"Kitten, why are you here?" Caelum's voice was low and curious the moment he spotted Luna inside Alpha's private office the next morning. His gaze flicked sharply from her to the man behind her. "You're supposed to be looking after your mother."
"She's making a conjugal visit because you're keeping me hostage," Tuf muttered from behind, his arms wrapped around Luna's waist in a possessive hold. Luna rolled her eyes. Caelum raised a brow, unimpressed.
Luna leaned back into Tuf, resting her full weight against him like he was both a shield and a chair. She looked toward Cosmo, then back at Caelum. "Mother sent me to deliver a message. But first, she wanted me to thank Cosmo… for the booklet."
"Was she able to read it?" Alpha asked immediately, voice tight with restrained urgency. Even Tuf stilled, eyes narrowing as he waited.
"No," Luna replied simply, glancing over her shoulder at her mate. "But she was able to learn what was inside… though she didn't say what it was."
Then her eyes shifted to Caelum.
"Mother said… if there's a way you can speak with him, and tell him that she agrees, but only if she can work with you without obstacle."
"Him who?" Tuf asked, frowning.
Luna shrugged.
They all turned to Caelum.
"I will try my best," Caelum answered after a beat, nodding once. "Now go back to your mother, please. You're the only link I have to her. I can't tap into the four young ones anymore."
"Yes, Father," Luna said, her tone obedient but playful. She turned in Tuf's arms, looked up at him with a mischievous smile, and kissed him.
"Oh, by the way," she added with the same deceptively sweet smile, "You were the one who helped the current emperor of Pyrrathis take the throne, right? I think he's the youngest of five brothers? Son of a concubine?"
"Yeah. I needed a puppet like him. Greedy, power-hungry, and expendable. Why?" Tuf asked suspiciously.
"I met him yesterday." Luna blinked up at him with mock innocence. Then she smirked. "He looked at me like I was a very mouth-watering feast. That's all. Bye!"
And with that, she vanished.
"Wait, what?!" Tuf's eyes went wide as he snapped his head toward Alpha.
"She's saying," Alpha said with a smirk, "that the rabid dog you're trying to raise is… surprise, rabid."
Tuf's expression soured into something monstrous.
"Finish your task first before you go 'rabid,'" Caelum said dryly, twisting the word with subtle mockery.
"I will gouge out that vermin's eyes slowly," Tuf growled, "and skin him alive, inch by inch."
"You and your barbaric ways," a calm voice cut in from the doorway.
Nugget stood there, arms crossed and leaning lazily against the frame, shaking her head.
"Hey! You can't blame me," Tuf snapped back. "It's not my fault My Luna is perfect like Mother. So obviously, I have to punish all the lunatics who don't know their damn place."
Nugget rolled her eyes.
"Good thing you have a matebond with her," she muttered. "With how toxic and unhinged you are, she would've dumped you a long time ago if it weren't for that magical string tying your delusional ass down."
Caelum sighed and stood from his seat, ignoring their usual back-and-forth.
"Finish your task," he repeated coolly to his son. "The banquet is coming fast."
Without another word, Caelum left the office and strode quietly down the corridor to his chambers.
Inside, everything was still. Silent. The air held the faintest scent of a long-lost memory.
He walked toward the bedside table and pulled open the drawer. From it, he retrieved a small black box, nothing ornate, but the kind that carried too much weight to leave on a whim. He had never stored it in his dimensional ring, even though he easily could have. It was too dangerous. Too tempting to reach for.
Especially back when he still lived in the Spire.
Inside the box were four rings.
Two of them were identical, meant to be wedding bands. One for him, and one for her.
The other two… were entwined in meaning.
One, small and delicate, was her engagement ring.
The last was a ring she had designed for him, meant to be a birthday gift.
One she never had the chance to give him in person.
Because by then… she was already gone.
He wore the rings around his neck the day he decided to end everything.
And in Lucifer's twisted game, he had ensured Caelum would carry them with him into Solmara, not just as mementos of a lost love, but as bargaining chips.
These weren't ordinary rings.
According to Lucifer, each one could be exchanged for a single chance to summon him, for a brief audience to ask a question or make a request, as long as it didn't disturb the delicate terms of their ancient deal.
For over a thousand years, Caelum never used them.
But now… for the first time, he must.
He didn't want to. His heart ached at the thought of giving one up. These rings were meant to be hers. One day, when their paths crossed again, he had planned to kneel, no longer as the Demon Lord, but simply as the man who never stopped loving her, and offer them with trembling hands.
But if Ceres herself needs to send a message to Lucifer, then he couldn't delay.
Even if it cost him a piece of that dream.
With solemn hands, Caelum took his wedding band from the box and returned the others, back into the hidden compartment of the drawer. His fingers lingered on the cool metal, memorizing the weight of it.
Then he closed his eyes…
And spoke the name.
"Lucifer."
There was silence.
But within that silence, the world shifted.
When Caelum opened his eyes, he was in the darkness, deep, consuming, absolute. The abyss. The void between worlds.
Then a single light shimmered before him. A throne emerged in that darkness.
And upon it sat Lucifer, regal and still, his gaze ancient and knowing.
"A thousand years, Demon Lord," Lucifer said, voice like velvet draped over steel. "And this is the first time you seek me."
"I know you already know why I'm here," Caelum replied calmly. "You must have seen this coming."
"Yes. This and many other things I'd rather not want to take place," Lucifer muttered, then snapped his fingers.
A black and gold masquerade mask appeared in Caelum's lap, smooth, cold, and etched with silent power.
"You may wear it whenever you wish," Lucifer said. "But remember, while you wear it, your powers are sealed. Everything that made you the Demon Lord will vanish. No dominion, no immortality, no strength, no shields. You will be only what you once were."
Lucifer's gaze darkened, unreadable.
"Just you. Goodbye."
And then, nothing.
Caelum gasped softly.
He was back in his bedchamber.
The ring was gone.
In its place, the masquerade mask rested in his hand, ornate, regal, and laced with infernal magic.
He stood slowly, his body still humming with the echo of Lucifer's presence. He walked toward the tall mirror and placed the mask over his face.
The moment it touched his skin, he felt it.
The weight. The silence. The sudden stillness in his soul.
His magic vanished, like water down a drain. The crushing force of his aura disappeared, sealed deep within.
And then it hit him.
The name.
His true name.
Zeus.
He was no longer Demon Lord Caelum. Not while he wore the mask. He was just Zeus Falcon.
And with that, he realized, he could finally see her. Ceres.
He craved it. God, he hungered for it. But Solmara was a cruel place, far too dangerous for a man without power.
He had to be careful.
Smart.
He removed the mask and stored it in his dimension ring. It was too volatile to leave out in the open, and too precious to misuse.
Then, he walked out onto the veranda.
His gaze turned to the direction of Aquilonis, her kingdom. His heart beat like a war drum in his chest.
"Father? You called for me?" Nugget's voice came from behind as she entered the room.
He didn't turn around. His eyes remained fixed on the distant horizon.
"Is everything prepared for the banquet?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," Nugget replied, brief and efficient.
Finally, he looked at her.
"It seems your mother will be entertaining… difficult guests soon," he murmured. "I'm sure your siblings can handle them. But I have a different task for you."
She tilted her head. He smiled faintly.
"Stay there in Aquilonis. If your mother asks, tell her you're designing Velrathis garments for the guests. We wouldn't want them arriving in outfits that make our citizens stare."
Then his smile sharpened.
"And while you're there… use your ability on everyone."
Nugget's eyes widened.
It shocked her. Her father had never allowed her to use her gift, not in the open. Her ability nullified all powers within a thousand-meter radius, anyone weaker than her would be rendered powerless. That meant only her siblings, Caelum himself, and the Holy Beasts could resist it.
Everyone else, lords, nobles, enemies hiding in plain sight, would be stripped bare.
But Nugget didn't question her father's instructions. She never did.
"I understand, Father," she said firmly. "So… is it alright if I bring my team with me to that human kingdom?"
Caelum nodded, his expression relaxed.
"Of course. There's no use keeping them hidden from humans. As long as none of you cause trouble for your mother, it's fine." He smiled, though the glint in his eyes was sharp with intent.
"Anything else?" Nugget asked.
Caelum paused to think.
"Yes. Just in case Tofu ditches his assigned task and decides to run off to Aquilonis to see Luna and stir up chaos…" He gave a dark chuckle. "Tell your siblings that you have full permission to gang up on him. In front of the humans."
A smirk played on his lips. "And I expect you to release all your pent-up frustration on that idiot."
Nugget grinned. She even clapped her fist into her palm with glee.
"Will do, Father," she said cheerfully.
"That's all, champ." Caelum gave her a light nod and turned his gaze once more toward the horizon, toward Aquilonis.
But something twisted in his thoughts.
His brow furrowed slightly as an unspoken question tugged at the edge of his mind.
"What deal did you agree to, Love?" he whispered into the silence.
He didn't doubt her, he never doubted her. Ceres had always been masterful at making deals, only stepping onto the board when she already knew how to win.
But still…
He couldn't help but wonder.
What had she discovered that made Lucifer himself bend the ancient rules?
What leverage did she have that even the Morning Star would yield?
Caelum's lips curved into a soft, reverent smile. He didn't care. Whatever it was, he would trust her. He always had.
He turned and began walking toward his grand closet, his fingers already reaching to pull open the polished ebony doors.
A low whistle escaped his lips as he scanned rows of dark silks, obsidian-threaded coats, and suits stitched with enchanted seams.
He needed to find the perfect ensemble.
Something powerful.
Something that would look very, very good… with the mask.