New Chapter for the Highest Tier (June 2021)

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Vampire King Apollyon

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"Let go of my fiance, Vampire King." The Knight from the Fall Courts ordered, pulling his sword from the scabbard behind his back and pointed it at him. "Stop it."

" Sir Tristan." Apollyon turned his head slightly at him then scoffed at the pointed sword on his side, which didn't even reach his flesh.

He doubted that his mother's fiance had any intention to incur the wrath of the Vampire King and expecting a 'thank you' from him. "It's either you do something about it and protect her yourself or don't do anything at all."

From his actions alone, Apollyon knew that he wouldn't dare.

The Knight saw that he never saw him as a threat and allowed the tip of his sword to hit his ribs.

"She hadn't done anything wrong.'" Sir Tristan growled. He was all bark and no bite. "Why are you doing this?"

"It didn't matter," Apollyon muttered as he lifted Princess Ourania higher and shoved her back against the wall even more.

He will not be satisfied if he didn't hear her bones crack and snap from all the suffering she had caused Luna.

Apollyon wasn't aware of what transpired at the women's parlor but he had a bad feeling.

His skin burned hot from the paranoia that it felt like his soul desired to jump out of his skin and escape this anxiety that had eaten him up from the inside and out.

"I can see right through your denials, mother." Apollyon looked at his features reflected in her light blue eyes, but hers were filled with hatred. "Care to tell me why you suddenly changed your clothes from the scarlet gown you wore earlier?"

Gritting his teeth, Princess Ourania's hands clawed the insides of Apollyon's wrists as she forced them apart with all her might.

Her eyes squeezed shut as her pale and freckled face turned a dangerous shade of red from the exertion.

His mother can't push him to release his grip on her neck because she was weaker compared to him since she was female.

But, Apollyon didn't feel triumphant.

Not yet.

Who knew what this ancient Fae had in her sleeves?

A feeble mind clouded with revenge was capable of inflicting pain on unsuspecting individuals.

At this point, she was a loose cannonball.

Perhaps, Princess Ourania had learned something in this lifetime—from her experiences at the Faerie Realm to her self-isolation in the Vampire Realm, her short stay in the Underworld with Hecate, and her bargain with Hephaestus—if there was anything related to the magic that can defeat him.

The orange crystal weapons she revealed at the royal infirmary were the first of their kind.

Apollyon had never seen someone use that before, cultivating that power from the bottom of the earth with such grace and ease.

After seeing his mother show off her powers by threatening Xerxes, he knew not to underestimate Princess Ourania.

She might prove herself to be a formidable opponent.

Princess Ourania couldn't take the pain anymore and scream so loud that the sharp ringing sound sent vibrations through their eardrums.

Few minutes after second-guessing themselves if they should interfere between the Summer Princess and her son, the faerie sentinels guarding the royal infirmary finally approached them when his mother started sobbing, a waterfall of tears leaking from her bloodshot eyes.

Apollyon took pity on her and loosened his hold on her throat for a second, but her whimpers grew in volumes.

Acting as a delicate female was her ploy to manipulate the sentinels and the Knight to side with her vulnerability.

"Didn't she already tell you that both of them discussed the women's parlor?" Sir Tristan demanded. "Why don't you find out if she was still there?"

Apollyon snorted.

"And waste my time when the real culprit was here?" He returned his attention to his mother instead of the cowardly Knight from the Fall Courts. "You still didn't answer me why you changed your clothes, Princess Ourania."

"Quit acting with your fake cries and pretending you are weak in front of these men." He taunted her. "You can manipulate their sympathy, but you can't fool me."

"It—It. Hurts. Ack." His mother sobbed. "P-please. Stop."

The thought made him more desperate, squeezing his mother's throat until he almost crushed her windpipe.

But not quite there.

"I can smell your blood on her. You are insulting the Vampire Kind if you think I have no idea." Apollyon wasn't that ruthless. He still gave her space to draw lungful of breaths with her flared nostrils and open mouth in case she got her pride out of the way and spilled her secret. "No amount of soaking your body with sweet-smelling flowers and herbs can get rid of the scent of her blood on your skin. She is my mate, and I know you have hurt her even if I hadn't seen it. You have to tell me, or I will kill you."

Princess Ourania stopped crying and smiled despite the struggle to speak. "I—don't know. What. You. Meant. Let go."

Apollyon's muscles flexed as he raised her almost two feet from the ground, and his mother swung her heels to kick him in the shin.

Scowling at her, he stepped back to avoid her legs and used his mind control to halt her thrashing.

He also used a strong Fae Magic to freeze the sentinels and Sir Tristan in place.

So it would be harder for them to come to her rescue now.

Baring his teeth, the Knight snarled as he fought the magic Apollyon placed on him and the sentinels. "If you are a real man, you shouldn't hurt a lady who can't fight back and match your strength. So please spare my princess."

"I challenge you to a duel. Let's do this man-to-man. If you don't want to, I will call you coward, Apollyon." He spat.

Apollyon gave him a sardonic grin and said, "You are the one who hadn't even shown your face to the Summer Courts. Who is the most cowardly between us then?"

"No need." Apollyon heard Luna's voice. "What is all this commotion about, husband?"