Hell's Consort

Chapter 331 - Growth

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Vampire King Apollyon

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As Luna and Apollyon stared into each other's eyes, he felt like he was on top of the world.

He gave her a bright smile as he lowered her feet to the ground.

Apollyon hugged her so tight that the onlookers might think that this would be the last time they would see each other.

Apollyon didn't dare let go, afraid that when she closed her eyes, the Archdemons would retake her soul without warning.

Anyhow, Apollyon should not let Luna sleep.

They should do some activities that would prevent that, or else he would live in constant paranoia.

It was hard to be a Sleeping Beauty's husband.

He must keep her awake at all costs.

Bothered by the thought of those damned Archdemons, Apollyon didn't notice that he had squeezed his wife so hard that she yelped in pain.

He muttered a quick apology for cutting off her circulation.

"Are you alright?" With his hands still wrapped around Luna, Apollyon pulled back a little, staring at her with a smile that can't be contained.

I—I…" Luna had stuttered, speechless, and he swore her cheeks were flushed red.

Swallowing hard, Luna glanced up at him for a second before clutching each side of his tunic with her fists in desperation.

He beamed at her, happy that their feelings were mutual.

Luna bit her lip, and her hands had trembled as if she was fighting back the tears.

Apollyon felt like tearing up, too, and he rapidly blinked them away.

Vampire Kings do not show emotions that would make them appear weak.

Most of all, Vampire Kings should not cry in front of their wife.

He lifted her chin with a finger, forcing her to have eye contact with him.

He saw that her eyes were red from the tears falling down her cheeks.

"I'm not used to this." As she pinched her lips together, Luna swatted his hand away from her face and glanced down. "Your dark blue eyes were so intense it felt like you can see right through me."

Apollyon's brows knitted in confusion as he scowled.

He didn't know why Luna couldn't bear to look at him, covering her beautiful face with the curtain of her silver hair.

Luna whispered, distressed, "I'm afraid, Apollyon."

"Why would you be afraid of your husband?" He had no idea why his wife was acting shy all of a sudden.

One thing he remembered about his wife was, she always had something to say.

He soothed her as he ran his fingers through her hair, "I love you, and I wouldn't do anything to hurt you."

It's not like her to be ashamed unless… she did something wrong.

Did she have sexual congress with other males aside from her husband?

Adrenaline rushed from his body as he felt cold anger had turned his veins into ice.

Nostrils flaring, Apollyon had flexed his fingers to curb the dark emotion.

It was bad to accuse his wife of things he had no proof of.

He wasn't the one who was dragged to Hell, so he had no right to judge her.

Apollyon had trusted her wife not to lie or to betray him.

Now wasn't the time to create more problems.

Their relationship was strained and as fragile as a glass vase.

It was up to him to continue where they have left off and turn their relationship back to normal.

As he bent his head closer, Apollyon murmured as he traced the shell of her ear with his tongue, "I'm glad you're back. I miss you, wife."

There.

Mayhap, that would turn her back to her normal self.

Luna shivered at the sensation as she leaned her entire being into him, similar to how a blooming flower would gravitate to the sun, basking into the sunlight to nourish them.

Apollyon waited patiently for her response, still wearing the huge smile plastered on his face.

From her stunned expression, it appeared like she couldn't believe she was back in her body as she felt his physique up.

Luna was probably just as shocked to see him.

She touched him everywhere with her hands—his face, his neck, his broad shoulders, and his pectoral muscles-- like it was her first time.

Mayhap, she had just forgotten how his body felt like.

After a few minutes of petting him like a prized animal, Luna was released a contented sigh.

Frowning, Apollyon placed a hand on her cheek and squeezed them gently, "You didn't answer if you missed me, wife."

He couldn't help but envelop her body in his embrace as they swayed from left to right, following the rhythm that only he could hear.

Luna didn't protest and played along as she hummed a pleasant tune of a slow waltz.

She leaned his head on his shoulder, deeply inhaling the masculine scent from the crook of his neck.

Apollyon was ecstatic, and he couldn't get enough of her warmth.

She was alive and standing in her beautiful blue dress, speaking and dancing with him as they had done at the Masquerade Ball.

He had missed this time being with her, and it felt like she hadn't really disappeared in his life.

Apollyon had anxiously waited, praying to the goddess for her safe return.

He wasn't a believer of a goddess' miracle, but now he was.

"I miss you so much, Apollyon." She finally replied in a husky murmur, and to him, that was a small victory. "It's been a while since I last saw you."

"It's not 'a while', wife." Apollyon scowled over his head as he saw Prince Aspen approaching them from where they stood. "You have been missing for years."

There was an incessant pounding in his ears.

"Ah, yes." Luna trailed off. "The time frame—"

His senses were on high alert as he made a slight growl in his throat.

Apollyon didn't want any male near his wife now that she was back.

He didn't want to share her attention.

"What had happened while you were gone?" Apollyon asked rather sharply. "Where have you been?"

He wanted to make sure that Luna wasn't involved with any Archdemons.

Caressing his chest, Luna gave him a pleasant smile. "It's a long story."

"Tell me. I have all day to listen." Apollyon held both of her hands, pulling her towards the tree rings made of bricks for them to sit on.

"Sit down." He sat first as he tugged her forearm to do the same. "I want to know what you have been doing."

'Who you have been doing.' Apollyon thought darkly.

"It's not important anymore, Apollyon." Luna waved a dismissive hand.

"Those Archdemons are gone." She declared, but Apollyon didn't miss the shadow that had crossed her face. "They wouldn't take my soul back to Hell anymore."

"Are you sure?"

"Rest assured." She beamed at him and licked her lips. "I would stay by your side forever."

Apollyon wanted to ask more questions, but he decided against it.

Instead, he cupped Luna's cheeks with his hands to land a kiss on her parted lips, but a loud, booming voice had stopped him.

Annoyed, Apollyon turned his head around to search where the disturbance had come from.

It was Cederic.

Cederic had grown back to his original form.