Pub because they always drink and hang around the gaming tables in their free time.

Prince Aspen was even here on his respective seat, although both didn't plan this and came here separately.

It was a peculiar coincidence.

He was pissed with his wife's secret, but this made him smirk.

What would outsiders think he was meeting a Faerie Prince, the alliance representative of the Spring Courts to the Vampire Realm, out in the open despite the obvious discord between the two Realms?

Would they accuse the Faerie Prince of treason when the war hadn't officially started?

They were only a few aristocrats on their floor, yet he could feel them throwing agitated glances in his direction.

Did he care?

Never.

It felt good to intimidate the rest of the nobles with just his mere presence knowing how these bastards did his wife dirty by pushing for war when the only thing the Vampire Realm did was to save them from the shape-shifting demons.

Frowning at the heavy wooden circular table made of fine mahogany carved with faerie magic symbols, Apollyon picked the soup ladle and spun it around his fingers in annoyance.

Ungrateful bastards!

Prince Aspen shrugged and his long raven hair swayed with grace. "Tell me about it."

He ignored Prince Aspen and focused on the distinct brushstrokes of  Prince Aelfric's woodland paintings on the walls, instead.

Apollyon might think that coming here was akin to entering a lion's den due to the tension between him and the Spring Courts because of what happened at Ostara.

The royal aristocrats were settled on the third floor of the Will O' Wisp because the higher status a creature had, the higher service he/she would be given in the establishment.

"No, I don't want to talk about it." He settled his elbows on each side of the armrest and looked upwards.

Thousands of red, blue, pink, and yellow spring flowers were meticulously tied on sparkling golden threads hang over the ceiling along with the glowing orange orbs attached to the chandeliers. "It's a private matter which can only be fixed between mates."

"So, is the problem fixed yet?" Prince Aspen asked without taking his eyes off of the purple liquid swirling in his glass. "Were you already forgiven by the Empress?"

"Give me some credit, brat." Apollyon's gaze settled over him as he squinted. "Why did you immediately assume that it was my fault?"

"So it was hers." Prince Aspen drawled and nodded his head. "I got it. Is it just a lover's spat, or was it something major?"

Apollyon paused, hesitating, but decided to give the brat a clue about it as he put the ladle down. "It's a secret that could make or break our relationship."

It took Prince Aspen a while to respond as he gulped all of his goblet's contents,  licking his lips to savor the taste. "Is she pregnant then? Are you not ready to be a father?"

"Why am I telling you these things?" Apollyon settled both of his feet on the ground and straightened his spine. "I don't want to talk about it, Prince Aspen." Crossing his arms over his chest, he growled, "If you ask another question regarding that, I would—"

"You would, what?" Aspen gave him a half-shrug. "Kill me so that the Spring Monarchs would push through with the war against you and the Empress?"

"Is this a threat?"

"This isn't a threat, Your Highness. One should be careful how to handle a political ally. Remember who provided a sanctuary for you and your Empress despite the escalating turmoil between the two Realms."

Apollyon's lips curved upward. "That sounds like a threat to me."

Aspen leaned forward and whispered, "I will take responsibility for the Vampire Realm's protection because you helped us get rid of the mass killings of the Kingdom's most precious unicorns. The Spring Monarchs were now aware of our past movements regarding our investigation of the crimes done by the demonic cult. I passed pieces of evidence that we captured them and successfully got rid of them. My reports are almost complete, and Queen Gloriana was checking all of the documents. We wait for her judgment. It wouldn't be long before this is over."

"If that's the case, why did Queen Gloriana's interrogations made it appear like she was accusing that the Vampire Realm was at fault and my wife's a criminal?"

"You might notice that Queen Gloriana was lenient on you, and her jabs at the Spring Council were targeted at your wife--"

"Of course, I would take offense at that." He clenched his fists.  "My wife is a part of me, and talking shit at Luna, whose only mistake was to save the Spring Faeries at the celebration, was an attack against me. I took Queen Gloriana's insults personally." Apollyon's tone was soft, but his barb was as sharp as a scalpel. "I should have taken Luna and escape  out of there, leaving all of you to die, but my wife is stubborn."

Prince Aspen's eyes showed a hint of regret. "I am thankful for you and your wife for saving us, but you know this isn't all about what happened at Ostara."

"Princess Alisabethe, then."

Prince Aspen groaned as if bringing up the name stressed him out.

He leaned his back on the cushioned seat and massaged his forehead. "You know how I loved my sister, Your Highness, but she was too obsessed with you, and Queen Mother is enabling this behavior."

"I don't want to hurt women because my wife wouldn't like it, but I am tempted to start first with your sister," Apollyon said.

"There must be something about you that makes these women insanely neurotic over you, Your Highness."

" I had enough," Apollyon growled. "I want them to leave me alone."

A wench wearing short black skirts, fishnet stockings, mini-aprons, and red heels to get more gold coins from gentlemen sashayed on their table, holding a quill and papyrus in her hands. "Are you ready for your order, Your Highness?"

"Give me three casks of the White Stag."