New Chapter for the Highest Tier (June 2021)

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

Archdemon Empress Luna

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

Luna looked over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of her husband's countenance before she said, "I want to talk to Princess Ourania."

Clearing her throat, she followed it with, "—alone."

Large hand squeezing her hips, Apollyon's voice lowered, "What are you up to, my lovely Empress…." Apollyon didn't wait for any response.

He loosened her hold on her, only to move and stand behind her, blocking her conveniently from Princess Ourania's view with his huge muscular body.

Luna's shoulders lifted and fell, sighing as she threw his mother a furtive glance before shifting her gaze to Apollyon.

She stared at him from head to toe.

He was as a mountain-of-a-man.

Handsome with his chiselled features and jawline so sharp they could probably cut glass.

He can look like a wild and savage marauder, appearing so rough around the edges when he hadn't shaved his beard or when he ran his frustrated hand over his raven hair—those silky dark strands that she would like to braid with her dainty fingers.

She noticed that it had grown long from the last time she saw him at the Vampire Realm.

"What do you need to tell my mother that you don't like me to hear?" Apollyon asked casually without turning his head in her direction.

He might feign his tone to sound detached, but Luna can tell it was just a front.

Something was up with Apollyon.

Now her husband's Prussian Blue eyes were cold, hard and flinty as he regarded his own mother with an intensity that he might as well throw daggers with those orbs.

Luna figured out that he was in his overprotective mode.

It made sense because she belonged to him.

Almost crossing the line of possessive and overbearing.

Why was his husband acting as his mother invited her to talk when she was the first one who initiated it?

Luna clutched at the long sleeves of his light golden shirt, which exposed his sinewy chest.

When he made no move to give her attention, she pulled at his arm—stronger this time.

Tiptoeing to reach her husband's tall height, Luna murmured. "It's alright, husband. This wouldn't take long."

Finally, Apollyon listened to her and met her gaze when she added, "I will be back in a minute."

He brought his face closer, and his lips barely moved when he muttered, "Princess Ourania didn't even agree to your invitation yet."

Gritting his teeth in frustration, Apollyon gazed into the depths of her emerald eyes before eying her lips all of a sudden when she replied, "The conversation we would have would be between mothers."

Luna inconspicuously settled a hand over Apollyon's pectoral muscles, which felt like they were carved by the finest artisans in the world.

She rubbed her cold palms against the tiny dark hairs on his chest.

They generated this lovely warmth that sent electric tingles to her spine.

It melted her heart when Apollyon's grim and suspicious countenance eased into relaxation from their skin-to-skin contact.

The frown lines marring his forehead turned smooth.

His scowl was soon replaced with a small smile before he gave her a full grin, showing his pearly-white fangs, as he lifted one hand to pat the crown of her head with gentle affection.

Her husband's sudden facial transition from 'angry to happy' made her beam at him in satisfaction.

Luna glad to know that she can lift her husband's spirits like this with just a single touch even if her husband had no ideas of his plans yet.

"You will not be able to relate from our discussion, Vampire King." Luna reiterated as she petted her husband's chest like he was a large panther she was in possession with to soothe him just in case she had hurt his ego.

Men—especially a domineering King like him—would either bark orders, demand explanations, pout or throw tantrums at everyone around him when faced with this discrimination.

It was outrageous to separate men and women in the room parlours, especially if the men were left out from not knowing what the women were up to and what they were talking about.

Maybe, the men would think that they were the subjects of the gossip.

Well, scratch that!

It wasn't all men.

Luna thought this only applied to mates—when husbands would always like to engage in activities their wife was doing-especially if it felt dubious. "We will be talking about important things in the women's parlour— in secret."

Smirking, Luna drawled as she wagged a finger saucily in his face. "You know that men aren't allowed in there."

There was a mischievous sparkle in his blue eyes when he said in jest, "A King was never forbidden to access the women's parlour from the different Kingdoms I have gone to. I bet it wouldn't be that strict in the Summer Courts since I am part of the Summer Monarchs— "Apollyon trailed off.

When Luna glowered at his implications that he was raiding women's parlours in his past, the hint of laughter in his voice made her realize his mate was teasing her. "—but alright. I will allow you to go without me."

"Do you wish to have Princess Sapphire with you? The Summer Queen?" Apollyon looked around the royal infirmary as if expecting these two women he suggested or other Summer Faerie ladies to step forward and offer to accompany her.

Yet, no one dared to step in despite waiting for almost half a minute.

Princess Sapphire shook her head no while Queen Titania gave them a half-shrug.

Luna bit her cheek.

She wasn't surprised at all.

Who would want to be in Princess Ourania's vicinity after she displayed ruthless power with Xerxes? She even abused her own daughter in front of everyone.

Well, maybe, she was the only woman courageous enough to stand up against the big bad villainess.

"If you are not preoccupied with anything, Princess Ourania—" aside from abusing her daughter, of course, but she didn't tell her that! "—can you lead me to the women's parlour so that we can talk... in private, Your Highness?"