Sin Rouge had seen strange nights power shifts, executions, territory changes, deals forged in blood and silence but nothing prepared the inner circle for what arrived three days after the Watcher's message.
It didn't come with alarms.
Arrived… singing.
Literally.
A small, glitter-feathered imp strutted into the main hallway, hips swaying like he owned the building. His voice echoed in theatrical vibrato:
🎶 "SPEEEEEEECIAL DELIVERY
For the one named Maaaaleeeeerioooon~!" 🎶
Everyone froze.
Dreg almost threw a knife.
Quill stared like he was watching a glitch in reality.
Rafe blinked once and whispered:
"…Oh no."
Verosika instantly recognized the style, the ego, the glitter.
Her eyes widened just a fraction.
"Oh fuck," she muttered, rubbing her forehead. "It's him."
The imp twirled, produced a pink envelope sealed with extravagant gold lace and a sparkly purple lipstick print, then held it out with two hands as if it were a holy relic.
"For youuuuu," he sang.
Malerion accepted it without expression.
The imp bowed dramatically, snapped his fingers, and vanished in a puff of sweet smoke that smelled like expensive perfume and bad decisions.
Silence followed.
The kind that thickened the air.
Finally, Skit whispered:
"…So… do we open it, or do we burn it?"
Liz answered first, deadpan:
"We open it. If Asmodeus wanted us dead, the envelope would've exploded already."
Malerion cracked the seal.
Inside was a card dusted with glitter that would cling to his skin for a week a known war crime in Lust Ring.
The handwriting flowed like velvet arrogance:
💋 Darling Malerion,
Word travels fast in Lust.
A new Overlord rising?
A growing organization with style?
Mmm. Delicious.
I simply must see the face behind the rumor.
You are invited to a private night at The Ozzie.
Bring whichever arm candy you prefer.
(Since you seem fond of Verosika, I assume you'd bring her anyway.)
Dress well. Look interesting.
Don't bore me.
💋
Asmodeus
Quill closed his eyes.
Dreg grinned.
Rafe exhaled like he was preparing for disaster.
And Verosika?
She burst out laughing.
"Ohhh, this is priceless. He thinks you're a curiosity."
Malerion folded the card calmly.
"He is curious."
Rafe rested his elbows on the table.
"Asmodeus doesn't invite unless he finds someone entertaining. He's not hostile but he'll test you. Not with strength. With presence."
Bit nodded rapidly.
"So we're going?"
Skit added:
"Or do we pretend we never got it?"
Verosika leaned back in her chair, tail flicking with smug, sparkling amusement.
"No. We go."
Everyone looked at her.
Even Malerion.
She smirked.
"Because Asmodeus talking about someone means the entire Lust Ring is listening. And right now?"
Her gaze slid to Malerion warm, teasing, knowing.
"You have the whole damn crowd wondering who you are."
Malerion tilted his head slightly.
"And you?"
Her lips curved.
"I'm coming."
No hesitation.
permission requested.
Simply fact.
Dreg clapped his hands together.
"Well then I'll assemble escort teams."
"No," Malerion said.
The room stilled.
"We go alone."
Liz narrowed her eyes.
"That's risky."
"This isn't a battlefield," Malerion replied.
"It's a stage."
Verosika grinned like a predator in high heels.
"Oh, you're catching on."
Quill sighed loudly.
"Fine. But at least let me prep emergency extraction tech."
"Approved."
Verosika rose, stretching in one fluid motion.
"Pick me up tomorrow night," she said, tapping Malerion's chest lightly with one finger as she passed the same gesture she used the night she invited him to the concert.
A habit now.
connection and spark.
She winked.
"You better dress like you belong there."
Then she walked out hips swaying like she owned gravity.
Skit exhaled.
"Okay. I'm terrified. But also excited."
Rafe smirked.
"Welcome to Lust Ring politics."
Malerion slipped the invitation into his coat.
without fear or hesitation.
Just intent.
As he left the war room, Alastor's voice brushed the edge of his mind amused, dark, intrigued:
> "Oh… Asmodeus noticed you?
Now this will be entertaining."
Malerion didn't answer.
He simply whispered to himself calm, steady, certain:
> "Then let him watch."