Hell's Consort

Newest Chapter of Highest Tier (January 2022)

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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As he inclined his head at her, Apollyon's hardened gaze seemed to have gone a little too cold that she swore the outer rings of his pupils had turned silver, "As your husband, I have full rights over you and you have no say in this matter." Apollyon clasped her chin, leaned his mouth closer and spoke a hairbreadth away from her parted lips. "I already told you to stop talking about your little rewards. I have no need of them while you are pregnant. It will be an inconvenient to the both of us."

"inconvenience?" She squinted at him, probing each nuance of his expression. "You call my heartfelt gratitude inconvenient?" Her voice was dangerously soft but her pitch had gone a little too high.

Luna just wanted to help him ease his aches but he refused to drink his blood time and time again.

Why?

Does it not have an expiration date?

She recoiled from him but Apollyon had clasped her arms, keeping her in place. "You must think me disgusting, Apollyon, but you keep on denying it!"

"No. Not disgusting at all." Luna tore her gaze away from him and his fingers lost their hold on her face, having no desire to hear his pathetic excuses but something in his deep baritone compelled her to give him a chance. "It just isn't the right time to do that now that you only have a month before you give birth." He bent his head down to murmur in her ear. "I might be a cold-hearted rake in your eyes because of what happened in the past but believe me, I am perfectly capable of being celibate for my wife." Soft pink infused her cheeks and Luna couldn't resist searching the intensity of his blue eyes. "Why do you always insist on this even if I have told you many times that it wasn't? Your effect is exactly the opposite. The idea of you having our child is the most arousing thing I have ever imagined." Luna's blush deepened to red when Apollyon dug his fingers in her scalp to pull her hair back, compelling her to meet his gaze for a charged moment. "Your belly and breasts all swollen and heavy from my seed made me want to take care of you. I'll be damned if everyone in this celebration hadn't realized that you belonged to me."

The ceilings and the wall tapestries painted with empty branches filled with autumn leaves and flowering vines of the Great Hall for tonight's Wine Tasting Ceremony.

The guests had worn cloaks, scarves, boots and gloves as the snow piled over their heads and shoulders and they watched in awe at the simple yet elegant decorations of berries, pine cones and maple leave in their path on the way to the Great Hall.

Stepping to the side, Luna peeked at the curious purebred ladies down the grand staircase who had stared at Apollyon's back with an intensity that Luna could recognize in her own—hunger.

Hot jealousy flared up in her chest.

From the way the way they fluffed their hairs and rubbing perfume on their pulse points, Luna could tell that they were too eager to be introduced to her husband.

Of course, Apollyon wouldn't notice since she had her husband's undivided attention at the moment.

It was clear that a few of these ladies in their fancy pastel ball gowns and elaborate hats were attempting to get a good look at him from such a distance.

"If one of those noblewomen offered to spend the night with you, would you accept them, husband?" Her gaze also narrowed at their bodices that were cut as low as hers.

And here he thought, Apollyon would see hers but he didn't even bring it up.

Her husband must have gone blind or he simply didn't care? It seemed like she was worried for nothing.

"They look like they are willing to expire in your arms if you slip from my sight and visit their beds."

Without looking over his shoulder to see what she was mumbling about, Apollyon quickly realized that Luna had tested him with what he considered a trick question where the obvious right answer could be considered as wrong. "I have a woman with me right here and if they respect us as the new Lord and Lady of the Manor, they would do no such thing." He reassured her, determined not to fall from it. "They can look but they shan't touch."

"Of course, that also includes me." She said stonily and her delicately laced fingers almost slid from his grip like water.

Apollyon was quick to hold the gloved hand before it slithered away to hide.

He casted a confused glance at her and Luna gave him a slow blink that made his forehead sweat.

"This will be the last time I would offer, husband, mark my words."

God's blood!

What kind of game was his wife up to?

Apollyon definitely fell for that but it wasn't good to for them to argue before the Wine Tasting Ceremony.

He should be more tactful with his words.

"I will make it up to you once the babies are out and you lived through the childbirth." Apollyon managed to say but a small 'harrumph' was her only response.

As Apollyon clasped her fingers in his palm while her free hand held the banister to prevent nasty accidents, he inclined her to wave her hand to the guests as he led her down the stairs.

The action rewarded her with a round of applause from the crowd.

Apollyon reminded her gently to stand taller, with personal power and confidence.

According to him, these were the positive feelings she was supposed to derive from her new look.

But, it had little to no effect.

All she did was shrink in the ruling nobilities' gaze, hunching her shoulders over that it almost touched her jawline.

Luna never felt so vulnerable.