Max woke up to the sight of Niffty's enormous eyes staring directly into his face.
She was holding her feather duster like a weapon.
"You aren't part of the chandelier, are you?" she demanded, squinting suspiciously. "Because if you are, you're very dusty."
Max blinked once.
Twice.
"…What?"
He shifted slightly and realized he was lying sideways on one of the lobby couches.
Behind him, several voices murmured.
He turned his head and immediately regretted it.
Alastor stood with his hands folded behind his back, smiling politely.Angel Dust lounged upside-down on a chair.Charlie and Vaggie stood shoulder-to-shoulder.Niffty hovered inches from Max's face.
They were all staring at him like he'd fallen out of the ceiling.
Which, judging by Niffty's earlier accusation, might have actually happened.
Max groaned and pushed himself upright.
"How the hell did I get here?" he muttered. "I remember drinking with Bee… she was telling me something about Asmodeus… and then—"
A sharp, hammering pain exploded behind his eyes.
He immediately flopped back onto the couch.
"—nothing," he finished weakly.
Vaggie pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Of course Bee told you," she sighed. "Get enough drinks in her and she'll spill state secrets."
"Oooooh, Asmodeus?" Angel's eyes lit up instantly. "Why're you going to Ozzie? I wanna see him!"
Max cracked one eye open.
"No. Absolutely not."
If Angel Dust got anywhere near Asmodeus—especially with the current tension among the Vees—Hell itself would smell blood. Fortunately, sinners couldn't travel between Rings without being formally summoned by the ruling Sin.
That rule alone was why the Vees were still alive.
Barely.
Charlie cleared her throat, cheeks flushed pink.
"We're… going to make our engagement official," she said softly. "Legally. Within Hell's system."
Angel froze.
"…Engagement?" he repeated slowly. "Like—rings? Papers? All that cute ceremonial shit?"
Charlie nodded.
"Normally demons can register anywhere," she explained. "But Max is… involved with multiple tiers of nobility and status. That makes things complicated."
Niffty let out a quiet cheer and immediately started dusting Max's shoulder like this was a celebration.
Alastor chuckled politely.
"How fascinating," he said. "I was unaware sinners could visit other Rings at all."
Max carefully sat up again.
"They can't," he said. "Not freely. You need a formal summons from the Sin who rules that Ring. And… uh… I'm pretty sure Asmodeus heard about me through Stolas."
"Sounds about right," Vaggie muttered.
Charlie clapped her hands together, forcing cheer back into her posture.
"We only have a few hours before the meeting! And Asmodeus insisted it be an official arrival—no portals. So we're taking the normal route."
She pointed toward the lobby doors.
"Loona, Octavia, and Bee are already in the car."
Max sighed and stood, stretching until his spine popped.
He activated all his immunities at once.
A soft golden shimmer washed over him.
The headache vanished instantly.
"Oh thank Lucifer," he muttered. "I am never turning those off again."
He rubbed his face.
"I still don't get why Asmodeus wants to see me personally. Polygamy isn't rare. And none of us are tied to the Lust Ring."
He paused.
"…I think."
With a flick of magic, he changed clothes, grabbed his flask out of habit, and followed everyone outside.
The Car Ride to Lust
The vehicle waiting outside the hotel was massive.
Less car and more limousine fused with a tank.
Inside were Loona, Octavia, and Bee—crammed together and arguing about seating.
Bee sat proudly in the driver's seat.
Max hesitated.
"…Whose idea was it to let Bee drive?"
"It's fine!" Bee cheered. "Everyone buckle up!"
The engine roared like a demon waking from a nap.
They launched forward.
Charlie screamed as she slammed into the opposite seat.Octavia's feathers burst loose like confetti.Loona dug her claws into the upholstery and unleashed a string of profanity that peeled paint.
Twenty minutes later—
Loona physically dragged Bee out of the driver's seat and took over.
The ride immediately became smooth.
Peaceful.
Non-lethal.
Bee slumped in the passenger seat, arms crossed.
"Aw, come on. I wasn't that bad."
Max raised an eyebrow.
"Babe. You tossed Charlie across the car. Octavia is missing feathers. Loona nearly clawed through the floor. Also—you owe Octavia for the interior."
Octavia waved her hands quickly.
"No no, it's fine! I barely use my allowance. I've saved plenty."
Bee huffed.
"Nah. I'll pay. I run a whole Circle of Hell. I'm not broke."
She leaned forward.
"Oh! And look—we're here!"
The Lust Ring.