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Newest Chapter for Highest Tier (September 2021)
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Archdemon Empress Luna
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'Apollyon.' Luna called her husband through their mind link to initiate a conversation.
The Vampire King took an agonizing minute to reply that Luna pondered whether he had shielded her thoughts from her.
When he finally responded with, 'What is it, wife?', Apollyon pursed his lips as he glanced at her before staring at Queen Morgan's back while their group continued to follow her in these long-winded hallways.
They didn't even know where the hell the Autumn Queen would lead them to.
It could be to the dungeons for all they knew.
From Apollyon's narrowed eyes, he concentrated on figuring out whether the Queen could read someone's mind or hear snippets of it.
They still never know the full extent of her powers.
Her Cadre—the three Autumn Fae protectors--positioned themselves behind their group, acting all high and mighty as if the three of them could enclose them in a manageable space. Yet, at the same time, they held out their long wands to block any escape attempts.
When he was confident that Queen Morgan wasn't using any psychic powers, her husband added, 'I am glad that you are reaching out to me in our mind link first before I could barge in to yours.'
'You are free to project your thoughts whenever you want, husband.' Luna responded.
As he strode in the hall with his fingers intertwined in hers, Apollyon's tone in her thoughts was matter-of-fact. 'So, you have fully let your guard down from me.'
That made her raise an eyebrow, and she almost stumbled on her wool gown from that implication. 'Whatever are you talking about?'
Stumbling on the hem of her borrowed gown would be so unladylike for an Empress.
It was fortunate that Apollyon caught her and pulled her close before she nosedived and made a fool of herself in the presence of the Queen and her Cadre.
Luna blushed and looked up at her husband's countenance as he towered over her with a shuttered expression.
Without breaking their strides, Apollyon's large hand on her elbow slid to her arm and naturally threaded his fingers against hers as if they belonged there.
' I can say that our mental connection is even better now despite the presence of your Archdemon Familiars in this Realm. However, I couldn't shake off the fact that these diabolical creatures were a threat to our marriage especially that, Ravin.' Apollyon explained further.
Luna's eyes widened, surprised to feel the intensity of Apollyon's frustration that her free hand had flown to her chest to clutch her aching heart, 'At least, the bastard had the decency to stopped insisting that he was your Archdemon husband in my face.'
'That was because we are occupied with a lot of things during the journey. Believe me when I say he wasn't that brainless to distract you with that bullsh*t every second. I also made sure that I stick to you every time.'' Luna reassured him as the prickly thorns around her heart was replaced by this sweet, sweet warmth like how fresh honey would taste if she placed it at the tip of her tongue.
Her husband fitted that their mind link had intensified even more after she felt every nuance of his emotions.
Apollyon might appreciate her thoughts, but that didn't mean his paranoia about her involvement with the Archdemon was assuaged.
'Good. You make my existence bearable. I can't handle that inevitable truth between your blood bond with Ravin every time I glance around to see him here with us.' Apollyon thought in a growl, and it seared more of her skin when he added, 'It makes my blood boil.'
'Apollyon—'
Apollyon's boiling interrupted her of what she was trying to say. 'It's like a slap in the face.'
Then, his mouth was drawn into a thoughtful purse. 'Nevertheless, if we are successful with creating an alliance with Autumn Queen, we can strike a bargain with her in secret and see if she and her alchemists could find a way to destroy your blood bond.'
Luna bit her lip as she squeezed his hand in concern. 'The truth elixir made by Queen Morgan's alchemists did nothing, husband. I had some doubts that the liquid was simply made out of water and then, they just tinged it with green to scare us from entering the Fall Courts.'
'If that was the Queen's original plan, don't you think that truth elixir would make us back off when we made it clear that we will follow through Hecate's mission no matter what happened?'
'Like Queen Morgan said, she would only allow creatures who she deemed as worthy to visit our Kingdom after discovering our true intentions. Isn't that the purpose of the truth elixir?' Luna finally asked since she was truly curious about Apollyon's take on this. 'If it had truly served its purpose by finding out the truth, why didn't it burn our skin or worse, reveal Ravin and Sloth's glamour?' The notion sent little trickles of fear down her spine. 'Archdemons like us weren't known throughout the Realm for our pure intentions.'
'As much as I would like for the Archdemons to reveal their true identities, that might also include you and I don't want to see you hurt.' Apollyon's muscles tensed as if he could pick up her discomfort over Apollyon's hatred over her Familiars. He reasoned out. 'Let's not question the potency of that concoction anymore.'
Luna nodded her head a little. 'I agree.'
'-- And don't ever think that you have successfully changed the subject about Ravin because I noticed that you don't want to talk about him whenever I bring it up.' Apollyon added.
He scanned her briefly before his gaze returned to their path.
Luna was tempted to groan. 'My husband never misses a thing.'
She would have liked to keep that thought to herself, but her husband's smirk told her that he heard it.