Page 106 of Witch Queen

Mae shuddered.I’m pretty sure she was only half-joking.

It is no more than you deserve, my witch, Brimstone said firmly.

Yeah, Hellreaver enthused.

Mae rolled her eyes.Like I need that headache.

Just as it did every hour of every day since the awful events on the Brooklyn Bridge, a pang of sorrow squeezed her heart. Brimstone and Hellreaver pressed closer to her when they sensed her grief.

Saying goodbye to Ran Soyun and Rose still stung and would do for a long time to come. Though Mae had wanted nothing more than to shut out the world and wallow in her misery, those around her would not let her sink into depression.

To that end, Azazel had stayed in New York for a week after the war ended. He had met her human family and had even had dinner with them on a couple of occasions. For once, Ye-Seul had surprised everyone by refraining from her usual shocking dinner revelations. Mae suspected her mother and grandmother had been pretty much in awe of the demon.

When she’d asked Azazel what he intended to do upon returning to Hell, his answer had surprised her.

“I will revive the kingdom Ran Soyun and I once called home,” he’d said with a smile. “It is time I restored it to its former glory. Besides, Ran will return one day so I must make sure our palace is ready for its queen.”

Mae had glanced at Nikolai. “We can help.”

Azazel had nodded solemnly. “I would like that dearly.”

Abraham pulled up outside the mansion on 5th Avenue. The sounds of a commotion greeted them when they entered the foyer. Mae stared in the direction of the ballroom. The hall outside it was packed.

Violet emerged from the crowd.

“What’s going on?” Abraham asked with a frown.

The witch sighed. “Alicia’s here to take Rambrog home. The coven members don’t want him to leave.”

Mae wrinkled her nose. “Ah.”

Bryony led the way to the ballroom.

Alicia wore a harassed expression where she stood surrounded by the Rambrog fan club, a group of witches and sorcerers the giant had saved during the battle in Central Park.

“You can’t take him,” a sorcerer protested.

Mae stared at the banner on the guy’s chest. It depicted Rambrog leaning curiously toward the camera’s viewfinder.

“Where’d they get that?”

“Miles had them printed in China Town,” Violet muttered.

Her cousin stood amidst those campaigning for Rambrog to stay.

“Yeah, let him stay!” Miles said mutinously, waving a flag stamped with the same picture of Rambrog.

Abraham furrowed his brow. “He wasn’t even in Central Park.”

Bryony glowered at a figure in bright yellow pantaloons and a T-shirt emblazoned with the words:Freedom for the Giant!“Whatisshe doing?”

Regina was going “Ra! Ra!” under her breath and utterly ignoring Barbara and Karin, who were scowling at her from the other side of the ballroom.

“Look,” Alicia said in a voice that indicated her patience was wearing thin. “He’s a giant fromHell, get it? That’s where he belongs and that’s where he’s going back to!”

She pointed toward the windows. Everyone followed the direction she indicated.

Rambrog sat quietly on the lawn, his eyes crossed as he stared at the pretty butterfly perched on the tip of his nose, his expression one of awe and admiration.

---