Page 45 of Witch Queen

“Before you get all misty-eyed, those bones are from humans who died in wars on Earth,” Astarte grunted.

“Yeah, that doesn’t make me feel any better,” Cortes muttered.

Mae scanned the landscape nervously while Vannog closed in on the city. She could feel the presence of many demons in the mountains and forests, as well as some thousand creatures who reeked of incubus energy.

The way Vlad frowned as he followed her gaze told her he’d sensed them too.

“Do not fear,” Astarte said. “They are the army Armaros and Ilmon put together to defend this place should Hell’s Council ever dare to invade.”

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

Vannog shotover a drawbridge spanning the river encircling the keep. The guards on the walls shouted and waved as the helldragon flew over the city gates.

“Welcome back, Lord Dragon!”

Mae’s pulse quickened at the sight of the demonic metropolis beyond the fortifications.

It was laid out like a human city, with several wide thoroughfares crisscrossing the streets to form blocks. Most of the buildings and homes were constructed of stone and wood. The smell of roasting meats carried from chimneys and open windows.

I wonder if a city in medieval Europe would have looked like this.

I would think so, Na Ri said.The designson whichFather based the keeps of Hell Deep eventually appeared on Earth in the Middle Ages.I suspect it was the Immortals who refined them.

Mae drew a sharp breath as they passed an industrial district home to a maze of narrow lanes and canals crowded with factories, smithies, and workshops, most of which spouted acrid fumes from their smokestacks.

Wait. So, you’re saying dad came up with the blueprints for Earth’s cities?!

Yes.

Mae was still reeling over this morsel of information when Vannog flashed across a waterway and took them over an area of the city where the houses were bigger and more elaborate, their walls made of bricks and bones.

Nikolai tensed behind her.

Mae’s chest tightened as she studied the palace straddling the knoll ahead. The moment of truth would soon be upon them. And she wasn’t sure what she would do if Armaros told her Hellreaver could not be fixed.

Vannog crossed a drawbridge and the outer walls of the castle before spiraling down toward an immense, sunken courtyard made of black granite. His claws raised sparks when he landed, his enormous wings casting long shadows on the ground before he folded them against his body.

Mae’s pulse quickened at the sight of a large forge where hot coals simmered.Brim, is that where?—?

Yes.

Mae swallowed and touched the pendant beneath her shirt.

Movement drew her eyes. A group of demons had rushed out into the palace forecourt and was hurrying toward them.

“Lord Dragon, you are finally back.” Relief flooded the face of the head demon, a creature who was nearly as wide as he was tall and who towered above the rest. He cut his eyes to a pair of fiends behind him. “Inform the kitchens at once. We must prepare a feast for our noble beast.”

“You know, it’s not like we starved him on this mission,” Astarte said wryly. “He devoured twenty hellboars all by himself just last night.”

“Twenty hellboars are nothing but an entrée, woman,” Vannog rumbled.

The head demon drew a sharp breath at the sight of Astarte. He lowered himself to one knee and bowed his head. “My apologies, Goddess. I did not see you there.”

The servants behind him followed suit.

“At ease.” Astarte landed lightly beside the head demon as he straightened. “I am glad the city is safe, Us’gorith.”

“It is by your grace, Goddess.” Us’gorith peered curiously at Mae and the others as they climbed awkwardly down Vannog’s body. “I see you have brought some unusual guests again.” His eyes flared when he got his first good look at them. “Oh. The woman carries Lord Azazel’s scent.” His surprised gaze found Vlad. “And this one smells like an incubus.”

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