Hell’s Consort

New Chapter for the Highest Tier (June 2021)

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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The Marquess had no chance to reveal further about this Princess Ourania's peculiar engagement when their waltz was about to end, and it was time to change partners. 

Even if the last note of the waltz wasn't even finished yet, Lord Caspian removed his large hand on her back and released his grip on their raised arms as if he couldn't wait to take her hands off her, dropping Luna like a hot potato. 

She narrowed her eyes at his blank countenance, contemplating whether she should take this as an insult when Luna was the one who started the veiled threats and then, passing them off as a joke just like how the Summer Fae do it with expertise.

For Luna, it was hypocritical that their kind couldn't accept the same.

They should say "thank you," just like how they dished the same sweet and spicy backhanded compliments out to other creatures. 

"We aren't done with the discussion yet, Lord Caspian."

"If you aren't aware of social dance etiquette in the Ball Room,  this isn't the right place to have a long discussion, Empress."

"I want to know more about the engagement between Princess Ourania and this Prince." Luna demanded.

"So, the Summer Monarchs hadn't told you about this?" Lord Caspian scanned her from head to toe, wearing the signature smirk of a sardonic Fae ready to exchange insults with the target. "I shouldn't be surprised. You look ill-prepared, your Highness. You and the Vampire King must have strolled around the corridors and just entered the halls filled with the Summer Faeries." Luna bit down her bottom lip, but she didn't cower.

It was like a poisonous arrow piercing through her heart.

She must have deserved this if she was the one who dragged him first in the mud. 

She gave him a dismissive nod as if she hadn't heard him. "Another dance, my Lord?"

  "Not only the Empress is ill-prepared but also ill-mannered." A hard smile. "Only the gentlemen are allowed to invite—"

Bringing forth the Archdemon Magic inside her, Luna interrupted him by willing a strong thread-like silver wire to circle both of his wrists.

The Marquess's desire to get away from Luna as soon as possible was nixed.

  Luna could hear his heartbeat pounding as his dark eyes widened with terror. 

She tightened the pressure until she could see the reddish-brown layer of the raw muscles underneath his brown skin.

"Don't test my patience, Marquess." Luna whispered calmly so that the Summer Fae around them wouldn't get suspicious. If she let the wire dig another inch of his wrists, a Summer Fae's blood would drip on the floor. "You know who is more powerful between the two of us."

"What do you want from me?" Gritting his teeth in agony, Lord Caspian said under his breath, "Your Highness?" He didn't dare move, yet his voice had trembled, "How can a Vampire use magic as strong as this one."

"Don't fight. Or you will have no hands in a split second." The couples in the Ball Room dispersed in her peripheral vision as they looked for new partners. She had to hurry up before some woman rescue the Marquess from her clutches. "Answer my question. Where did  you figure what Caelano was?"

"It's from a book I have read a long time ago. Back when I was a child, Your Highness." Staring at his almost invisible cuffs, Lord Caspian choked out his words as his hands quivered from the pain, "I don't have it in my possession and I don't remember what it's called."

"We are done here." In the blink of an eye, Luna released the wires, and the Marquess took an uneven step backward, "Remember who am I, Marquess." Luna murmured before she turned her back on him. "I can make your worst nightmares come alive."

+++

All the ensuing waltzes with the other men Luna was partnered with after Apollyon was familiar, so she had a good time, instead of being self-conscious and focusing on each of her movements. 

These gentlemen were good at leading her during the court dance.

Luna followed where her partner might guide her as he pressed one of his hands on her lower back and urge her in a certain direction.

Luna stepped accordingly without looking over her shoulder because she trusted her partner, confident that they wouldn't bump against another couple.

Music, dancing, and celebrations were part of the Fairfolk's identity.

It is in their blood.

The only difference they had with the other Faerie Courts was the intensity of their enthusiasm and how often they celebrate anything under the sun. 

The rhythm of the fifth waltz was slower than normal.

It was so slow that she might fall asleep in between seconds, and her recent partner, who appeared younger than her, wearing a light blue coat and a brown hat similar to the color of his curly chocolate hair and innocent eyes, would be the only one who would notice.

Funny enough, Luna recalled the time her husband had taught her the waltz at their balcony during the Masquerade Ball.

The scent of jasmine blooms saturating the cool breeze that night, the swishing of her skirts against Apollyon's muscled thighs, and the feel of his strong, hard biceps and torsos under her palms were still fresh in her mind.

That was the first time she experienced how charming and playful her husband can be. From the provocative grazes of the back of his hand and his drug-inducing kisses on her lips and neck as they hide away from the rest of the visitors.

She had kept insisting that she learn dances, but he vehemently refused.

Apollyon was too obvious with his jealousy, telling her there was no need to learn them.

Grinning widely, Luna showed them her pearly set of white teeth that might blind the people around their vicinity if they made the mistake of glancing at her.

It was a night to remember! 

Unfortunately, they couldn't do that here, which diminished the fun by half, for they have more pressing things to do.

At that time, Luna figured out Apollyon was afraid that she would prefer to sway and pirouette with any gentlemen other than him and putting their hands on her in a close embrace.

Luna understood. Because she was also hesitant to allow her husband to dance with the other women—especially snotty, spoiled princesses who weren't ashamed of going after a married King. Now, Apollyon had changed his mind. 

He trusted Luna, although she accidentally broke her loyalty once with the Archdemon of Gluttony and allowed her, albeit with reluctance, to dance with the other males in the Summer Courts. 

  Later on, Luna realized that it was alright to give each other freedom with someone else.

Not every person hanging around each other was a threat to the mating bond.

Both of them needed to take a step back and relax.

As she turned her head, she caught a glimpse of her husband and sighed with relief.

Now, she can immensely enjoy her interest in dancing, but her mouth started to hurt from plastering a pleasant smile for too long.

After the young man, she danced with another three gentlemen before Princess Ourania's arrival in the Great Hall was announced.