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Archdemon Empress Luna

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"Hmm. With all this blood--" Apollyon abruptly averted his gaze from the broken shards on the floor and glanced around as if he was searching for someone around the room.

He cleared his throat awkwardly as his eyes zeroed on the deep cut at the side of her neck, still dripping blood on her dark, wet corset.

Apollyon's pupils were narrowed into dangerous slits before he brought it back up to her eyes. Licking his lips, he said, concerned. "I thought someone attacked you while I was gone."

"I thought so too," Luna replied as she scanned him from head-to-toe, wondering why her husband felt so antsy as if something was making him shift from foot-to-foot.

Luna exhaled a heavy sigh.

He would soon drive her crazy if she didn't stop guessing what made him uncomfortable or, better yet, should she ask him, instead? "It turned out I was just paranoid."

"When you ate those demons, Luna…" Apollyon trailed off as he returned to her. From the look on his face, it felt like curiosity warred with his hesitation.

Apollyon sighed as one hand rested on his hips while the other one rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm really concerned about our baby. Will it take a toll on your physical form? Would the demons you ate harm you and the baby in the long run?"

There was a short pause. "No, the baby and I will be fine. I have gotten everything under control."

"Hmm." Apollyon nodded in agreement, yet he squinted at her with suspicion.

Giving her a little, regal bow, he apologized. "I'm sorry, wife. I shouldn't be asking those grim questions when you just woke up from your slumber."

He raised his head as he brought her fingers in his hands. "Anyway, the witch doctor assured me that you are going to be safe, and your whole body is perfectly fine after taking those demons inside you."

'Taking those demons inside me?' That statement made Luna wince as her chest tightened, slow warmth flushed her cheeks.

Not long ago, Luna dreamed about an unwanted threesome with Ravin and Luxen!

Her chin quivered as she touched her opposite elbows, hugging herself as her mind replayed it in her head over and over.

Luna's skin tightened as if spiders were crawling all over her as she shivered in disgust.

Her body might have felt good at that moment—-bucking and writhing in Ravin's and Luxen's thrusts while they stretched her as tight as a bowstring--but her mind screamed how wrong the nightmare was in so many levels, sending her into bouts of disgust and paranoia.

Luna closed her eyes and shook her head.

She didn't want to be reminded of that, tempting her to make another mess to express this uncontrollable rage and relieve her stress.

Why did she even dream of that out of all things?

It wasn't like Luna desired to have sexual congress with those Archdemons—not even in her guilty pleasures. These Archdemons were the most nightmare one could ever have.

It felt like she wouldn't wake from the nightmare, afraid that she was already awake, leaving her in ruins and losing people close to her, people she loved, and the people who loved her.

Luna needed to get these Archdemons off her back, or else her life would be eternal run in the labyrinth, never finding an exit.

Getting rid of them from her life would turn her sane.

"I don't want to see you mar your face with sharp objects, wife." Apollyon's tone came out harsh from his concern and frustration.

"It's my fault, Apollyon." Luna smiled at him, but it didn't reach his eyes."Everything."

She moved her gaze to stare at the wall where she saw Ravin and Luxen leaning against it, tears leaking at the corner of her eyes. "I thought that if I became ugly, the Archdemons will hate me and couldn't stand to see my face. I want them to leave me alone."

"Luna, you don't have to hurt yourself and ruin your face for their satisfaction—for Lilith's. It's not your fault." Apollyon said as he brought her cold fingers to her lips, kissing them with reverence."A creature's face can't define its beauty alone. The quest for beauty is not empty. You are the most beautiful to the eyes of people who loved you."

"I love you, and I don't care about anyone else." Apollyon reassured her. "—but those Archdemons… they didn't need to have a logical reason to break other creatures. You've got it all wrong." He scowled, raw power emanating from his aura from the violent force of her anger. "It's not about beauty at all. They do what makes them happy as long as it fits their agenda. It's a form of entertainment to them, playing with other creatures' lives like they were mere toys."

"They wouldn't give up, not until they break me."

"Ruining your beautiful face isn't the answer." Apollyon let go of her hands to push back the silver strands covering her face. "We would fight the Archdemons head-on, and we wouldn't give up until we became victorious. We would get up after every fall, and no one can hold us back."

"I will make sure we would rise again after I am momentarily defeated." Luna pressed her lips together and said."I will be the last Archdemon standing in this Realm."

"How I wish I could turn myself into an Archdemon without losing a part of my soul like you did so that I can stand with you, fitting myself with you and your goals," Apollyon smirked as he held her jaw with a hand and drew her closer before he began licking her small face to get rid of the blood.

Luna bit her lip, allowing her husband to lick her wounds. " "I would not let you turn into an Archdemon. We didn't want other Archdemons—especially female Archdemons--chasing after your firm behind, don't you think?"

She closed her eyes and murmured, "Trust me when I tell you that being an Archdemon isn't good, husband."