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High Priestess

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Luna's courage faltered as Apollyon moved on top of her, waving the silver dagger carelessly in his hand.

Apollyon's shadow fell over Luna like a messenger of death as he drew back his dagger in the air, his lips quirked in a crooked grin more sneer than a smile.

As the glittering blade hung poised above her, Luna had a dreadful thought that her husband would drive it home through her breast, bidding them both farewell.

Luna counted to five before she opened her eyes back to gaze into his dark blue ones.

At that moment, Luna knew.

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Vampire King

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The Vampire King would like to do things to her wife a man would not do to an Empress--things he wouldn't even do to a whore--, but that was a remnant of an Archdemon's thoughts which had been deeply ingrained in his psyche.

It wasn't him.

Apollyon couldn't deny that the Empress' naked body still excited, inspired, and enticed enough passion inside him after marking his ownership.

His wife didn't beg him to marry her as all the other women did.

The Vampire King didn't waste the opportunity to claim her as his wife even if the Blood Bond had existed.

Apollyon desired to make it official in the eyes of everyone in this Realm, not just relying on something invisible as their blood bond.

Not all creatures would understand it except the one involved in the connection.

He didn't think about what to do, nor discuss, sit or ponder about his decision.

If Apollyon had done so, the opportunity of entering her 'Wonderland' would have been lost, perhaps forever.

He had to go after her with passion, without hesitation, and never let her go.

It wasn't like he had regretted it, but they needed to clear out any misunderstanding.

Luna was 'extraordinary' in the heart of his 'ordinary' world.

The Empress was his enchantment and adventure.

But for how long would it take before he fastened his hands around her slender neck and crush the life out of her, digging his fingers to her chest and clawing her beating heart as fury overrode his lust?

Apollyon struggled to find meaning in what had taken place at the Salon right now, but he didn't care about the disorganization and chaos that much.

Jon could handle these complications very well because if not, the other Kings might have located them and attacked him as revenge for what he had done to the Feline King.

It was more important for Apollyon to know what went on his Empress' mind.

Luna was confused, furious, and felt very much like complaining—that he can feel.

This misunderstanding—there was a lot for him and his wife to complain about.

"We aren't cooperating," Luna remarked resignedly after the awkward silence, straightening her position as she laid in bed despite being chained to each corner of the bedpost.

'Obviously.' The Vampire King thought as he fought the urge to roll his eyes heavenward, praying to any gods and goddesses around who might help them with this misunderstanding.

Apollyon hadn't experienced this with other women in the Consortium beforehand.

They would obey whatever he told them to, like the good little girls they were.

He had no idea a wife like Luna could be so problematic.

"This is a volatile conversation, wife," Apollyon responded with a heavy sigh. "I don't want to fight you anymore."

Apollyon watched a single tear flowing down his wife's cheeks, and it was the first time he had seen it.

He never saw her like this—so vulnerable and so broken—as she bit back a sob, still narrowing her defiant eyes towards him.

Come to think of it, Apollyon had rarely seen her happy and elated.

Luna had mostly projected anger, frustration, and jealousy towards him.

Maybe he wasn't doing a great job as a husband except for giving her pleasure.

He was sure he never lacked in that department.

"I'm too impatient." Luna murmured as mortification scorched her cheeks, continuing, "I couldn't wait for the Coronation Night just to see the visitors."

Apollyon's eyes widened a little, shocked that his proud Empress was the first one to apologize to her.

He, in turn, apologized right away. "I also apologize, my wife. I didn't keep my promise to you even if I tried to stop Prince Aspen. I should have tried harder." He shook his head as he uttered with regret. "I told you I didn't care about other women except you."

"I was just angry why you wouldn't let me come with you to the Acquaintance Affairs." He glanced apprehensively at her resolute face when she replied, the chill of her gaze burning through his skin. "I thought that you were ashamed to be seen with me as your Empress."

"What?" Apollyon said incredulously.

"I thought that you would involve yourself with the other women from the Consortium and have orgies with the other Kings without me." Luna's mumbles escalated to a frantic murmur. "I did remember what usually happened during parties like those. Maybe you have forgotten what happened in the Blood Moon Banquet, but you did snatch me up and rubbed your cock against mine."

"Ah—I remember," Apollyon muttered as he rubbed his chin.

"I was afraid that would happen." She admitted.

"I would never cheat on you."

Luna had recoiled from him as much as space would allow her when he said these cursed words.

She had probably remembered what he had done on their Honeymoon, and it was a memory she would like to erase from her mind.

"That's what you said before you went out and made a concubine my replica." Luna shrugged with nonchalance, but her husky voice had hinted resentment.

Apollyon winced and replied, "I'm sorry for making you jealous of my actions. I didn't want you there to witness the Harem Auction. The King's inspection of the escorts, consorts, and concubines might have offended your delicate sensibilities."

Luna's gaze glanced upward at Apollyon's face. "It did."

"Now you know why I don't want you there," Apollyon said softly as he caressed her silver strands with care.

"You should have stopped them," Luna replied callously.

"I don't care what you think of me, but I couldn't control the Kings if they chose to disrespect the women that way. They are powerful in their own right." Apollyon threw back his head and laughed.

It was a black sound that rolled through the room in mirthless waves. "Do you want to see me hurt then? What if I was weaker than Panterra, and he killed me instead of the other way around?"

Luna pursed her lips in fear of her husband's barely leashed wrath, realizing she had already lost the argument.

Of course, she didn't want to see her husband hurt by the other Kings because of her.

It all boiled down to her.

It was her fault.

"Be patient with yourself. Be patient with me." Apollyon beseeched. "I understand that it is natural to feel frustrated, impatient, and confused but trust. Trust me, my beloved wife."

For the first time, Apollyon noticed humility in his wife's eyes.

It was accompanied by the dangerous knowledge of something Luna had always known but had denied for herself.

"It is unfair to each of us when I judged and convicted you before understanding your side of the story and most certainly without examining the evidence.

"Nevertheless, we both judged each other unfairly." He supplied.

"Both of us were at fault, and I take full responsibility for my mistake," Luna whispered as she stared at the silky red canopy behind his head instead of his blue eyes. "I'm sorry."

"You must speak up immediately if you think my decisions are unfair and wrong," Apollyon said.

The Empress glared up at Apollyon, allowing him to witness the rebirth of the flames of defiance captured in her eyes. "Would you care to listen to me by then?"

Luna held her breath in anticipation of his reply.

"Yes, I will not promise because I already have a bad reputation for breaking promises as your husband, but I'll try." Apollyon glanced down into his wife's pleading eyes—mismatched eyes of silver and green fringed by lush sable lashes.

"Don't try," Luna said. "Just say you will do it and keep your promises."

"How about you?"

"I will keep my promises."

Apollyon breathed a sigh of relief at Luna's answer.

"I will give you the right to object as long as you speak up instead of glaring at me, acting furious and sulky all of a sudden. I can handle your feminine wiles if you just let me." He braced himself for the backlash he would receive from his wife for telling her what he really thought of her.

This fragile trust will require a great deal of honesty from both sides--and a thousand doses of it.

Apollyon had glimpsed the bewildered hurt on his wife's beautiful face.

It was worse than the unspoken condemnation between them.

"I don't act all furious and sulky, Apollyon. Instead, I state my case, clear and concise, with strength and power. All you have to do was listen and act accordingly. As your Empress, I am worthy of your respect, fairness, and kindness."

"Don't allow yourself to be influenced without knowing the story. Sometimes, I think you have a deep bias against me which is colouring your vision. It's a flawed filter through which you may be seeing me as your husband." Apollyon stroked her face with the tip of the silver dagger in his hand, every trace of grim humour stripped from his face. " There was no need to be jealous of my past sexual partners in the Consortium, wife. There was a special reason I have married and chosen you and not any one of them."