Max transported directly into the front gardens of Stolas's manor, dark feathers of shadow peeling off him as the world snapped back into place. Loona arrived at his side a moment later, brushing soot off her fur from the teleport.
The moment they stepped foot on the grounds, a shrill scream shook the windows.
"STOOOOOLAS! I WILL NOT BE HUMILIATED BY YOUR PERVERTED LITTLE AFFAIR WITH THAT—THAT—IMP VERMIN!"
Stella's voice screeched through the halls like a banshee with a megaphone.
Loona winced immediately. "Damn, she is loud. I thought you and Octavia were exaggerating!"
Max dug around in his pocket with a sigh. "Here, take this."
He pulled out a card—dark, smooth, etched with tiny muffling sigils. "Go find Octavia and use it. Should drown out the noise for a bit."
Loona raised a brow. "Another card? Really?"
"You want your ears intact or not?" Max asked.
She grumbled, took it, and left toward Octavia's wing.
Max took a single step inside the manor and—
CRASH.
A glass bottle nailed him in the back of the head, exploding into glittering shards.
"For the last time, STOLAS, I am DONE with you and your dick-sucking IMP!" Stella shrieked.
Another projectile—this time a vase—flew straight at Max's face. He ducked, and it shattered against the marble wall behind him.
Finally, Stella spotted who she was throwing things at.
She froze. Her eyes blazed. Max swore he saw actual fire flare from her hair.
"STOOOLAS!" she screeched, pointing with fury. "OUR DAUGHTER'S TERRIBLE TASTE IN MEN IS HERE!"
With a dramatic huff and a disgusted sneer, she stormed down the hall and vanished in a swirl of feathers and fury.
Max blinked twice. "Charming."
He followed the trail of broken objects and yelling until he reached Stolas's study. The Owl Prince sat on a settee, calmly popping colorful pills from a small bottle like they were breath mints.
Max raised an eyebrow. "You know that can't be good for your health."
Stolas sighed, leaning back. "They help me deal with Stella… and you, apparently. Getting engaged to my daughter, of all things."
Max stopped mid-step.
"…I honestly thought you'd try to kill me. Looks like I owe Loona twenty bucks."
Stolas gave a tired, dramatic sigh. "Max, even if I wanted to, I couldn't. Only angelic weaponry can kill a Sinner. Besides—" He waved his hand dismissively. "I have accepted it. You make Octavia happy. That is all that matters."
Then his eyes sharpened.
"But if you ever hurt her, I will kill you a hundred times and then imprison whatever is left."
Max nodded. "Yeah, that tracks."
Stolas sipped water, glancing toward the door. "But what brings you here? Octavia's room is on the opposite side of the manor."
"Loona is with her," Max said. "I gave them something to block out Stella's meltdown. And also in case you try to torment me with your phone calls on speaker again… talking about your nightly activities."
Stolas choked on his water, feathers puffing in embarrassment.
"That—! That was ONE time! And we didn't even go that far with the details!"
"Stolas, with all due respect," Max said dryly, "you had Octavia nearly vomiting. Those pills making you over-share?"
"They don't make me do anything I wouldn't normally do," Stolas insisted, waving a hand. "They simply… ease the stress."
Max paced the room, tail swaying behind him. "Anyway. I'm here because I need Satan's approval to attend the Harvest Moon Festival. You're hosting it, and you invited all of I.M.P. Since I'm technically part-time with them, I figure I should make it official."
Stolas straightened, feathers smoothing.
"Oh. Well. If it's for the festival, then fine—I'll speak to him. As a prince, it is only proper that my subjects, even you common IMP sinners, are treated respectfully."
Max rolled his eyes. "I'm technically under Princess Charlie. Which makes me above you, actually. Y'know—future royal and all that."
Stolas's eyes narrowed, and a faint glow of Goetian power rolled off him.
"Don't get too comfortable, my dear. But yes… I'll see what I can do."
Max smirked. "Good. Because Loona will kill me if I mess this up."
[Author's note: Sorry for the short chapter. I wanted to post something before I take a small break for the holiday. Ill be back in a few days to post a chapter. Hope you all have good days and enjoy my story]