Chapter 706 - Mates

Newest Chapter For Highest Tier (September 2021)

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

Vampire King Apollyon

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

Apollyon demanded that he saw the wet canvas in Princess Sapphire's possession without moving from his position.

Intrigue was evident in his beloved countenance, too, that she raised her head carefully from Apollyon's folded legs despite needing more rest.

Luna protested when he pointed that out, claiming that she got enough rest that her neck muscles had grown sore.

Apollyon narrowed his frosty eyes at his beloved in a silent reproof, but her sudden puppy-eyed look paired with a cute pout changed his mind, so he let it slide.

As Princess Sapphire and Xerxes walked closer towards them,  a flash of a brilliant white light covered Princess Sapphire's companion.

In the blink of an eye, the shapeshifter had turned into a human.

Without glancing at the young man's naked form, Princess Sapphire slid one cord of her leather backpack, opened it to pull out her guardian's clothes, and threw them to the side, and Xerxes caught the items perfectly in the air. 

The motion was quick, efficient, and as natural as a river flow.

Apollyon could tell these two had done this a hundred times before whenever the boy shapeshifted.

Of course, they know the drill as partner-in-crimes every time they had a mission for the Summer Courts.

Yet, the more he observed, Apollyon couldn't help but speculate that something was going on between the two of them. 

From an outsider's perspective, Princess Sapphire and Xerxes mirrored each other's movements most of the time.

When they were together, both of them talked with their eyes to communicate.

It was similar to the way he talked to Luna, whether he used their mind link or with just a simple glance.

He didn't like how Xerxes sometimes looked at his sister when the Princess wasn't paying attention.

She was too young to be a spymaster, but she was also too young to fall in love with a boy who was six years older than her.

Some of their interactions weren't normal… or perhaps, he was reading too much into it.

Circumstances bringing them together as partners during spy missions for a long time weren't a valid reason… or maybe, he was just too overprotective as a brother? 

Maybe, they weren't fully aware of it themselves, but Apollyon could swear that both of them—summer faerie and an orphan werewolf shapeshifter—move as one person.

Apollyon came to accept Princess Sapphire as his sister in his heart even if they shared only half of the Summer Fae blood that he hated very much.

To him, it didn't matter anymore.

If Princess Sapphire and Xerxes gave him any indication that they would become future mates as they grow older, he would nip that dream in the bud while it was still early and do everything to tear them apart.

He shouldn't forget that Xerxes was still a rogue werewolf, and he might turn out to be harmful to his sister.

He was only looking out for his sister's safety.

Symptoms of his dark, uncontrollable rage might not be evident now, but something would trigger him when the time came.

As an adult rogue, Xerxes would simply blackout, and when he woke up, he had already killed Princess Sapphire by accident.

The shapeshifter might be his sister's guardian, but who knew how long that would last?

Hearing a short and familiar gasp, Apollyon turned to peek at his beloved wife in front of him, who sat on the grass with her legs crossed, and see where she was looking at. 

Just as he thought!

Apollyon scowled at her while she held her breath.

Luna's spine was straight as she sat, frozen in shock, like how a deer would react whether to fight or flight in the presence of a lion.

It was either that, or she had turned into a statue.

The sight alone should have scared her, considering Xerxes still had the body of a young adult, and it would have been better if she played dead instead.

Her emerald eyes were wide as her hand covered her mouth in surprise.

"Um—" Luna said hesitantly but to be honest, she didn't have anything to say at that moment.

Luna did this to fill the void of uncomfortable silence before it turned into this massive black hole.

She kept her gaze on Xerxes' countenance, and Apollyon could tell that Luna tried hard not to lower her gaze below eye level.

Yet, she didn't seem to realize that keeping eye contact with the shape shifter's gaze was more awkward, forgetting that she had a choice to avert her gaze from the young man.

It riled him up that he got Luna's attention.

Unfortunately, it would be wrong to beat Xerxes up for this when the shapeshifter did his best to put his breeches and his shirt on in a hurry while both of them watched him without shame.

That made Apollyon press his palms over Luna's eyes and shielded her from the werewolf's indecency.

As a husband, it was his responsibility that his wife wouldn't see at any male's body—even those of a young man--except his. 

Apollyon kept his hands off his wife's vision after Xerxes had donned his garbs completely.

Luna's eyes blinked to adjust back to the darkness and looked over her shoulder to give him a sheepish smile.

Her adorable smile spread warmth across his chest and made him feel as light as a cloud.

At that instant, Apollyon realized he would do anything for Luna—even become a fool for her. Nevertheless, Apollyon squinted, pinched his lips together, and didn't smile back.

He had to act brooding and sulky so that he would keep his wife's attention.

"Come over her, Princess Sapphire." Apollyon beckoned a finger at his sister, and from her sour expression, he knew she didn't like that.

But did he care?

No.

"You, Xerxes, you are too slow with getting dressed. Could you move faster than that?" He clapped his hands to get everyone's attention as Luna moved backward to give the two some space. "Let's gather around in a circle. Hand that canvas over so that I can understand what you are talking about."

+++

I was planning to time jump in this chapter, but I can't. 

Not yet, but almost there.

The author is fine now, back to writing two to three chapters.