Hell’s Consort

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Vampire King Apollyon

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Fourth in line to the popularity contest was the King of the Merfolks, followed by the brooding King of the Shadow Realm, Zephyr, who sat in silence while the women tried their best to engage them in a conversation. 

King Panterra had only a few ladies at his disposal on his table, and it wasn't really a surprise considering the humiliation he had faced from the Vampire King at the battle arena.

Of course, the Feline King had noticed this.

King Panterra had glanced sideways--nostrils flaring with envy--at the direction of the other Kings' who were seated on their own banquet.

His anger was evident based on his bared teeth, which had morphed into a forced smile a split second later as he  flexed his arm muscles with aggression to the few women surrounding him to regain his pride back.

Apollyon also knew the reason why only a few women from the Consortium had approached him.

They probably heard the news of his former concubine, Catriona's death, who died in his hands.

Ladies from the Consortium were prone to gossip, and they had probably discussed among themselves that King Panterra wasn't able to protect the woman he had solely picked to be his consort at the Battle Arena.

Panterra had lost his desirability to the Consortium, for the ladies had perceived 'weakness' in him.

The ladies had quickly judged that one particular battle and assumed that Panterra wouldn't be able to protect his Kingdom from attackers. 

Apollyon had defeated the Feline King without a scratch on his smooth, pale skin.

The sword duels didn't even last a long time for him to show a good fight. 

He didn't even notice that he had crossed his arms as he stared at King Panterra with a downturned mouth.

It was the Feline King's fault for messing with his wife. 

  Stretching his neck from side to side as if he was preparing for a fight, Apollyon loosened up his collar, rolled up his sleeves, and cracked his knuckles.

  If the bastard requested a dance from the Empress, even if it were just a single set, Apollyon wouldn't hesitate to put the King who disrespected his wife at the Acquaintance Affairs in his place.

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THE EMPRESS LUNA

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"Husband." Luna patted the Vampire King's broad chest to get his attention as she sat on his lap.

His husband had insisted that they sit in his golden throne which was settled in front of the dinner tables occupied by the rest of the Kings.

Luna didn't know why but based on their position that both of them were just opposite and in front of where the Kings and their cohorts sat, she had speculated that his possessive husband desired to announce it to everyone who his Empress belonged to—just a seemingly harmless message with an underlying threat.

The Kings were having the time of their lives from all the attention except King Panterra and King Zephyr. 

  Each of them had a long rectangular banquet table laden with food as the ladies encircled them, engaged in flirty banters and witty conversations.

  She would probably clap for the ladies from the Consortium as they acted like they were in their complete element, doing their best to charm the King they had set their eyes on.

It was 'nice' to watch these women entertain the Kings with the bright intensity of their smile, showing perfect white teeth and their adoring eyes twinkling like diamonds as their flowery words stroke their chosen Kings' massive egos.

Goddess, Luna felt like she was watching a tableau as she observed the ladies jump through hoops right in front of her eyes to keep a long-lasting impression on the Kings.

She would have continued enjoying the scene and tell her husband about it but when she glanced up to look at him, Apollyon had glared at King Panterra for no reason.

  "Why are you glaring at King Panterra, husband?" Luna asked as she ground her buttocks deeper into his groin to distract her husband from his grudges.

She wrapped her hands unto the back of his neck while her legs hang sideways comfortably on the throne's armrest, her feet swaying along with the relaxing piano while the attendees were eating their dinner. 

  Luna knew she was behaving like one of Apollyon's past concubines, but she didn't care what the people in front of them had to say about her.

She was the Empress, and if the Vampire King wanted her settled on his lap instead of her own golden throne beside him, then she would gladly oblige as long as she was wearing a mask to hide her features.

Perhaps, she could be shameless along with her husband and forgot about it the next morning. 

The Vampire King thrust his chest out in a menacing gesture as he rested his elbow on the armchair while his other arm wrapped around Luna's body as a precaution so that she wouldn't fall from his thigh.

Nostrils flaring, he growled, "I just remembered what happened at the Acquaintance Affairs, and I got angry all over again."

"You already sorted it out at the sword duels, and your past concubine was dead because of that." Luna soothed her husband by brushing her thumb on Apollyon's thick upper lip. "Just imagine the humiliation he might face when he arrived back at the Feline Kingdom as he brought back the memories of a feline who belonged to him, and he couldn't even protect her as the King because you won over him." 

She noted Apollyon's Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he swallowed hard, before he glanced down at her, biting on her thumb playfully and making her giggle.

Startled at his action, she pulled her thumb from his mouth before he pierced it with his sharp fang.

Luna lifted her hand and combed Apollyon's thick raven hair affectionately as she continued, "He had lost to you, husband, and there was nothing to be mad about. Just consider Catriona's death as King Panterra's sacrifice to you."

  "You don't understand why I am angry, wife, but anyway, thanks for your concern."