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Archdemon Empress Luna

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Apollyon gripped her waist to assist her when she got off the mount, and she fell right into his embrace without breaking eye contact.

The corners of her vision blurred as she focused on her husband's striking Prussian blues—beautiful and exotic to look at.

Up until now, those intense eyes never failed to make her heartbeat like she had been running…running… all her life, and when she finally saw him coming towards her, and time stopped.

Nobody dared to look away, or else they would lose the magic in drowning into someone's soul as everything felt like it was moving in slow motion, and when she saw him, she fell in love, and Apollyon smiled.

He smiled because he knew.

Luna didn't have to do anything else except to settle her hands at the back of his neck and wrapped her legs around his hips as he clung unto him like a koala.

Her husband already had everything under control. She closed her eyes as her long silver strands flew to the left, dancing in the wind in this early summer morning.

It was the best feeling in the world to be in her husband's presence after a long separation, relaxing… enjoying…appreciating the beauty of nature in peace away from the crowd.

If she told Apollyon that she preferred to live in the countryside instead of the palace, would he humor her and live with him forever in that small house blooming on the mountain top along with the skies so out of their reach?

There were times where she forgot that both of them had responsibilities in the Vampire Realm. Luna sighed, and she bit her cheek in frustration.

"The intensity of the Battle of Krinoniapolis had abated, yet we have another problem." Apollyon's gaze darkened, watching her with half-closed lids, which Luna fondly called his 'bedroom eyes,' and Luna looked away as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I already told you that the Spring Monarchs had declared war on us, didn't I?" Apollyon murmured drowsily as he held buttocks in one hand while the other one was pulling at the reins of the horse as the three of them walked in the direction of an ancient oak tree.

Her lips curved in amusement.

Luna loved a man who was good at multi-tasking.

Nevertheless, Luna's hooded eyes widened when it finally sunk to her befuddled brain that they were talking about the war again.

How many times did she have to hear the word war in just one day?

Mentioning the word for the nth time will not make it seem more real to her.

She couldn't imagine the gravity of the situation and the catastrophe it would bring to the Vampire Realm and the Spring Courts.

The lives of creatures from both Realms will not be spared, affecting the creatures around them.

Luna massaged her temples to soothe her headache.

The cycle of suffering will continue if no one wanted to retreat.

"The peace talks I am currently having with King Nuada and Queen Gloriana are still ongoing," Apollyon said.

"Are we breaking alliances with the Spring Courts now?" Luna forced her eyes wide open, groaning in frustration.

She was tempted to sleep as the sound of nature lulled her in a serene lullaby.

Maybe, if she slept outdoors under an ancient tree as she laid in a bed of grass and blue poppies, no harm would come to her.

Those Archdemons wouldn't dare disturb her mind with nightmares if Mother Nature cradled her in her loving arms.

It would be nice to live here forever with her husband and dispose of her title in exchange for peace, happiness, and freedom—away from the war between the Vampire-kind and the Spring Courts.

When she glanced around the meadow, all Luna could see were the shades of green in the forest.

"How about Prince Aspen?" Luna prompted, forgetting about her impossible wishes. "He was the representative of the Spring Courts—an ambassador for the Vampire Realm. He should help us with it."

"We are still allies with the Spring Courts, and I am using Prince Aspen to aid me with the negotiations along with King Zephyr. So far, the Spring Monarchs was willing to listen." Apollyon informed her as he gently placed her down to sit near the gigantic roots of an ancient oak while he encircled the tree to tie the brown stallion at the back.

Luna turned her head as if searching for him despite knowing he was just right behind the tree as she listened to her voice.

She felt this niggling feeling of random paranoia when her husband was out of her sight.

Goddess, Luna noticed, was becoming clingier and more stubborn! She bit her lip in shame.

It's getting out of hand!

Shaking her trembling hands to get rid of this rising anxiety appearing out-of-the-blue, Luna focused on what her husband was saying instead of her thoughts.

"But I don't know how long it will last. The aggression from the ruling nobilities of the Spring Courts is palpable." Apollyon continued, and his deep baritone sounded louder when he returned.

Heat radiated through her chest when Apollyon finally showed up as he walked towards her, her back leaning against the rough surface of the trunk, rubbing against the contrast of her pale, smooth skin.

"They are even more cautious of my presence when they called me to attend the Council. There was never a moment where the atmosphere isn't tense, constantly bringing up that I am a Vampiric Fae and I would break the peace treaties like the ruling nobility from the Fall and the Summer Courts have done, not honoring their promises." Apollyon clenched his fists in anger at the Spring Court's audacity to judge his loyalty based on his what he was.

If looks could kill…

Apollyon glanced down, baring his teeth to scowl at the grass, which didn't do anything to him. "One noble told me that I might belong to the Summer Courts, but the kind of Fae that I am couldn't be trusted."