Hell's Consort

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Vampire King Apollyon

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"You want to have your revenge with Princess Alisabethe!"

Luna settled her hands primly on her lap, and her voice broke in a grudging whisper, "Are you seriously taking sides with the Spring Princess?"

He would punch himself in the face if he let her cry because of him.

"I am suspicious of your identity." Apollyon finally told her the truth as he spat them out, almost stumbling over his words."Do you remember the name of the  King who desired to claim you at the Marriage Auction?"

He expected a short and direct answer.

If Luna beat around the bush, he would think of the worse.

"How could I forget?" Annoyed, Luna shook her head to escape from his hold on her chin. "Why do you have to remind me of an embarrassing memory?"

"Just tell me who it was, and I will let this strange behaviour slide, Lilith." The moment Apollyon had uttered the cursed name of the Archdemon of Envy, his erection turned flaccid in an instant as if he had jumped into a pool of ice-cold water.

Reluctant, he fixed the belt of his trousers and secured his member inside.

He sighed, relieved that he can keep his family jewels safe from his wife's wrath.

Apollyon knew that the future of a happy ending was bleak.

He wouldn't be having sex tonight if this wasn't his wife, and that's alright.

Luna's response was a reassurance, "I'm Luna, husband." Luna still had her hands on her lap in an unmoving stance, but her scowl showed how pissed off she was at his query. "It was King Panterra who declared I produce silver-haired babies for the Feline Kingdom."

His wife didn't deserve this kind of treatment—this lack of trust.

Luna wasn't a criminal just because Lilith had occupied her body once.

"I'm sorry, wife." Apollyon awkwardly shifted foot-to-foot.

Far across them, the soft golden glow of the lamp post blinked twice, and he thought it would cut off, but it didn't.

If someone happened to pass by on the street and see them in the dark alley, they would think he had slapped Luna until she was on her knees.

Hopefully, nobody else would be able to see the Vampire King and Queen arguing over nothing.

"Luna." As Apollyon leaned towards Luna, his fingers curled around her upper arms, helping her stand-up, and Luna let him carry her weight. "I am paranoid that Lilith had replaced you without my knowledge."

She refused to meet his eyes, adapting her sullen look.

"Good thing that I have answered right away then," Luna replied in sarcasm. "I thought you would knock me out on the spot."

"I would never hurt you now that I'm sure it's you."

Luna's eyes were wide, yet her brows were furrowed. "I am deeply offended that you can't differentiate your wife from that hag."

"I had to ask you questions." Apollyon said as he pressed a hand on her shoulder in comfort, "I am cautious for the sake of our future."

Luna shrugged it off, yet her green eyes were shooting fire at him, "You should be proud of yourself, husband. I want you so much that I'm willing to throw my spotless image as the Queen of the Vampire Realm so that you would desire me more than the others."

"Did being an Archdemon make you bolder and fearless, not caring about what others might think?"

"I just—I'm scared to lose you now that I am pregnant," Closing her eyes, Luna admitted as she stared at her hands, "You wouldn't dare find other girls if I matched your character and your infinite sexual drive."

"I am already yours!" It felt like Apollyon had been stabbed with a wooden stake at the heart. "Your jealousy with Princess Alisabethe is getting out of hand."

He rubbed his chest as guilt consumed him. "Are you trying to be a chameleon, pretending to be like me so that you can match me?"

"The truth is I'm exhausted, husband." Luna's voice bled vulnerability as he lowered her head, appearing to shrink in her place. "I wouldn't be able to keep up with you, but I'm trying to."

Grimacing, Apollyon turned away and faced the wall, covering his face with a hand while the other pressed unto the bricks.

"You don't have to act out of character. I don't want you to do that."  He kept telling himself that the hormones made his wife less interested in sex, but now that she told him about the truth, Apollyon halted for a long minute to examine himself.

Was he too much?

Was he being inconsiderate for desiring what he wanted that Luna had resorted to putting on an act to satisfy him?

Had he forced his wife to do this?

He wasn't doing a great job being Luna's husband.

"I think you have changed, wife, even if I believe you are not Lilith."

"I have changed for the better." There was pride in her voice as her brows knitted in determination, "I'm capable of protecting you—"

"--and kicking my ass if I pissed you off."

"Good that you know it, then." Her arm limped to the sides as she stepped backwards. Why did Luna appear like she couldn't wait to get away from him?  "I am also glad that I can protect the baby with Archdemon Magic."

"Before I accept this new character or not, I just want to tell you that you don't have to force yourself if you don't want to do it."

Apollyon was lying to himself, yes, but Luna was his top priority.

"I was turned on for real before you fired a million questions at my face," Luna admitted.

"I would have preferred if it was your seed exploding—" Luna trailed off, leaving his dirty imagination to supply the missing words.

"Nevermind, Apollyon. I'm not in the mood anymore." Shaking her head, his wife turned around and walked back to the exit, "Forget I said anything."

Desperate, Apollyon fell into step behind her and reached for her forearm, "Let's go back to celebrate the 'Ostara.'"