Hell's Consort

Newest Chapter of Highest Tier (August 2021)

************************

Archdemon Empress Luna

************************

"I did everything for her husband, but she never respected me enough to do something simple as appearing in front of me."  Her thoughts about Hecate spun, forcing her to focus inward.

Trust was important to her, and she realized how valuable it was through her mating bond with Apollyon.

She needed to know if she could count on the Goddess to ensure their group's safety during their mission.

She hated wasting her and other people's time and endangering their lives—especially Princess Sapphire and Xerxes.

Her tears clouded her vision, and her lungs constricted from her sorrow, making it hard to breathe.

It wasn't that she had failed with the magic incantations.

The Goddess Hecate didn't want to materialize and communicate with her, and she couldn't understand why.

It was a sense of betrayal which rocked her mind to the very core.

Apollyon's stance remained unmoving as he let out a huge sigh.

She could sense his hesitation as if he weighed down his words so as not to hurt her, "Don't do this anymore, beloved. We can't call a god or goddess and expect them to answer right away. They are different. She isn't one of your Familiars that would immediately answer your beck and call, do you understand?"  One large hand rested on the small of her back as he kissed and murmured at the crown of her hair.  "She saved you from the Archdemon of Lust and helped you get out of those tunnels without Jon's help. You drew upon her magic to separate the Blood Beast's curse from me. I saw the Goddess defend Princess Sapphire and Xerxes from Hephaestus, and at that moment, she had earned my respect."

"This isn't about how she was always there in my time of need, Apollyon." Luna cried brokenly despite agreeing with Apollyon's observations. "She did everything on purpose for her hidden agendas!" She buried her damp cheek on the hard warm muscle of his chest, and the sound of his heartbeat comforted her. "She should at least tell me what they were and give me a peek of her inner thoughts to make me understand."

"Being Hecate's High Priestess doesn't give you that entitlement, wife.  Hecate sent her herald to our royal chamber at Vinca Inn when she couldn't come to speak to you in person. She only visited in Princess' Sapphire's dream and nothing more. Maybe, this is her limit of interference." As she continued shedding tears, Apollyon low voice rumbled in her chest as he hugged her tighter.  "The Goddess also bestowed you her Witch's Grimoire. It helped me get rid of Lilith when she exploited your weakness, taking control of your physical vessel. "

An image of a dark brown leather envelope on top of her vanity table at her chambers flashed across her mind.

Se quickly figured out that she left the Witch's Grimoire at the Summer Castle.

"I forgot about it." Luna blinked her tears away in alarm, wondering if she should risk returning to the Summer Castle to get them. "Do you know where is it, husband?"

"You should really pay attention to the gifts the Goddess had given you, wife, and learn to be grateful." Apollyon touched the necklace with the blood-red ruby pendant he had given her the night after their marriage. "—but I am glad that you never discarded the one gift that I gave you."

Luna slightly pulled back from the embrace so that she could look at Apollyon in the eye.

"Out of all the trinkets I had, this is the only thing I cared about, Apollyon." She sniffed. "It represented the unique bloodline you belonged to."

"This necklace is proof that you are mine. That you belong to me."  Apollyon gave her necklace a thoughtful glance before his eyes returned on her face.

Her husband smiled a little as he picked at the delicate strands of hair sticking into her wet face. and tucked them behind her ears. "About the Witch's Grimoire, I didn't forget to shove it in the drawstring bag I carried around with me. I trust that the Goddess would either send us her Herald again to deliver the message at the right time, so don't force yourself anymore." Apollyon said softly,  "You are here, High Priestess, Luna, and I know that your heart still believed in her after Ravin's accusations. You can still connect to the Mark of the Triple Moon Goddess on your chest, and you can still access Underworld Magic, so she never left—"

"—but she owed me an explanation!"

"Well, I do not think your concern is about Hecate's  failure to materialize in front of you, wife." Apollyon's mood turned bleak as he squinted at her in confusion, "What is your real problem?"

Luna chose her words deliberately. "I'm just afraid that Hecate doesn't trust me anymore, Apollyon, because she heard about my doubts about her. This must be why she never showed herself to me because she was angry that I have considered Ravin's words true. "

"You are making a mountain out of a molehill." Apollyon's blue eyes appeared dark and serious. "Don't be afraid because I can protect us. We could protect each other even if Hecate decided to desert us halfway during the journey…." A grim twist in the mouth. "—and I think this scenario doesn't make sense at all. You still have those two Familiars. Don't think twice about sacrificing those devils. You told me yourself that the Archdemons' every word aimed to manipulate."

"If we must pick for the lesser evil, then I would rather believe in the Goddess rather than that bastard." Apollyon lifted her chin with a finger and gazed down at her,  "Now, I will ask you. Do you want to stop looking for that damned tree, beloved?"

"I don't want us to stop looking for the Garden of Four Seasons," Luna admitted.

"This isn't a trap, wife. Lilith is still within you." He said in a quiet reassurance. The way he stood was unnaturally still, and she was starting to get worried.  "We will find the fruit to save our baby and get rid of her whether Hecate is our ally or not--"

Apollyon wasn't able to finish his sentence when his eyes fell shut, and he fainted in her arms.