Chapter 621 - Coming Before Battle

Newest Chapter For Highest Tier (July 2021)

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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"I don't want you to return to the arena, wife," Apollyon whispered. "I can't let you go there without me."

She couldn't see his expression because he had his back turned on her. 

Licking her lips, Luna matched the softness of his voice. "It's already done."

Apollyon turned around to face her this time as he strode towards the cot nearby to put down the metal pieces there. "Let me fight in  your place."

Her stomach twisted.

Luna remembered Apollyon telling her that Summer Fairfolk's nature was fiery and warlike among the  Faerie Courts and too intense than the Spring Faeries.

Their thirst to draw blood when it came to war was similar to how a vampire reacted to their blood lust.

Yet, their thirst for violence only applied to participate in a war where they had the upper hand, satisfying their ego after defeating their enemy with their smart brain, brute strength, and the magic they possessed.

He was afraid that Princess Ourania and Sir Tristan would destroy her in the duel when she had barely escaped from his mother once.

"It's not allowed in the Duel Code." She explained with gritted teeth. Sometimes, her husband can be as stubborn as her. "I was the one who challenged her. I will be the main duelist to defeat your mother. Not you."

Apollyon tensed from her reply.

He ran his fingers through his midnight hair, and his gestures became unrestrained in his frustration that his arms swung around. 

His anxious blue eyes set on her, he bellowed. "I can't allow this duel to happen!"

She sucked in a breath and sighed, "Sir Tristan is Princess Ourania's second. It's a battle of Fae between Archdemons. Sloth and I will win this. " 

"Luna." As if his mind kicked into gear, Apollyon advanced closer and closer until he stopped in front of her.

Neck bent forward, Apollyon's face was near hers that they were almost kissing when he murmured, "Why are you challenging my mother without my consent?"

"Have you forgotten that I am your husband?" He accused her, but she never looked away because she knew they weren't true deep inside. "You don't listen to me or do what I say." Apollyon shook his head in regret, and the warning tone in his voice vanished. "Did you forget that you are pregnant with our heir? Don't you care about our child at all?"

She took half a minute to answer as she let that sink in. 

"I care about her, Apollyon." Their heir was her everything. "This is why I am doing this."

His cold, hard eyes seem to soften. "If you want Princess Ourania killed, I would have done it for you and kept it a secret."

"And what? Have you imprisoned by the Summer Courts?"

"We will not be sent to the prison-house," Apollyon replied. But, just like what they did in the Spring Courts, he wouldn't allow themselves to be caught. "We are already gone, escaping the Summer Realm to look for that god damned fruit we need to remove Lilith's attachment to your physical vessel."

"How do we search for the fruit if we can't find the Tree of Four Seasons? You see. This is the only way to find out the fruit's location in your mother's paintings. She was originally trained by Hecate to be an oracle painter to find the garden's whereabouts. The quicker we got hold of all of them, the sooner we could start our journey. You must trust us that we can win this." Her brows furrowed with determination as she said in a pleading tone. "Sloth might be a bit of an airhead, but he is a strong Archdemon who defeated the preceding Prince of the Seventh Circle."

"I just don't want you to fail, wife." His lips pressed together as he crossed his arms over his chest. How can this vampire still be handsome despite his eternal scowl? Being married to her must have caused grey hairs to grow on the top of his head.  "She should have chosen me to be your second."

"Princess Ourania already chose Sloth as my second. There's nothing we can do about it." 

"I want to be the one to protect you." 

"I want to protect you too." Luna attempted a small smile as she caressed his broad chest. "Don't worry too much."

"Every time you said that you always get into trouble, and I will be the bear the brunt of the consequences," Apollyon said in a heavy sigh and squeezed his eyes shut. "Watching my mate suffer is not something I would like to  get used to."

"I love you, Apollyon."

Apollyon's eyes opened, and she held his undivided attention.

Without taking her eyes off her husband's smoldering gaze, Luna began to unravel the ribbons on her waist.

She unbuttoned the stuffy collar on her neck before she held onto the hem of her light pink dress wrapped around her lithe form.

She slid her arms out of the bell-shaped sleeves and stripped her skirts in front of her husband.

The silky fabric dropped to her feet, stroking the smoothness of her legs.

"You can't make me feel better about your reckless decisions by manipulating me with your 'I-love-you's'…." Scowling, Apollyon's cheekbones were flushed as his eyes traveled to her breasts which grew heavier by the second.  He added huskily. "Or your gloriously rosy nipples—"

"Puckering from your stares?" Luna smiled a sphinx-like smile. Then, her countenance grew serious. "I truly love you. I love our child. I'm doing this for our family in the future so that we can finally live in peace."

"I love you too. And I believe in you." Apollyon cupped her left cheek and landed light kisses on the right side of her jaw. It felt so delicious to her senses that she can't help but moan in pleasure.

Then, Apollyon whispered in her ear, "I can't believe we are betting our heiress on this duel."

"Losing was never an option for me, Apollyon." 

"You know I can make you come in five minutes, don't you?"