Hell's Consort

Chapter 873 Time Running Out

Newest Chapter for the Highest Tier (March 2022) 

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

Vampire King Apollyon

p   *********************

"Isn't this the reason why you refrained from drinking Luna's blood—" Ravin began to lower his body so that they could see each other eye to eye—" because she is drinking more of mine to sustain herself than yours?"

"And here I thought you wanted to be an Archdemon like me so that you can level the playing field." He folded his hands over his chest and he wanted to punch the smirk off his face. "Luna's blood will not turn you into an Archdemon entirely because she is your mate. But with my help…" The Archdemon of Gluttony threw his head back and laughed while everyone around them paused and fell silent, listening in on the conversation. "You got your wish, Vampire King, because of me." He bent his neck closer and whispered,  "An Archdemon Prince will help you turn into one."Â

  One corner of Apollyon's lips curled upward when the Archdemon straightened his posture.

He knew better than to bite when Ravin tried to bait him."Queen Morgan had successfully cleansed me in the Cave of Crystals." He gave him a half-shrug.  "I feel calm and at peace… so different from an Archdemon." It was far from the truth. Yet, Apollyon continued to stare straight into Ravin's golden eyes to throw him off. "Don't compare me to the likes of you."

"We'll see. We'll see." Ravin nodded and clapped his hands together as if it was a cue for the rest of the soldiers to keep searching for the Garden of the Four Seasons instead of eavesdropping.

From his peripheral vision, Apollyon could see the Autumn Queen and her Cadre flying to their spot.

As if Ravin had immediately sensed Queen Morgan's aura behind him, he threw the question oh-so-casually, "We shall go together." Then, he turned to look over his shoulder and added, "right, Merle?"Â

'Merle?' Apollyon scowled at the Archdemon.

What the hell was he calling the Queen?

The Autumn Queen's arm shot out and clutched the black cord of Ravin's necklace when he faced her, "Give me the necklace now, Ravin!"Â

Raising his chin, he flashed her an arrogant smile, "Why don't you just attempt to cut it again if you wanted it so badly?"

Queen Morgan's response was a slight frown.

Apollyon did see her attempt it multiple times—secretly at first until her frustration drove her to cut it in front of his face boldly— like what she was actually doing right now.

Unfortunately, the necklace had strong protection spells around it that the cord and the feather can neither be separated nor destroyed.Â

Her fingers held unto it tightly without showing any intention of letting it go.

From her countenance, the Autumn Queen seemed determined to have it if it meant sending Ravin back to Hell.

"No." Ravin's hand circled the Queen's thin yet strong wrist and squeezed hard if he wanted to snap her bone into two.  "I will hold unto this tightly until I see this garden myself."

It seemed like Ravin still thought that the Garden of the Four Seasons, not accepting an Archdemon Prince like him to enter such a divine place, was a poor excuse they created to leave him out of this.

Why did he insist on going to divine places where he didn't belong?Â

Without warning, Jora moved stealthily behind Ravin and plunged the iron blade-- with fae magic carvings on it--behind his back.

The Archdemon didn't react except for a little flinch and a wince, proving to them that a Fae's weapon can't hurt such a powerful being.

Well, at least it made him release the Queen's wrist.

"Queen Morgan had already informed us that Archdemons weren't allowed near the garden's entrance. Will you still keep insisting on leading us here in a wild goose chase just because the Goddess Hecate said so, Ravin?" Sylvain asked.

As dark blood continued to trickle from the Archdemon's wound,  Jora pulled the dagger out when he noticed that the fae symbols brought no significant damage.

The Archdemon merely grunted as if he felt no pain. "Yes."Â

Jora scowled at the deep puncture on Ravin's back as if he couldn't stand its audacity to heal right in front of his eyes.Â

"She didn't specifically tell you that you can enter the Holy Garden. You told us during the Council Meeting that she will aid you during this mission. I think that you're just supposed to play a role in it." Queen Morgan said as she rubbed the bruised marks on the delicate skin of her inner wrist.Â

  Apollyon nodded in agreement. "Maybe, you were just tasked to carry that blue feather with you because Rere had it before you got your hands on the item. Stop being stubborn or you will endanger my wife, Ravin!"

He imagined his mate taking just one bite of the Fruit of the Four Seasons to make his dream of establishing a family would come true.

Apollyon could feel his muscles strain from the tension.

He had longed to rescue her like the mate he should be.

Kiss her honey-sweet lips like he was a fairy tale prince who wanted to bring her back to life even if the earlier events at Hazelnut Manor had forced her to be wary in his presence.

She was his wife.

His lover.

The mother of his child.

In his dream of the future,  Luna would gaze at him lovingly for several moments while she carried their beloved daughter in her arms before she was fully awakened.

"The moment you are in the vicinity, everything will disappear from us." Apollyon continued as his hand gripped Ravin's shoulder. " Do you want to keep the Empress alive or not? She's also important to you, wasn't she?"Â

"Yes. I want to rescue her myself because she is precious to me." Ravin replied bluntly with his broad back was still turned against him.  "I will only withdraw and give the necklace to Queen Morgan until what you said is proven to be true."Â