Part II #2
“Liar!” Nox whispered, kissing Smoak’s cheek loudly before releasing him. “Get over here,” he said to Niall and they shared a quick but tearful embrace.
“Thank you for saving him and giving him a chance to start over,” Niall said quietly. “Cenn’s at peace now and it’s changed who he is when he’s…” He coughed suggestively. “There’s no telling how many souls that’s saved.”
Even without his demonic powers, Smoak was still more powerful than the most ancient and prolific demons and had yet to be challenged.
His children still served him but Smoak had made several changes to the demon’s charter and their code of conduct.
They were to save their most malevolent acts for those who had earned them and to punish those who had victimized the innocent.
It was no longer a demon’s duty to seduce the innocent, as there were more than enough willing to barter for fame, glory, or a grocery list of worthless reasons.
Justice over malevolence was an ethos Nox could get behind.
“You did all the hard work,” he said to Niall. “It was your pure soul and stubborn heart that changed him first and it was you who dragged him kicking and screaming into this friendship. None of this would have happened without you.”
Friendship was a mild word for the relationship Nox and Smoak shared.
They were more like brothers or even twins, in certain ways.
He suspected that Smoak had been created much in the same way the Dagda had and possibly at roughly the same time.
Their existence balanced each other and kept the arc of humanity from veering too close to the dark or blinding itself to the light.
Just as Nox needed Nelson to balance the god within, he needed Smoak to balance them.
The Dagda needed Lord Smoak to contain the dark and keep it sacred, to prevent it from becoming lawless and depraved like Dùbhghlas would have made it had he prevailed.
An evil, unchecked Father of All Demons would result in a brutally all-powerful Dagda that would not only destroy the world, but all that they loved and cared for the most.
“Because of you, we have peace.”
There were more hugs from Niall—the day was turning into a hugapalooza and Nox was living for it!—and a respectful handshake from Smoak before they set off for their last stop.
“The list of things I never thought would happen are longer than a CVS receipt but that was not one of them,” Nox admitted as they headed for Adelphi, earning a wide-eyed look from Nelson.
“He’s coming to the ceremony.” That was a big deal.
It was assumed that Niall would catch a ride with Shelby and Tighe but Smoak had accepted his invitation and had even congratulated them.
“You don’t think he’s up to something, do you?
” Nelson asked but Nox laughed at the thought of Niall’s vengeance.
“Smoak isn’t that stupid. He values his peace too much to blow it all up over a ceremony.”
“Very true,” Nelson said.
The rest of the ride to Adelphi was relaxing but Nox was bouncing in his seat as they parked in front of Bippity Boppity Books.
They were also there to pick up the last of the supplies for their union celebration, including personalized gift bags for all the guests.
Which meant that Howard was completely surprised when Nox presented him with the medallions.
The other one was for Heidi but Nox did not want to disturb the mother of a teething infant.
“This is exquisite, but you shouldn’t have!” Howard was overcome as Nox linked the ends of the chain and fixed the older man’s collar.
“It was an honor and I’m blessed to have you as a friend and a mentor,” Nox said sincerely.
“I am not worthy of this!” Howard was crying as he traced Nox’s symbol on the medallion.
“Shhh!” Nox covered Howard’s hands with his.
“You are the most worthy! You could have lost faith and you could have hated me but you remained a devoted light and every day, I strive to be worthy of you.” He kissed Howard’s forehead, thanking him and blessing his gentle, loving soul.
Nox sniffed, then leaned back. “Is that a baby I smell?”
Howard lit up like a candle. “Yes! Heidi was here with my grandson! I have new pictures!”
“Gimme!” Nox rubbed his hands together, dying to see new pictures of his “nephew” and ecstatic for Howard.
The baby was only four-months-old and was Howard’s universe. Heidi and her husband had named the baby after Howard and had invited him to be present when the baby arrived. In the next room, albeit, but Howard was the first one to hold his namesake after the mother and the father.
“An actual tater tot!” Nox declared, groaning as he waved Nelson over. “I just wanna eat him.”
Nelson smiled fondly at the picture. “I don’t want to eat him but he is precious.”
The rest of the pictures were just as adorable and made Nox appreciate the simple gift of life and how magickal childbirth was.
It wasn’t for him, but Nox marveled at the fact that humans had been blessed with such rare and powerful magick and regretted that it wasn’t always treated with the reverence it deserved.
Howard had revered his role as a father and his love and generosity had touched Heidi and inspired her to be a present and patient mother. Little “Howe” would grow up to be a creative, brave, and compassionate person, thanks to Heidi and Howard’s love and influence.
“I can’t wait for the ceremony!” Howard said as he saw them to the door. “My suit is pressed and ready to go!”
“You’re going to look dashing!” Nox predicted, kissing Howard’s cheek on the way out.
He waited for Nelson to say goodbye and kiss the older man’s cheek, offering his arm before they set off for the Continental.
“But not quite as dashing as you,” he said quietly, enjoying the way Nelson blushed and shook his head.
“No one will be looking at me, not with you there. You’re always the most beautiful thing in the room.”
“Nelson!” Nox grabbed his hand, urging him to hurry. “We need to be home and naked now!”