Page 41 of Witch Queen

Do not fret,Mae,Na Ri murmured.We will need that spell when we join our allies in the final battle against Satanael.

Mae’s heart lurched at the reminder of what she’d learned when she’d first manifested her magic. That they were destined to join the army humanity would need to defend itself at the End of Days.

“Na Ri is right, my witch.” Brimstone lowered his giant head and almost sent her tumbling to the ground when he nuzzled her affectionately with his snout. “You must not fear your abilities. The daughters of Azazel and Ran Soyun would never abuse the powers gifted to them.”

“He’s right, Mae,” Vlad said.

Cortes nodded.

Nikolai straightened. “Here they come.”

Astarte and the demon commanders were making their way over, their armored boots raising dust as their armies parted deferentially ahead of them. The ground quaked in their wake, Vozgan’s black helldragon father and the colossal hellbeasts they’d ridden in battle following them.

The Goddess and the demons looked even more daunting up close, the power they emitted distorting the air around their monstrous physiques.

Nikolai stepped in front of Mae, his expression devoid of fear.

Astarte raised an eyebrow. “You sure are courageous, sorcerer. But I suspect your witch does not need your protection.” Her expression softened a little when she looked up at Brimstone. “It is good to see you again, Sotsuna.”

Brimstone bowed his head. “The pleasure is mine, Goddess.”

“Sotsuna?” Cortes whispered to Nikolai.

“That was the name given to him by Na Ri,” he murmured.

Astarte stopped a short distance from them. Her brow furrowed. She turned and scrutinized a spot some fifty feet to Mae’s left.

Vlad drew a sharp breath. His head moved mechanically to follow the Goddess’s line of sight. Surprise jolted Mae.

A powerful tide of incubus energy was washing across the valley.

A portal opened where Astarte and Vlad stared. The figure that stepped out of it made the incubus freeze and Mae’s eyes round.

It was a magnificent, handsome demon with alabaster skin, artfully curved black horns, and crimson points flaring in the center of his inky eyes. A scarlet robe hung upon his dark armor, adding to his majestic presence.

“What are you doing here, Ilmon? You know it’s dangerous for us to travel through rifts right now.” Astarte’s tone hardened. “You’re meant to be guarding Armaros’s keep.”

One of the demon commanders beside the Goddess waved a hand irritably. “Dial down the incubus charm, will you? My troops look like they’re going to keel over from lust.”

The demon soldiers and beasts behind him flinched, faces flushed as they stole covetous glances at the new arrival.

Ilmon only had eyes for Vlad. He hesitated before slowly making his way over.

Vlad swallowed heavily and stood his ground. Tarang’s tail started swinging as he stared at the approaching figure. He let out a friendly huff.

Ilmon stopped opposite Vlad, his scarlet gaze roaming his face hungrily.

“Are you really Ilmon?” Vlad said thickly.

Ilmon nodded. His chin quivered. A strangled sound left him.

He rushed over, took a stunned Vlad in his arms, and hugged him tightly.

“My little—my littlemalyshka!” the king of Incubi and Succubae mumbled weakly.

“Malyshka?”Mae hissed to Nikolai and Cortes.

“It’s a Russian endearment,” Nikolai replied.

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