Author's note: My apologies for the strange and delayed updates. Uni keeps being rough, but that's part of life or something. That's what mom says or whatever lol.
I believe, and shouldn't be wrong, that the next chapter will come tomorrow. I return back home after two weeks, finally, and while I do enter midterms next Monday, I will try to pull either one, or maybe, MAYBE even two before I start my exams. One of those extra would be for this fic. The other one could potentially be another of my already existing fics I have, wrongfully, ignored. But it is a hard maybe, at least for this weekend. Hope you guys enjoy the chap, and wait excitedly for the next one in a day or so.
I know this has been kind of slow, but there were many things I wanted to set before the council meeting, which will happen on chap 65 as things start to ramp up for DxD.
Disclaimer: All characters depicted in this story are eighteen years of age or older. Any sexual content involves only consenting adults. This is a work of fiction.
A Marvelous Devil.
Chapter 64: The Polite Thing to do.
Dante Andromalius.
"You love making things easy for me, right?" My lips twitched as I dropped Sera ass-first into the chair.
I wondered if I should have dropped her on the floor instead, before deciding against it. Even if she could take it, I knew it would probably start another spat, and I wasn't in the mood to fight with her over the sealed zone for a second time.
Or worse… inside my damn castle. These devils could be a bit unhinged... Rias was the perfect example of that.
But I was so damn curious to see how much I could rile her up this time. She was really cute when she was angry, even while being drenched in the ideas I put in her mind of Sona and me during our alone time. The fact that some of it hadn't even happened yet didn't matter; it just fueled the sick dreams she had about my lover.
I still had some work to do with Sona to reach the point of no return. But despite knowing I could take it very far and still come out on top, and despite how… uncaring I could be with most people, I genuinely cared about Sona.
People from my past life would wonder why, and previously, I wouldn't have been able to give the exact reason. Now? I still wasn't entirely sure, but for completely different reasons.
I liked all her qualities. I liked all her flaws. That was enough for the moment.
"What are you talking about, asshole?!" Sera glared at me from her seat, then looked around curiously for a moment before returning her glare to me.
Her shrill voice pulled me out of my introspection. I met her glare with a mocking one.
"Don't you realize?" I raised an eyebrow.
"'Satan Leviathan can't wait to see her young lover, putting her beloved little sister in danger without even realizing it,'" I imitated the voice of a popular host from the news Celestine liked to watch in her free time. "I wonder how many rumors have already started."
The blood left her face. Her eyes started twitching, and she opened her mouth to deny everything.
Only to close her mouth a second later, probably coming to the same conclusion I did when we passed through the Japanese manga store outside.
We were fucking devils.
I smirked victoriously, seeing the realization dawn on her face.
"I'm flattered, truly," I fanned my face, "but I have to be honest. My heart belongs to someone else."
Maybe it was my words… or maybe the growing grin on my face, but Sera jumped from her seat and her small palm smacked me directly on the cheek.
Only for her to wince, because I used something interesting I found out about the Dark Force not that long ago.
I could change my own body's density. And her sloppy slap hit something much, much harder than she expected.
Heh.
"You're such an asshole," she pouted at me.
Did she realize how funny it was whenever she said that word?
"I know," I nodded calmly, then put my hand in front of her.
She kept pouting for a minute before letting out a huff and dropping the letter onto my open palm.
I snapped my fingers, offering her some tea while I inspected it.
It was gaudy, as expected. The ink was made of gold, and it had Rias's brother's magical signature on it.
I had only seen him once, during Sona's eighteenth birthday party, but that power? I wouldn't forget about it, even if it wasn't as interesting as Ajuka's.
I cut it open with my nail and started reading.
Only to snort at the flowery language.
"To Lord Dante Andromalius," I read aloud, my lips twitching in amusement. "The Council of Pillars hereby formally requests your presence at its next extraordinary assembly. While the use of a proxy is permitted under the law, the nature of the matters presently under consideration necessitates the personal attendance of the Lords themselves."
This wasn't written by Sirzechs. It went against everything Rias told me about her older brother.
Seeing my growing amusement, Serafall looked to the side, showing a hint of embarrassment.
"We have people under us to do these things," she defended her group, "you think we have time to write these kinds of things?"
"Considering that I'm the Asmodeous's number one enemy because he doesn't sleep as much anymore, you mean?" I deadpanned.
I snorted and continued reading, "The House of Phenex has petitioned the Council for a formal discussion concerning the boundaries of jurisdiction, an instance of diplomatic friction, and the standards of conduct and decorum expected to be observed between the ancient bloodlines. Your attendance is therefore requested and expected."
I reread the dumb letter once more before I burst out laughing.
"I wondered if they would accept publicly that Sai beat their son," I chuckled, tossing the letter onto my desk and looking at Sera. "Conduct and decorum, huh. Fancy way of saying that."
Serafall rolled her eyes, dropping her immature act for a moment and showing the real woman that became a Satan for a reason.
"They have been doing this for centuries, Dante," she said seriously. "If Lord Phenex complained about the beating, his house would look weak. It gave them an in because they can force the issue, but the fewer people that know what actually happened, the better. Considering that it didn't exactly trend would have been a miracle, but we both know they control a very big part of the Underworld's news outlets. Not that other Heads don't know exactly what happened, everyone is spying on everyone."
"And it doesn't even matter who the vassal was, just that he was a vassal," I conceded that point with a nod. "What about the Gremory? Can I expect some pushback from Rias's dad during the meeting? I doubt he's happy."
"Zeoticus…" Serafall sighed, shaking her head. "He's old school, even if not as much as some old goats on the council. He's not happy with Rias, and I doubt Vene-mama managed to calm him down."
"That's cute," I smiled.
"She changed our diapers," she looked to the side with a huff. "She's as much my mother as she is Red's, or Ajuka's, or the other idiot'."
I raised my hand placatingly. "I didn't mean anything bad by that. Don't worry."
She looked at me curiously for a moment before nodding slowly.
"Anyways," she drank her tea. "Oh damn, this is good. Can I get some for later?!"
I rolled my eyes and nodded.
She pumped her fist in celebration, but I only watched the jiggly flesh move enticingly. She was too excited to notice.
"So, as I was saying. It could go both ways, but I wouldn't expect any help from his side. It would honestly surprise me if it doesn't come up from either side. He doesn't like the fact that you're getting into the middle of the engagement, and the reason Rias is acting out is because of you."
"I'm a perfect model to follow," I said seriously, before grinning. "What else can you tell me about the council, Sera? What can I expect?"
"You'll owe me for that," she warned with a victorious smirk.
"Nope, that's my payment for being present during my meeting with Azazel. That's what you want, no?" I smirked at the cute Satan.
She slumped into her seat, muttering under her breath.
I didn't mention the fact that I could hear every curse word she could think of directed at me.
Or the fact that it was so important to ensure I didn't start a war with the Grigori.
… just what did she think of me?
You know what. I'd rather not know.
"Fineee," she sighed pitifully. "You're a hot thing, and everyone wants a piece of you. You need to be careful around the idiots that have been bothering Nyra-chan. The Great King Faction has been unusually silent, and I don't like that. It will also be your first time there, and we know who your family fought for during the civil war. I heard from my spies that some of the families that still believe in that doctrine are interested in you."
"Hm, the fact that you know about them and have let them walk free is disappointing," I clicked my tongue and closed my eyes, "especially since I know you haven't done so because it's amusing, but because you're trying to be different than your predecessors. Wrongly, I have to add."
"Oh?" Her tone was dangerous, but I met her eyes with a placid expression.
Then I smiled condescendingly.
"Do you think I'd let anyone plotting against me in my own territory continue doing it?" I chuckled. "Well, like I said, only if it was funny, but that's beside the point."
"It's not that simple, Dante," Serafall shook her head sadly. "If we moved against every family that had their own plans instead of ours… war would come. We're devils, Dante."
"It is that simple," I rolled my eyes. "You just…"
I stopped myself. I had gotten so used to acting the way I was with the people around me that I had forgotten how the Underworld saw me.
But it disappointed me. They had all that power, all those reasons, and they did nothing with it.
Still… I couldn't blame them. They were traumatized children who had to do what the older ones weren't capable of doing, and they were too afraid of becoming the old monsters they fought against.
I'd seen it too many times in my very old life. Said it too many times, in truth.
And it didn't always work, because their fear was bigger than their duty.
But at the end of the day, it wasn't something a young devil like me should know, right?
Fucking hell. And fuck Mephisto for causing me to go through this shit. Also fuck Red, just because.
"You have more patience than me," I shrugged. "Must be a Satan thing."
Sera stared at me for a long moment until I raised my eyebrow.
"What? Are you also falling for me like your sister?" I grinned.
Her eyebrow didn't even twitch this time. See?! That was called progress.
"Nothing," she shook her head. "I was thinking of ways to help you get allies, but none will happen soon enough for the meeting. Are you sure you can handle it? You know we have your back."
"Oh?" I asked curiously, before waving off the latter part of her sentence with a grateful smile.
"Hm, there's a young half-devil who was born with a Sacred Gear. A holy Sacred Gear, and Rudiger, his dad, is really well connected," she nodded.
"Ah, that's why you asked me about it after your little tantrum," I chuckled. "Sure, I can do that, don't worry about that. You can start talking with him, as it seems I'll be stuck in the Underworld for a while. You think he's sweated enough already?"
"You do know you're a Lord, right?" Her lips twitched. "And yes, he has gone through everything he can think of. I'm starting to feel bad about not doing anything before, so not a word about our conversation, deal?"
"Hm," my grin widened as a panicked look appeared on her face at my silence.
"Deal?!" she said hopefully. "This is for the good of the both of us, Dante!"
"Your slap hurt, Sera," I tapped my cheek. "I don't know."
Now the twitching returned, but I didn't cave under her glare.
"What do you want?" she rolled her eyes.
"Well, you're a magical girl, you know? You have a way to heal… boo-boos?"
Her soul brightened for a moment with so much anger and shame I wondered if another slap was coming, but with iron control, she stood up.
And walked toward my seat.
I had thought it all was perfect, considering I was seated and she was tiny, but she still surprised me by pulling me by my collar and giving me a far too strong peck on the cheek.
It hurt more than the damn slap with how violent it was. Anyone should know teeth weren't supposed to be used that way.
Well… anyone but Sera, apparently.
I was about to say that it didn't heal me in the slightest, but seeing her frigid glare, I decided against it.
"Thank you, my dear; it doesn't hurt anymore," I lied with a smile.
"Not a word of this to anyone, Dante," she threatened. "Or we'll see how good Tandy's healing truly is."
She wasn't playing about it, but I had already won. Back then, something like this would have killed her.
"Fine, fine," I sighed. "What exactly do you want from Azazel's meeting? Going through all this just for that makes it seem like you don't trust me."
"I don't," she deadpanned. "The council meeting is in two days; Azazel will come in four. I want to be there to ensure that a war doesn't start, or start it myself if it appears you're becoming friends. Their destruction might be better in that case."
I was offended by the damn shiver she had after saying those words.
I was NOT that bad.
... I was totally going to become his friend just to mess with this idiot. Best of friends... maybe I should even invite Red for a drink when Serafall was visiting.
"You know that nothing you say will affect my dealings, right? You might be a Satan, but this is a deal from my family, and you have no power over it," I warned with a gloating smirk.
"Didn't you say we Satans should do what we like?" she raised her eyebrow.
"The fact that I don't approve of how you rule doesn't mean I won't take advantage of it," I shrugged. "Do I have your word?"
She hesitated for a moment before nodding, knowing she couldn't interfere without opening a can of worms they weren't ready for.
"So be it," I nodded. "You can bring him here personally and stay for the meeting when the time comes, my dear. Will you stay for dinner?"
She flipped me off and teleported away.
I was absolutely sending her another video of Sona whenever I had the time.
Later that night.
Dante Andromalius.
Sitting at the head of the table in the Great Hall was boring when it came to waiting for everyone to arrive.
Especially because Tandy loved to stop every five meters to talk about whatever attracted her attention at that specific moment.
A painting? She started talking about where we got it from. If she didn't know, she probed Nyra, who had joined them at one point during the tour.
Then she talked to and thanked all the guards in sight, smiling, patting their shoulders, and congratulating them.
I wasn't sure where she got all that energy from. Or why she was that way.
But as seen outside, it worked wonders for her reputation.
Should I fear my subjects rising against me to crown my light as the ruler?
Letting out an amused laugh, I looked around the table at the few people already present.
Mainly my father, who looked like he wanted to say something, and Misla, who was fussing over her dress and hair.
Celestine was busy finishing the last plates for the course.
It didn't surprise me that she still didn't want help, even when cooking the finest things she could for a visiting noble. She was… quite hardheaded.
But that smile? It was precious.
"Nervous about something?" I looked at Misla and smiled.
At this point, I had to do something, considering Tandy stopped once more to explain about a chandelier or something.
"Is it obvious, dear?" she smiled nervously. "I just… it's an opportunity to fix something important to me, you know?"
"You truly care about him like he was yours," I nodded. "I respect that. But you do know that everything depends on him, right? You two have already seen past the conflict."
"And we can't force him to change that way," Misla shook her head sadly. "He was so cute as a kid, you know?"
She let out a twinkling laugh. "Always looking for his big brother. At least the bastard started focusing on his education."
"How old was Sai when it happened?" I asked curiously, not having bothered to check the details.
"He was four," Misla's lips thinned in anger. "Barely four years old, and he was called a failure by everyone. Years later, I fell… sick."
Her purple eyes flashed with hatred before she controlled herself with a deep breath.
"Hm," I mused, looking at Hadrian, who also twitched at the mention of the curse. "Tell me what you think of this."
I spat a glob of hellfire into a contract. Magdaran's contract, obviously.
Misla took it gingerly and started reading it in silence even if she was confused about how the spell worked.
Seeing she was busy; I turned my attention to the other one on the table.
"What about you? What's with the long face, Dad?" I cocked my head at the older blond.
He snorted, looking at me in disapproval.
"Exactly that, son," he rolled his eyes. "The fact that you wouldn't hesitate to say that during the meeting. Something I'm already expecting."
"And that worries you?" I raised my eyebrow. "You do know why I can be like this, no?"
"You're strong," he repeated drolly.
"I am strong. Stronger than them." I nodded calmly. "I can be uncaring about what the rest think because of that."
"I don't agree with you, son," he shook his head sadly, but then his eyes hardened. "But you're the Lord, and I will follow you to the depths of hell."
I smiled gently at him.
"You don't agree because you don't know, and that's okay, Dad," I chuckled. "I believe it's time to rip off a bit of the band-aid. Are you sure you're not coming? I genuinely don't care what they think."
Hadrian looked confused before shaking his head after hesitating for a moment.
"I won't. You're the Lord, and if I am present during the meeting, they'll think you're weak. Some already do, thanks to your prolonged disappearances."
I sighed at him. Whatever.
Misla let out a soft gasp, then cooed, standing up from her seat and hugging me a lot harder than someone her age should be capable of.
Her lips found my cheek, almost touching my lips as she smiled with tears in her eyes.
"Thank you, dear. I love it."
I patted her back with a smile.
"Wonder if his curiosity will win over common sense," I snorted a bit before taking the contract from her.
Hadrian looked at us curiously, even through that proud smirk on his face.
I passed him the contract.
"Hey, hands where I can see them, Misla," Celestine's disapproving voice came from the kitchen, where the blonde was peeking out with a smirk.
Misla chuckled, gave me another kiss in the same spot, and I felt a pinch on my ass before she ducked under a spatula that flew past where she used to be.
The laughter from both mothers filled the hall for a moment before the doors opened.
Hadrian carefully returned the contract, nodding in approval, and went to help Celestine.
Since there were no servants in this area, they both focused on that.
Well, if you didn't count Akeno, who passed next to me in a hurry to help, followed by a giggling Tandy.
"Had fun?" I looked at Sona, who looked a lot more tired than what a simple walk around the Ashen Court should have made her.
Not everyone could handle my light.
"Do you call that fun?" Her eyebrow twitched similarly to her sister's.
I looked at the rest of them and winced mockingly.
Jean and Rogue took their seats, leaving an empty one to my left, and slumped against the table.
Sona looked around, hesitated for a long moment, before taking the seat next to Jean, right to my left.
Leaving Tandy's seat to my right.
I smiled at her and took her hand in mine.
"I know she can be a bit…" I started.
Jean banged her head on the table and glared at me.
The rest followed, looking almost as tired as Sona.
Well, all apart from Sai, who wore a grin as he bumped his scrawny brother before slinging his arm around Magdaran.
He took him by the shoulders and sat him between himself and Misla, who just smiled calmly at the kid.
Kuisha followed suit and sat next to Sai.
Rias glared at Nyra, who returned it with equal intensity. A battle of wills that was surprisingly won by…
Nyra. She took a seat directly next to Tandy's empty spot.
Rias huffed, glared at the smirking Sona, and sat next to Nyra instead.
Heh. What an amusing bunch.
"Does your Bishop have super lungs?" Sona deadpanned.
"Something along those lines," I nodded, ignoring the 'Hey!' shouted from the kitchen.
Smirking at nothing, I caressed Sona's hand. "Give me a moment, yeah? Need to finish with that."
Sona smiled and nodded.
"So, what did you think of the place, Magdaran? Interested?" I looked at Sai's younger copy.
"Hm," he closed his eyes for a moment. "Depending on the terms, you mean? I might be interested, Lord Andromalius."
"Dante," I corrected. "You're sharing a meal at my table; we're far from needing that kind of formality at this point."
He looked around, earning nods from Sai and Misla, and then focused on the almost empty hall.
"Yes," I deadpanned before shrugging. "We keep things small in here. Blame my mother."
"She cooked for us?" He gaped in disbelief.
"Uh-huh," I nodded before my eyes hardened. "I believe I don't have to say anything to know what you should say later, right?"
My focus was entirely on the kid, and I let a wisp of demonic power press against his psyche just for the fuck of it.
I was joking, obviously, and everyone bar him at the table knew it.
His knees buckled under the chair as his eyes widened.
Only to stop feeling the pressure as someone slapped the back of my head.
A very frowning, very pouting Celestine glared at me while holding the entrees.
"Ignore him, deary. If you don't like my food, just say it. Don't cave under Dante's childish tantrums," she tutted with a growing smirk as she locked eyes with Magdaran. "I learned to be thick-skinned."
The poor boy nodded his head like a chicken.
"Yeah, she is," Hadrian smiled dumbly. He wasn't talking about my mother's ability to receive complaints.
… Idiot.
Ignoring that for a moment, I laughed at the relief on Magdaran's face.
"I have the contract already," I tapped the piece of glowing paper. "But we can leave it until after the food, right?"
He nodded calmly, seeing the plate served by Akeno, who appeared out of nowhere.
She was already dressed like a maid, much to Rias's consternation.
And Sona's growing disbelief.
She pinched my hand, and I nodded without any shame.
My lover's glasses glinted before she let out a sigh, but she didn't say a word until everyone was seated.
Tandy sat on my right, and I decided to keep fucking with everyone at the table.
Maybe seeing the growing, dark smirk on my face, Sona tried to cover my mouth.
She was too late, as a cackling Tandy bound her arms against the armrest.
"One thing before we start," I covered my parents and Misla with my clan trait, leaving all the young ones exposed.
Everyone turned in my direction with varying levels of confusion at my bound girlfriend next to me and the cackling Tandy behind her.
Slowly, my right hand rose to my forehead.
"We pray," I said seriously. "In the name of the Father..."
Winces rippled all across the table under their disbelieving eyes.
My hand fell to my navel.
"...and of the Son," my smirk was growing at the sheer dread rolling off everyone at the table.
Another collective wince passed.
Then I finished the last two.
"...and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
"Now, we eat," I cackled, immediately joined by Tandy.
Celestine's hand once more found its target against the back of my head as she looked around the table worriedly.
Obviously, I made sure nothing more than winces passed through the curse God left on these devils. I wasn't totally an ass.
The groaning sound coming out of Kuisha was precious as she glared at me, at least until she saw the gaping, pained expression on Magdaran's face and burst out laughing.
The totally unaffected Jean and Rogue looked around in confusion.
Then Rogue shrugged and moaned as she took the first bite from her plate, completely ignoring everything else.
She learned fast.
"Can I ask?" Jean looked at Sona, who was finally let go by Tandy as she returned to her seat.
"We Devils are weak against anything holy. The Angels' creator, especially," Sona hissed, smacking my arm while rubbing her temple. "That's why human priests can somewhat fight against the supernatural even if they don't have magic. The problem is that Devils shouldn't have the faith required to be capable of pulling this off without it registering as a sacrilege!"
It wasn't faith. I had met the Yahweh back home. You couldn't deny His essence, or where it came from.
Didn't like him, but I didn't deny what he was.
It seemed like that knowledge transcended worlds.
Magdaran looked at me in disbelief as I whistled innocently.
"It seemed like the polite thing to do," I shrugged and savored Celestine's effort with an approving nod.
Hadrian sighed, but he also seemed proud of me for whatever reason.
The younger Devils spent another minute rubbing their temples with glares directed at me, but I didn't care.
Celestine's food was so fucking good.
Two Days Later.
Sona Sitri.
"If you keep grabbing that, we will never be ready for the meeting, Tandy," Sona sighed, swatting the Bishop's hand away from the 'danger zone,' as she liked to call it in the back of her mind.
The fact that it was the third time in just a minute was unsurprising. At this point, she knew what horny creatures devils were. Herself included, much to her delight and disbelief.
She had never been that interested in sex, but it all changed when Dante entered her life at that birthday party. At least not the way these two made her act when they were behind closed doors.
She wouldn't change it for anything in the world.
"I'm just making sure the vest stays where it should be!" Tandy giggled, entirely unrepentant as she smoothed her hands down the piece of clothing they were helping him into. "Besides, we both know he's going to be the center of attention in the room. And this time, not from hot girls, but from stuffy snobs."
Sona didn't bother smacking Dante's hands away from her ass. She knew a losing battle when she saw one, and the growing smirk on the asshole's face did things to her she didn't want to name.
"He's a Lord, Tandy. He needs to look imposing, not crumpled like he's coming out of a whorehouse," Sona scolded, rolling her eyes and blushing at the slight pinch of his fingers.
Why was it so difficult to maintain her usual composed persona around him?
Dante chuckled as she returned his effort, doubling down in a way only she could.
She didn't have the same level of confidence as Tandy to pull her latest tricks against Dante, being much gentler than the forceful blonde, but her hand snuck into his unbuttoned shirt and caressed his abs.
Dante smirked, using his hold on Sona's ass to pull her closer into a kiss that left her breathless and her glasses fogged.
"Why would I go to a whorehouse, dear?" His eyes were intense, stopping Sona's heart in its tracks. "Everyone knows who I belong to."
"Tandy, me, and a dozen other girls in a year?" Sona deadpanned, even if she wasn't completely against the idea.
At this point, she had learned enough about herself to know she wasn't as against it as she thought. Or at all, really. And the filthy, exciting ideas Tandy always pushed forward lowered her defenses even more.
Why else would she ignore her parents' summons and stay in the Ashen Court without visiting the territory that would one day belong to her?
They were corrupting her, damn it!
The worst part was that she loved it!
Tandy giggled, adjusting her own beautiful red dress despite Dante's roaming hands making it harder than necessary.
"We can be your whores, baby," she whispered against his ear. "You know, I doubt many sluts would dare to do what we did last night."
Sona's face exploded with a nuclear blush at the memories while the pair of idiots laughed.
The door banged open without a knock.
Sona didn't even bother covering herself in her state of undress. What these two had done to her erased every ounce of shame she would have had in her body for the next hundred years. As long as they were present with her, at least.
She just whined against Dante's chest while Tandy cackled.
"I wonder if I have to punish someone for not knocking," Dante growled playfully, turning around to see who was interrupting his alone time.
Only to break into a soft smile seeing who it was.
Misla didn't even bat an eye at their half-dressed state. Her purple eyes were shining with tears, and she wore a smile so bright that Sona wondered if she was taking ideas from Tandy.
The MILF, as Tandy and Dante crudely put it. Sona could see where they were coming from.
She held a familiar piece of paper in her hands.
"He signed," she breathed out as she finally separated from Dante.
"I told you he would," Dante smiled. "I'm really good at reading people."
Sona adjusted her glasses, looking at Misla with a growing smile. She hoped they could work through their differences together. The woman deserved all the happiness in the world after what her husband put her through.
"I still don't understand what you offered him. He seemed shocked after the dinner."
"Exactly what he wanted," Dante shrugged. "Leasing a piece of my territory for his work. That way, the land remains under my control."
Sona nodded in understanding, even if she was still curious about the rest.
Dante smiled indulgently at her, filling her stomach with butterflies.
"Then, his inventions and techniques remain his, but the materials remain under me. A license to use them only within the territory. He's a genius, and I can't have him taking my…" he snorted, "hard work away from me."
"Your hard work?" Dante winced as Tandy's fingers clamped his lips shut.
"Our hard work," he rolled his eyes and mumbled from between the slim fingers.
Tandy patted his cheek before stealing a kiss and breaking into a fit of giggles.
"Then what else? That would be a dealbreaker for most devils, you know," Sona poked Dante in the ribs.
"It's common sense," he scoffed. "But apart from that, just two clauses to give him protection under my laws. You know how each Lord is capable of having a different set of laws in their territory as long as they don't go against the ones put in place by your sister and the rest?"
Sona nodded.
"We're taking advantage of that, and he gets a safe place to retreat to when he grows tired of the games within his family. He will be under my protection, and as I have shown, I don't fear his idiotic father."
"But that's not the most important one," Misla smiled sweetly.
Sona looked at Dante's face after seeing the genuine warmth in Misla's gaze as she glanced at Dante.
"I added a clause where he is required to share one dinner in the castle. Weekly, to let us know how his work is progressing. And his point of contact within the castle is none other than Misla herself. And her bodyguard, you know?" He shrugged as if it wasn't important.
"Sai," Sona breathed out, looking at Dante with love.
He always talked about being fair, then acted like an ass. But deep inside, she knew he was simply something special.
Sona initiated the kiss this time, leaving Dante surprised at the intensity of it.
"You're wonderful, Dante," Sona said, hugging him.
Tandy burst out laughing at Dante's silence, but he just shook his head after a moment and returned the hug.
"I believe it's time we leave," he whispered. "Are you staying here, or will you go with Rias to bring the rest of her peerage?"
"I was thinking of bringing mine as well; that way we can all train together, if that's alright with you? I have a feeling things will heat up around her, and soon," Sona said after a moment.
Dante patted her head with an approving nod.
"That's fine, you and yours are always welcomed here, love," he said. "But it's time I put some Lords in their place. I wonder how many fights will break out."
He cackled, and Tandy joined him as Sona could only look in horror at the pair of idiots.
Misla tittered behind her hand as she sighed fondly.
"We truly lucked out with him, eh?" Misla approached Sona and sat on the bed, patting her thigh.
Sona blushed at the contact now that the pair wasn't there to infect her with their shamelessness.
But she knew Misla was right.
The Underworld would never be the same after the Phenex released that monster into the open.
And she couldn't wait to find out what happened next.
"Oh no!" Sona gasped in realization, drawing a worried glance from Misla. "My dad will be there! And they know I've been sleeping here!"
Misla burst out laughing, shaking her head in amusement before breaking out again.
Sona didn't want to know what would happen anymore.
Maybe it was time to pack her bags and hide in the human world for a couple of years.
But that would leave Dante to do what he wanted... and she knew how much of a manipulator he was. He would have her mother eating out of his palm with how forward and uncaring he was. And knowing him, he would make her father respect him even while he hated his guts for corrupting his little girl.
Sona whimpered. She had already lost.
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