Asmodeus led them down a wide, velvet-lined hallway toward his "humble office"—which, unsurprisingly, wasn't humble at all. The walls shimmered with rose-gold embossed patterns, the floor was a soft maroon carpet that swallowed footsteps, and the entire room exuded an intoxicating mix of perfume, incense, and faint warm magic. Even the chandeliers resembled twisting crystalline hearts, glowing faintly with pink light.
They all filed in, taking their seats across from a glossy desk shaped like an enormous stylized flame. Asmodeus swept gracefully into his chair with that theatrical showmanship only a Sin could pull off.
"Well, well, well," he purred, folding his hands dramatically. "It is so nice to see a group like yours in this run-down Hell. Refreshing, even."
Charlie straightened up politely, her smile just a touch nervous. "Thank you for meeting us. It's truly an honor to meet a Sin like your—"
Asmodeus cut her off smoothly with a raised hand and a grin. "Oh, no need for formalities, princess. Your father and I used to be good friends." He leaned back, sighing theatrically. "That was back when he bothered to return my calls."
Charlie winced, her shoulders dipping. "Yeah… well… my dad hasn't been very active in years."
There was a softness in her voice that made Vaggie instantly wrap an arm around her. Charlie leaned into it, grateful.
"Yes, he has been… rather lost." Asmodeus drummed his fingers, expression uncharacteristically weary. "I do hope he returns eventually. All the Sins do, really. Right, Bee?"
He turned toward the Sin of Gluttony—only to find her glaring daggers at him.
Max noticed instantly and let his tail rest gently on her shoulder in a calming gesture.
"What?" Bee snapped. "He hasn't come to any of my parties in years either! I send invitations, handwritten ones! He used to be fun."
"Hey, hey," Asmodeus said defensively, lifting both hands. "It's not my fault! The Lust Ring has been ridiculously busy ever since humans started streaming porn nonstop in the mortal realm. You would not believe what they try to recreate. It's chaos! Fun chaos, but exhausting."
He ran a hand down his face. "Anyway. We're not here to gossip about an absentee King. I need to see this harem contract you mentioned. I've never actually seen one in person."
Max summoned the glowing parchment with a flick of his fingers. It materialized with a soft hum, hovering above Asmodeus's desk. The Sin snatched it up eagerly.
As he read, his eyebrows slowly rose—higher, and higher—until he let out a long, pained exhale.
Max's stomach dropped. Instinctively, he tried to retrieve the contract, but Loona grabbed his arm and kept him from interfering.
"You crazy motherfucker," Asmodeus finally muttered, lowering the papers. "You risked your very existence with this thing?"
The girls—everyone except Bee, who already knew the full ramifications—whipped their heads toward Max in sudden, sharp alarm.
"What do you mean he risks his existence?" Octavia asked, her voice tight, her arms around herself protectively. "That sounds… really dangerous."
Asmodeus opened his mouth to explain, but Max tried to cut in. Loona caught him mid-movement and wrapped an arm around his chest, pinning him with surprising strength.
"Don't interrupt," she growled.
Asmodeus cleared his throat. "As I was saying. According to this contract, there are virtually no downsides for any of the girls bound under it. You all get guaranteed security, magical protections, benefits, emotional rights—all the good stuff."
He paused, tapping the contract against his palm.
"But for Max? Entirely different story."
Max shut his eyes. He already knew this part. He had just hoped he could delay the conversation.
"If a single one of you chooses to leave him because he violates your clause," Asmodeus continued, "or if he breaks even one rule agreed upon with any of you… every contract breaks."
He snapped his fingers sharply.
"And his soul gets split apart. Five ways, in this case. His existence would unravel, fragment by fragment, until he fades completely."
Charlie gasped, covering her mouth.
Vaggie sat up straight, face twitching. "WHAT?!"
Octavia stared at Max with a strange, swirling mix of fear, anger, and something softer. "He didn't read them…" she whispered.
Loona released him just long enough to jab a clawed finger at his chest. "Fine. Then you're going to read our clauses. All of them. Right now. So you don't fuck up later."
The girls moved toward a side table where the official paperwork awaited, leaving Max with the contract.
He swallowed, nodded, and began reading each clause.
---
Bee's Clause:
Must be able to hang out with me anytime I need you. And must care about the happiness of everyone under this contract—including yourself.
Loona's Clause:
Never abandon me or any of the girls in times of need. And never abandon your true self just to make others comfortable. None of that fake-self bullshit.
Charlie's Clause:
Help those in Hell. Never turn a blind eye to someone who needs help. Keep yourself and everyone under this contract safe.
Vaggie's Clause:
Keep Charlie happy. Keep us together. Protect her. And protect yourself.
Octavia's Clause:
Keep me safe and loved. Give me a place to stay, an arm to cry on. Help me with my family problems. And… never let go.
---
Max blinked at the last one, feeling a sting in his chest. "Octavia… yours is almost poetic."
Her feathers puffed slightly, a blush spreading across her cheeks. She turned her face away. "Sh-shut up…"
Charlie stepped forward with a worried frown. "So? Do you think you can do them all? Because we agreed—if any one of our clauses can't be fulfilled, or isn't realistic, then we're breaking the contract so the others don't suffer."
Her voice trembled midway through the sentence.
Max shook his head quickly. "No, no—don't worry. I can do all of these. Easily, actually. I don't need to change anything."
Charlie let out a heavy sigh of relief, leaning into Vaggie, who also looked less murderous now.
"Good," Asmodeus said, clapping his hands once. "Now then—sign here, all of you, and we can finalize everything."
They each signed the glowing papers. When the last signature flared into place, magical light burst upward, forming shimmering cards—official documentation for their engagements.
"Congratulations!" Asmodeus declared, spreading his arms wide. "You're officially recognized within the Lust Ring. Consider yourselves one big, beautifully chaotic family."
The girls huddled excitedly around Charlie, who squealed in delight. Even Loona cracked the smallest smile.
Asmodeus then turned to them and waved a dismissive hand. "Feel free to explore the Lust Ring, darlings. Anything you want—just send the bill to me. And for the love of everything sinful, have fun. This Ring is built for it."
One by one, they filed out.
Until only Max and Asmodeus remained.
Once the door closed, Max sat back down slowly. "So… what now?"
Asmodeus folded his hands, his playful grin fading into something far more serious.
"Oh, Max," he said softly. "Now we talk about why I really wanted to see you."