Max appeared a few blocks from the venue Ozzie recommended and whistled softly.
The building was glass and gold, towering above the Ring like it wanted everyone to know it was expensive.
"Damn," he muttered. "Fancy. Thank Lucifer I didn't pick Ozzie's club. That place is… aggressively horny for a date."
He snapped his fingers.
Black smoke wrapped around him, tightening into a perfectly tailored suit. Obsidian fabric. Silver lining. Collar open just enough to signal confidence without arrogance.
Shoes polished.
Hair smoothed.
Tie straight.
"Okay," he breathed. "I look like I belong here."
Probably.
A hostess guided him through a marble lobby, into a private elevator, and up to a rooftop terrace glowing with warm enchantment. Lanterns hovered above a long table set with crystal and silver. The Pride skyline stretched endlessly beyond it.
And they were waiting.
Charlie.Vaggie.Loona.Octavia.Bee.
All dressed for him.
Charlie glowed in white and gold like royalty incarnate.Vaggie wore sleek black silk that cut sharp lines.Loona radiated dark red punk elegance.Octavia shimmered in velvet starlight.Bee gleamed in honey-gold like a living festival.
Max stopped walking.
His brain stalled.
His heart followed.
Physics considered taking the night off.
Loona smirked.
"What? Cat got your tongue, wolf boy?"
His tail started wagging violently.
He grabbed it in panic.
They all laughed.
Max cleared his throat and sat down, fighting for dignity.
Losing.
Bee popped a candy into her mouth.
"Sooo," she said. "What did Ozzie want?"
Max inhaled slowly.
"Before I answer," he said, "I need to say something. I'm an Overlord."
He braced for chaos.
Nothing happened.
Loona snorted.
Vaggie raised an eyebrow.
Octavia sipped her drink.
Charlie blinked.
Bee kept eating.
"We know," Loona said flatly. "You teleport like an idiot with no subtlety."
"Only Charlie and I were in the dark," Vaggie added. "That got fixed yesterday."
Max stared.
"I was ready for seafood to be thrown at me," he admitted. "Or the table exploding."
Charlie smiled gently.
"Max… you're terrible at pretending to be normal."
Octavia leaned forward.
"What's your title?" she asked. "All Overlords have one."
Max rubbed his neck.
"In human mythology there's a wolf named Fenrir. Bringer of ruin. Apparently Hell liked the branding."
Vaggie nodded.
"That fits."
"How does that fit?!"
"You destroy threats," she said. "You protect people. Ruin is just the enemy's perspective."
Max flushed.
"Anyway," he said quickly, "I'm more worried about how your dads are going to react when they find out about this."
Silence.
Max blinked.
"…You didn't tell them."
No one answered.
"You didn't tell them?! Lucifer is going to kill me! Stolas might vaporize me! And Loona—Blitzo is terrifying when emotional!"
Loona shrugged.
"What's he gonna do? Shoot you?"
"That's not the point!"
Bee waved her fork.
"We'll tell them after dessert."
Max dragged his hands down his face.
"This is how Overlords die. Not in war. In family meetings."
Charlie coughed politely.
"So… Ozzie?"
Max leaned back.
"He hired me to wipe a Vee operation out of Lust. I did."
Loona grinned.
"Fun?"
"Extremely."
The conversation loosened after that.
Stories flowed.
Embarrassing moments.
First meetings.
Inside jokes.
Their favorite memories of him.
Max blushed at least fifteen times.
Then he noticed their hands.
Rings.
Each girl wore one.
Elegant.
Personal.
Glowing softly.
"…Nice rings," Max said slowly. "How did I miss those?"
They smiled in perfect synchronization.
"Engagement rings," they said together.
Bee snapped her fingers.
Five velvet boxes appeared.
"For you," Octavia said quietly.
Each ring matched the girl who gave it.
Color.
Shape.
Energy.
Max stared.
The weight of it hit all at once.
Love.
Commitment.
Reality.
He tried putting them all on one finger.
Failed.
Loona laughed.
"One per finger, genius."
"When we marry," Vaggie added, "we'll get matching bands. These are personal."
Max slid them on.
They warmed instantly.
Magic syncing to his soul.
He looked at them.
All of them.
"I'm glad we did this," he whispered.
Charlie leaned forward.
"We are too."
Bee clapped loudly.
"Alright! Emotional scene over! Dessert!"
Max blinked.
"…Wait. How are we getting back? Checkpoints close in—"
Loona dangled keys.
"I'm driving."
Max groaned.
Bee cheered.
Octavia laughed.
Charlie panicked.
Vaggie swore.
And together — loud, messy, affectionate — they disappeared into the elevator, Hell blazing below them like fireworks.