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The Vampire King Apollyon

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"That is, indeed, strange. I have studied the history of your kind, but unicorns are very rare and powerful." Raising an eyebrow, Apollyon said in disbelief. "They weren't easy to catch, much less killed every three months, just like what you have said."

"The unicorn's ability to adapt is nearly imperceptible to us, as the generations changed so slowly over countless life spans."

"Yes." Apollyon nodded his head in agreement. "These creatures have seen thousands of generations come and go. It would have made sense just by how those old bards spoke about these magical beings."

"They contained an ancient and eternal presence in the Fae Realm, but in exchange, they were near extinction because of the power they hold," Aspen explained. "Which leads me to the conclusion that something far greater is attacking it. When we found the dead unicorns in the morning, they were completely drained of blood and left with an empty husk of flesh."

"Hmm. First things first." Apollyon rubbed his beard in contemplation. "What are the ways to catch unicorns?"

Aspen cleared his throat before speaking, "Unicorns approached pure and chaste young virgins when they see one and threw themselves upon her. The maiden offers her breast, and the animal will conduct himself familiarly with her and begin to suck it."

The conversation was as scandalous as it was interesting.

"Ah, that's the adult version of the legends." Apollyon's lips curled up in a sneer. "Unicorns are very sexual creatures."

"Two young unicorns were attached to your chariot the moment you arrived here, Prince Aspen." He tilted his head and eyed him sharply. "How are they?"

"I hid them somewhere safe for now." The Faerie Prince had this smug grin as if telling him that he knew Apollyon would ask him about the chariot. "I am afraid to be confronted if the truth will be told that they were the only unicorns left in the entire Realm because of the killings."

"So did you see your owned unicorns suck a virgin's breasts on the day of their capture?" For the first time in his years of mourning, Apollyon dared to mirror such a cocky smirk, "What is there to suck when there was no milk coming out of it?"

Both know only a man can latch on a female's tits even if there wasn't any milk to suck on.

"Exactly, it was ridiculous to see that the legends were real." Prince Aspen's brows knitted in concern as he folded his arms across his chest. "It made me question if unicorns have brains or not. because it appeared like they don't, and that explained why they went instinct."

"Are there other ways to capture these pure and innocent unicorns?"

"You have to taunt a unicorn like it was a bull until they hit their horns on a tree."

Apollyon can't help but slap a palm on his forehead, muttering, "That's a foolish reason to get captured. Not very smart for a powerful creature."

"Even powerful creatures have weaknesses." The Faerie Prince wiped the amusement on his face only to be replaced by something sober. "How is the Empress?"

Well, Apollyon's mirth was also gone the second his cousin mentioned the Empress.

Nostrils flaring, Apollyon's growled. "Shut it, Aspen!"

Disregarding his short life for the second time tonight, the Faerie Prince went on, "The loss of your Empress had left you disoriented and desperate for direction. It made you constantly grasp for meaning, long for solid ground."

"A love lost can feel like you have been walking for endless miles in the wastelands suffering from the draught confronted by existential dread, hungry for her presence, pleading for your life to get back to normal." Prince Aspen murmured as if he was reading a poem written on a page to be performed to an audience.

"Don't be dramatic, Aspen." Shaking his head in regret, Apollyon had never wanted to shut a prince up.

He had appreciated the concern until he opened his mouth.

He wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all, but he decided to tell the truth to remove the self-loathing off his chest.

It might be nice to talk to someone other than Jon, Cederic, and the High Priest.

"I know you are an aspiring poet to attract as many women with your flowery words, but really, I want to enjoy the company of my wife. The simple pleasantries of day-to-day life would have been enough for me."

"The desert you are in will offer no comfort. You must pass through this, cousin. Oh, weary traveler, let the winds and sands work their deep magic on you. Someday, you will reach your water again."

The Faerie Prince had the nerve to step forward, look him in the eye and pat his shoulder as if that would comfort him—as if that would get rid of his melancholy.

With his pore-less face near his, Prince Aspen whispered in his ear. "You can forget about her. You can get other women if you want her to be the new Empress. "

Apollyon lifted a hand to clasp the back of the Faerie Prince's neck.

He whispered his threat in a sharp baritone, "If I have the energy to punch you in the face for that, Aspen, I would, but this kind of stupidity will not deserve any violent reaction from me. I will ignore your lack of intelligence for the second time."

Jerking his head back, Apollyon stepped backward away from the Faerie Prince.

"Immortals had a natural inclination to remember a missing part of them. I am blood-bonded with the Empress." Apollyon said as he gave him an icy glare. "Someday, you will understand what I feel if you are finally mated to your future princess."

"Ah, I've seen enough to know that being mated wouldn't end well." A shake in the head. "You know how I am jumping from Kingdom to Kingdom to find the perfect mate that my father, the King of the Spring Courts, would hate."