**************************

Vampire King Apollyon

**************************

"Basically, we are living as fugitives." Luna observed, and it was supposed to come out as sarcastic, but Apollyon replied in a blunt, "Yes."

"The Spring Courts must have hated my presence, for they know who I am and what I looked like." Lifting her head to settle closer between the ball of Apollyon's shoulder and his armpit, Luna wrapped her arm over her husband's stomach as well as her leg, taking over his thighs.

Luna was upfront about claiming her ownership over Apollyon, announcing them to the chirping birds and the squirrels running around their relaxed forms on the grass.

"We were too exposed at the Ostara because of the commotion created by Princess Alisabethe and Prince Aelfric. " Her eyebrows drew together in concern. "They would recognize us right away if we went back to the outskirts of the Krinoniapolis."

"I bet they would kill us at first sight to avenge the deaths of their loved ones. You ate those shape-shifting demons, so they think of them as a part of you—that you killed their family." Apollyon let out a heavy sigh as he scrubbed a hand over his face. "You have become a scapegoat."

Why are they so unlucky?

"Why are the odds always piled against me—against us?" Luna's voice weakened in its power as she glanced at him with pain in her eyes. "I must have done something bad if I ever had a past life."

He stifled a laugh.

"I think you are the gods and the goddesses' creature to play with," Apollyon said in jest, but if he thought about it, it was closer to the truth.

She squeezed her eyes shut as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Don't say that."

Apollyon was happy that his wife was back, but these series of unfortunate events wouldn't leave them alone.

He couldn't just kill all the Spring Monarchs in one go, either, because their alliances with the rest of the Faerie Courts might come for them.

Apollyon didn't like that his wife might worry herself sick over this, acquiring dark circles around her eyes when the war wasn't official yet.

There was still a chance that Apollyon could mend this minor dent in his previously spotless alliance with the Spring Monarchs, so all wasn't lost.

They have to prepare for the possibility, but that didn't mean that the war would push through for real.

There was an aching dullness in his chest when Apollyon saw how anxious Luna became when he told her about the peace negotiations.

A thought crossed his mind.

Was it better if Apollyon didn't tell her about it because she might blame herself again for causing problems with the Faerie Realm?

Apollyon noticed that her wife was mentally unstable—no, he didn't mean that his wife was on the brink of madness—but maybe, she was too sensitive because of the pregnancy.

These recent events might have taken a toll on her mind, giving her stress.

Any kind of stress for the mother was dangerous for the baby in her womb.

Apollyon shouldn't have told her this.

It was his fault.

Apollyon didn't want to hear his wife blame herself again.

He couldn't stand it, so Apollyon would rather argue with her, get her all worked up, and they would end up in bed together, making up afterward.

Apollyon had blown her mind with his skills... and then she wouldn't think about anything else.

Sexual congress was a good stress reliever based on his past experiences, which might apply to his wife.

Apollyon used it to pacify the Blood Beast from eating more souls when Ravin still possessed his body in the past, and so far, Apollyon thought it was effective.

They could try that activity more often since Apollyon also enjoyed it very much.

"If the war pushed through, I would have to send you to Scleranthus," Apollyon said grimly. "You will not be allowed to get out if I didn't visit you outside the entrance."

"Scleranthus?" Tilting her head, Luna squinted at him in suspicion. "What is that?"

Oh, Apollyon forgot that he hadn't mentioned Scleranthus to her yet.

The Palace of Scleranthus was where Empresses lived in the Vampire Realm.

An Empress wasn't required to sleep with their husband every night when the King had the Consortium at his beck and call if he desired to enjoy the pleasures of the flesh.

The Empress was only tasked to bear the Vampire King's heir, so she only came out from her lair once a month to perform her wifely duties.

After the deed was done, the Empress will stay hidden at the Scleranthus until the Vampire King called for her again.

The Palace of Scleanthus also prevented other men from coveting the Empress if they ever got the chance to see her otherworldly beauty.

Apollyon broke the ancient traditions of his pureblood vampire ancestors because he didn't want to be apart from his blood mate like how his mother and father were.

"I can't believe I'm going to tell you this, but I need to do it." That deep growl Apollyon made as he warned her made her frown. "Scleranthus used to be the Vampire Empress' lair."

Luna gasped in shock.

"It is cursed," Apollyon added, "Any males who would step foot on the entrance drop dead in an instant."

***************************

Archdemon Empress Luna

****************************

"Apollyon." Luna narrowed her eyes at him in suspicion. "Isn't that a bit—"

"Only females are allowed in that Empress' Palace." Apollyon clarified, yet for some reason, it came out as a near growl.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "How come I have never heard of this before?"

What was this sudden anger from Apollyon when they were merely talking about a mere palace for women only?

What was he hiding from her?

So it wasn't only Luna who was hiding a secret from her blood mate?

"Because I didn't want you to stay there because, like my father, I might lose my access to you, my own Empress, and I didn't want that."