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Archdemon Empress Luna

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Luna was under the control of these Archdemons the whole time!

It left a bad taste in her mouth to admit that.

As his royal red cape drifted around his shiny, black shoes, the Vampire King paced around in front of Luna as he rubbed his chin in contemplation, staring at nothing in particular. "I have my speculations based on the Archdemon runes on your body when you returned to me the first time your soul was taken at the Ivory Tower."

Apollyon glanced at the floor intensely as if the answer to the question in his mind would reflect on the faerie blood pooling on her feet. "Your eyes had turned golden similar to the Ravin, similar to the golden eyes I have when I used to be possessed by the Archdemon of Gluttony. That was why we had the mating bond in the first place because Ravin had claimed you as his while he owned my body, and I took responsibility for that."

Exhaling a heavy sigh, Apollyon dropped his hands to his sides, "My mind might not have known at that time, but my heart and soul knew that you are mine from the start."

'"But… Luna." Apollyon paused before he could take another step.

Turning his head, Luna's husband fixed his gaze on her, and she shivered.

She didn't miss the pain flashing across his face, "I can't believe after all these years, you finally clarified the blood bond you had with Ravin and the bargains you had with another Archdemon in Hell so that you could break the curse, for my sake."

Apollyon clenched his fists, and Luna could feel Ravin and Luxen's death imprinted in that cold eyes of his. "In the past, I have no idea that the situation had become treacherous for us to navigate in the future."

It was my fault for being so lax, Apollyon." Luna shook her head as her lips trembled. "I didn't care that Ravin had forced the blood bond with me first. You know that."

"I thought nothing would come out of it because I have sent them to Hell," Luna told him as she tried to inch closer to him, but the chains on her wrists wouldn't allow her.

"I thought so, too, and it was a mistake to think that the Blood Beast would not create any more problems for us." Apollyon snarled low, and his scowl reflected regret in his handsome features. "I had seen it happen with my eyes when you performed the reverse exorcism spell, sending both Archdemon brothers in Hell, but the blood bond with the Archdemons was a complication we don't need."

Luna's gaze followed him with every turn as he pieced the puzzle together.

As if he finally caught unto something, Apollyon halted, changed direction, and marched towards her with his face wearing a cold, unreadable mask.

Luna's shoulders caved as she averted her gaze.

The sudden intensity in his gaze had scared her.

Her husband had licked his lips when his gaze accidentally flew to her chest.

Apollyon lifted his gaze back to her face, "If the Archdemon of Gluttony didn't force you into the blood bond, you wouldn't be mine in the first place."

Luna knew that her husband was angry, but she didn't know if it was directed to her, himself, or the Archdemons.

"I couldn't hate you for that because it was your mission as the High Priestess." Gritting his teeth, Apollyon forced his words out, "I am not a hypocrite."

At least, Apollyon clarified that he wasn't angry at her, but a lethal pause followed that declaration.

"But when you also had a bargain with the other Archdemon, Lust..." Apollyon trailed off, and his expression was livid, "As the King of the Vampire Realm, I am grateful for the efforts you have done, but as your beloved husband—"

"You just shed light on everything you had kept in the dark for so long, excluding me from your life." Apollyon rasped, glaring at her with hatred, "I didn't know that this was the reason why this is happening to you, to us." Apollyon gestured towards her, "--and you had kept me in isolation for years."

Wide-eyed, Luna's mouth opened, but nothing came out.

Apollyon leaned closer, and their faces were close to kissing, but he had no intention to do that.

As he cupped her cheeks gently with his large hands, Apollyon growled, "Why didn't you tell me about your situation from the beginning so that we could have done something about it before it got to this point?"

She could feel Apollyon's mint-scented breath fanning her face.

Closing her eyes, Luna drew a long deep breath, inhaling his masculine scent. "You can't do anything about it, Apollyon."

"It is hopeless." Luna opened her eyes, giving him an apologetic smile. "I don't want to bother you."

A single tear rolled down her cheek, and Apollyon caressed them with his thumbs, wiping them away.

"It's not about being a bother to your husband, Luna." His blue eyes had softened, but his mouth tightened into a firm line. "You don't trust me to keep you safe."

A whimper escaped from her lips.

They had this conversation before, and history will surely repeat itself.

Luna must clear this misunderstanding, or they might fight again.

She was tired of arguing, of fighting. "Of course, I trust you, Apollyon."

Luna wanted to be with his husband in peace.

"I just trusted myself enough to handle this problem on my own." Her head lifted, locking eyes with his husband's icy blue gaze. "I guess that made me arrogant."

"You don't trust me enough that I would take care of your needs." Her husband's words were harsh as one hand lowered to her chest, fisting the material of her corset.

He yanked her towards him. "I am powerful, wife, but this refusal of yours to ask for my help felt like you were looking down on me and my abilities to be a perfect husband for you."