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Archdemon Empress Luna

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Apollyon tugged at her forearm as he pulled her to stand behind him for protection while he stared down at the young man with arms crossed and a clenched jaw.

Luna wasn't sure if her husband heard the young man introducing himself when he was busy scowling at him with menace.

Ever since she told him about her secret, Apollyon had become overprotective, thinking every unknown male who walked in this Realm was a threat.

"No." Luna stood her ground and clutched Apollyon's biceps to soothe him—that she was right there with him and there was no need to fight. "The young man isn't an enemy."

She was determined not to make a scene after what happened in the marketplace, even if it turned out alright in the end.

Apollyon turned his head and gave her strong eye contact, but his Prussian blues were devoid of warmth. "You have seen him before?"

"That is Xerxes, Your Highness. He is a lone wolf shapeshifter." Princess Sapphire quickly diffused the tension in this tavern as she held onto Xerxes' loose sleeve.

His dark brown shirt was an open V at the front, showing decent muscles forming on his chest.

A thin string of a drawn octagram—an eight angled star—was tattooed on his upper body.

"He saved my life when I was young and stupid to wander deep into the forest."

Luna frowned at that.

Why would a young girl be lost in the Summer Woods all on her own if Empress Ourania was watching over her as a good mother would?

"Queen Titania took him under her wing after he brought me back to the Summer Castle. Xerxes was exiled by his own pack and lived in the Summer Woods alone like a vagabond." Princess Sapphire continued. " He is my knight now. My grandparents trust him to protect me during missions so that I could gain my independence faster."

"That's great." Apollyon's tightened muscles relaxed, and it was good that they have dodged another dangerous situation.

It felt like her husband was ready to kill a stranger with just one wrong move towards her.

Sometimes, she wondered if this was Apollyon being vigilant, or was this almost paranoia?

What Luxen had done to her must have gotten to his brain that he couldn't trust a male around her even if he convinced himself that he would forget about the accident.

Luna's shoulders slumped.

This unwarranted possessiveness would only cure her husband if he became an Archdemon and destroy the Archdemon of Lust.

Now, that Apollyon was fine with Xerxes' presence, his lips curved in amusement. "Too much had happened so early in the morning. The Spring Courts couldn't even wait to attack in the afternoon."

"Nobody can ever be prepared in a surprise attack, Your Highness," Xerxes replied calmly, and his words matched with his serene brown eyes. "You can try to convince them not to attack during the peace negotiations. But you know how a Faerie Monarch can say one thing and do another."

"The Fae's inability to lie will lead them to rely on evil schemes, deceptions, and cruelty. They are a master of twisted words, omissions, riddles to get what they want." Xerxes added as the breeze coming from outside the metal doors turned his blond hair a bit messy. "The Faerie Monarchs are master manipulators. They can tell half-truths, and the more powerful Fae can tell white lies."

An angry vein pulsed in his forehead. "I didn't even know what I did."

Princess Sapphire's posture stiffened, and she let go of Xerxes' sleeve.

"Brother." She leaned closer to him and whispered, glancing around to make sure no one else heard her except their group. "I can't believe you forgot something important as setting the prison house on fire. You killed some criminals in there. I don't know how many faeries you killed, but some of the bodies were already toasted when the sentinels arrived. That means they were already dead and their skin already melted and sloughed off into flakes and sheets."

Apollyon took a step backward away from her.

"I don't remember." His eyes fell shut as he rubbed his brows. " I don't—"

"Stop it, Apollyon. Don't force yourself." She rubbed his broad back. "What's done is done."

He asked, "You knew about this?"

"I have an inkling. You told me some things last night. You were too drunk enough to tell me the truth. I managed to piece the information together." Luna was quick to tell him kind words in a soothing tone. "You killed faeries who are already messed up in the head when you tortured them."

Apollyon brought his attention back to her sister."I must be acting up when I drank the White Stag. If what you said is true, then I shouldn't regret killing them, even if it's the last straw that broke the camel's back. Even if the Spring Courts declare war on us."

"I just found it funny that the reason why they sent their Spring Militia was because of their prisoners who were already sentenced to death before you set them on fire," Xerxes said.

He might have said he found it funny, but the young werewolf wasn't laughing.

Luna squeezed Apollyon's forearm. "I agree. I think it's a waste of time and resources."

"To the Spring Faeries, it was a matter of pride that they are coming after you after what happened at Ostara," Xerxes noted. "Your successful escape from the Spring Courts was a huge blow on their ego and a question to their strength and power."

Tired of talking about the Spring Courts, Apollyon wrapped his arms around her waist to bring her closer in a hug.

He bent his head to nuzzle at her ear, and his chest rubbed against her tightening nipples, "We should look for the Innkeeper to seek for room accommodations so that we can rest from the world."

"Yes." Princess Sapphire said, hearing them. "No person can make himself a guest without the innkeeper's assent."

Luna chuckled as she felt a flush of warmth on her cheeks. "Where is he?"

Xerxes pointed. "Over there."Why was the innkeeper of Vinca Inn a frog wearing a huge black feathered hat?