Hawk ran both hands over his face and through his choppy bright red hair, inhaling deeply to keep himself in check. Everyone had known how much had changed with the Divine Realms, that they had been merging for years. Sixteen Realms now down to eight, with one more on the horizon, and no one willing to let go of their positions. The only one they didn’t want ruling anything was Lucifer Morningstar.

“It isn’t just the Underworld he’s going to want to control,” Hades said. “He wants it all, the entire Universal Core. Add to that, there won’t be any selection process on who takes over the other eight Realms, he’ll just put who he wants where he wants.”

“Plus take all of us out in the process,” Nox said, taking another long gulp of his beer. 

“That’s the first thing he’s intending to do, yes,” Hades agreed. “Wipe out the competition, make some sort of claim by default, and then begin his reign of terror.”

“He doesn’t rule the First Realm of Hell that way, though,” Hero pointed out. “Why would he switch it up if he managed to get all the way to the top?”

“Lucifer has been playing Good Boy this whole time,” Charlotte said. “He’s kept his head down, done what he’s supposed to do, forged allies, made friends, all that stuff.”

“Even after being punished for the soul experiments?” Hawk asked, his blue eyes going dark.

She nodded. “He made some speech about making up for past wrongs and how he was eager to work closely with the rest of us in order to make a stronger Realm or some such bullshit.”

“Sounds like every other human politician I’ve ever heard,” Hero muttered.

“Only on a bigger scale,” Hades grinned.

“Okay, so,” Hawk said, leaning forward and folding his arms on the table. “Not only do we need to stop Lucifer from getting his hands on my husband’s birthright, but we need to find eight new Kings to help him run the show.”

“Six, asshole,” Nox said. He waved a finger between himself and Hades. “We’re not moving.”

“That’s what fourteen other Kings and governors have said,” Hero said. “However, I’m not pushing to remove you two and I’ll make sure the rest of Gods Hall knows that.”

Charlotte gave her old friend a genuine smile. She could still remember how much Hero despised Nox for what he believed the Devil King had done on his own. He refused to trust him, wanted the demon to die. It had taken Hero a long time to accept Nox was as much a victim as Hawk was of Lucifer’s when they were forced into becoming one entity, the dreaded and feared Blood King. Over time, not only had Hawk and Nox learned to become separate people in their own right, while still remaining close, but Hero had come to respect and even liked the demon. Nox was the one who took care of Toji after all.

Nox hadn’t wanted to train his nephew to become a violent killer, that was all on Havik. The Graves’ had fought for months against it, even begged Hawk and Hero to reconsider. They had wanted to, had pleaded with their son that there had to be another way. All of them lost, Toji most of all.

Still, Nox had made it a point to ensure Toji stayed as sane as possible, to hold on to who he was and what he fought for. If not for the King and Queen of the Fifth Realm, Toji absolutely would have lost his mind completely.

“So, what’s the plan?” Charlotte asked.

Hero sighed, glancing at Hawk. “Julian is at Helman Hall right now looking for something.”

“The box?” Nox asked.

Hawk nodded. “You know what’s in it?”

He shook his head. “No clue, same as you. But I was there when Charles gave it to you. I felt its power.” He shuddered as he brought the mug back to his lips. “Insane,” he muttered before taking a gulp.

“It went missing a few years ago,” Hero continued. “I’m hoping it didn’t get too far and he’s able to make it back soon. Once he does, whatever is in there will force the rest of the Divine to back down and we can avoid any bloodshed. I don’t want a war, none of us do.”

“How much time did you give the kid to find the box?” Hades asked.

“Eight weeks,” Hawk said. “It shouldn’t take that long but…” he glanced at Hero before turning back to the Devil King. “I have a feeling the box is only part of it.”

“So we have eight weeks to stop Lucifer from getting to the Throne of Heaven, prevent the Divine from starting a war, and find eight new candidates to rule the new Realms in Hero’s name,” Charlotte summarized.

“Six,” the men replied.

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

“And it all depends on one kid getting here before the bell rings,” Nox said, setting down his empty beer mug.

“To be fair,” Hawk said with the trademark Helman grin Nox also shared, “he’s a pretty special kid.”

Nox stared at him, his eyes hard. “That’s what I’m worried about.”

A few hours later, after more talk and planning that many would correctly construe as conspiring, Hawk and Hero were walking down the streets of Korso, hand in hand, Hawk yawning loudly. 

“That was productive,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “All of a sudden I’m less paranoid about plotting Lucifer’s violent demise.”

Hero chuckled. “It’s been a long time coming,” he agreed. “But we can’t be stupid about it, either. You heard what Hades said. Lucifer isn’t an idiot and he will do whatever he can to get to the Throne, especially given that’s been his main goal for eons. Knowing I’m meant to have it is probably causing him no end of annoyance right now.”

Hawk grinned broadly, his sharp teeth visible. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

Hero laughed, wrapping his arm around Hawk’s back. He opened his mouth to say something, but the words were ripped from him before he could.

A huge pulse of energy radiated throughout both their cores, forcing them both to come to a grinding halt, leaning on one another for support as wave after wave overtook them, blasting through their souls. It wasn’t lost on Hawk that it was far more intense for Hero than it was for him. He held Hero tightly against him, both of them shaking and panting for breath as their heads swam.

“What the fuck was that?” Hawk finally asked when the blood had stopped pounding in his ears.

Hero didn’t answer.

Hawk looked down at his husband. “Hero?” he said, his brow furrowed. Hero didn’t move, his entire body suddenly heavy against his own. His heart clenched as he tilted Hero’s head up. Not only was Hero completely passed out, but his core was throbbing and his chest mark was glowing much brighter than normal. Shit! 

Hawk tore a hole in the Veil and lifted Hero into his arms. “Hang on, baby,” he murmured as he stepped through the hole, dashing down the hall of the large hospital his niece worked at. He was rounding the corner when he nearly collided with another healer. He told her who he was looking for and she led them down the hall to a large room with a bed, directing Hawk to lay Hero down while she went to fetch Master Healer Arla Embers.

By the time Arla had arrived, Hero wasn’t the only one passed out. Hawk was sprawled on the floor, his head bleeding from where it had hit the edge of the side table, his core burning, his chest mark glowing.

-*-

Across the River Divide, in a tower placed in the middle of the desert with no signs of life anywhere, there is a prison with the tightest security ever created to guard the worst prisoners the Divine world knew. One in particular was in the very bottom of the tower, locked behind several thick doors and barriers, on his own with no one to talk to. He had been here for five years, staring at the same walls, sitting on the same bed, eating the same food, with no visitor to keep him company for even a few minutes at a time.

That was about to change.

He gasped as an energy pulse tore through his core, one that was familiar and yet altogether very strange. But he knew it…it had been eons, but it was a signature he would never forget.

Slowly, his face split into a wide grin, and he began to laugh.

-*-