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The Empress Luna

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As Luna's gaze tuned in more to her husband's face, she had noticed the more she stared at him, the more Apollyon became blurry.

Disturbed that perhaps Luna had gone blind, she rubbed her eyes hard but the cloudy vision didn't change.

She had a difficult time finding her husband in the strange shadowy light because the darkness seemed to envelop him then dwindled a little, giving her just a flash of his form before he faded.

It was like he was sucking the light around them and controlling it, enshrouding Luna in the pitch-black void.

"Apollyon! What are you doing?" Luna asked worriedly as she lifted both of her hands at the back of her husband's neck instead of his arms for comfort. "I think there is something wrong with my eyes because I can't see you clearly."

"I'm hiding us from the world, beloved. You can do whatever you want with me. " He said as he chuckled, snapping back into focus. "You have my permission to lewd me, wife."

She would assume that the Vampire King had been casting protective barriers over their space.

Luna just can't figure out if someone from the Ball Room could see them so it was time to test that theory.

Tilting her head, Luna narrowed her eyes to squint at him but her eyes kept on sliding right off his form as if he was vanishing.

Luna knew he was right there with her because she could still feel his body against her.

Eyebrows knitting together, Luna asked, "What if they noticed we were gone and search for us when we were just right here?"

"We are a married couple who mysteriously disappeared in a Masquerade Ball. Now if you are in the shoes of one of our guests, would you search for us?" Giving her a knowing smile, Apollyon stroked her face gently, pushing the silver strands framing her face aside. He said bluntly, "They had already assumed that we went somewhere private and fuc—"

That statement made Luna want to shatter the moment between them like ice-cold water splashed on her face.

Her husband had distracted her too much that she had strayed from her responsibilities as the hostess of the Masquerade Ball.

Luna's jaw clenched with determination as she turned her head sideways when Apollyon drew her face closer to his.

Her husband had quickly swooped in, aiming for a kiss in the mouth but he had smacked her left cheek instead.

"Stop distracting me, husband." Luna's voice was breathy as she inhaled his warm masculine scent of pine trees, winter snowflakes, and dark chocolates.

"Just show me how to dance and I would follow your lead."

She had shoved his broad shoulders and the Vampire King had allowed her to push him away even if he was as strong as a mountain.

He could have a choice not to budge when she did it but Apollyon probably allowed her out of respect. He was good at acting like a chivalrous gentleman these days.

With cold sweat running down her back, Luna had stridden out on the farthest left of the balcony to give herself space from her husband's caging arms.

Every time the Vampire King was in her vicinity, her mind threatened to lose herself because she damn well couldn't think straight.

Apollyon neither demanded nor protested why she moved away from him.

The Vampire King's kissable lips had turned into a cute pout as he squinted at her at the corner.

Luna calmed her erratic heart down as she focused on the silver moon, reflecting off the man-made pool which wasn't far from the rose garden below the balcony.

The pine trees and the mountains from the far horizon were covered in milky-white snow.

Being the respectful man that he was, Apollyon kept his distance, cleared his throat, and changed the subject. "Do Amazon warriors in your tribe dance for their goddess' rituals or anything of the sort?"

"No. We only deliver the offering, burn them to the fire, and pray." Biting down her bottom lip, Luna's hands shook as she clasped them tighter on the hand railings of the balcony to keep from reaching out to Apollyon, fighting her desire to stay in his arms once again.

She continued in a small voice, "There was no dancing involved."

There was just a deep knowing in her gut that was screaming for her husband's caresses.

Now, she was obsessed that she couldn't get enough of Apollyon.

Had he put a spell on her before she could do it to him?

The ancient pureblood vampire was basically a magician himself so there was that possibility.

"I do not doubt your ability to dance, my beloved, but it would be difficult for you to learn it just tonight when the ladies from the Consortium had spent years of training for these royal court dances." He replied.

As she clutched her heart in her chest, she discerned that the passion she had felt for Apollyon didn't feel controlled.

It was a raw need.

There was this primal hunger to always be in his power and presence that sometimes it made her want to pull at her hair in frustration.

She could never ignore the quick flutter of her heart and heat flowing in her veins every time they were left to their own devices.

She could not blame her husband for this.

Perhaps, it was the blood bond acting up.

She had been with him the whole day and it was the best experience to be with someone who was willing to change their behavior for the woman they had claimed to love.

Apollyon's confession made her feel like she was on cloud nine each time she remembered it.

She stole a look with her husband and avoided his gaze when their eyes met. "Just teach me the basics or I had no other choice but to accept the other Kings' offer if they offered to dance with me and I only humiliate myself further the second time."