Page 43 of Witch Queen

The demon commander beside him gracefully overlooked his interjection.

“This will only lead to more territorial conflicts,” Tamiel observed. The Fifth Leader of the Grigori was a demon with wise eyes and a calm demeanor. “We haven’t seen the end of these skirmishes yet.”

“Surely, if those demons and beasts are against being ruled by—” Cortes had faltered.

“Satanael,” Zakiel, the Fifteenth Leader of the Grigori, had added helpfully.

The sorcerer had shuddered. “Yeah, that guy.” He’d studied Astarte and the demon commanders with a faint frown. “Aren’t they technically on your side?”

“Not necessarily,” Ramiel, the Sixth Leader of the Grigori, had replied in Astarte’s stead. “They were willing to slaughter the demons and beasts under Arakiel’s protection to lay claim to his city. Not all those in Hell are capable of upholding alliances.”

Vlad had grimaced. “So, there are different factions even among the demons who oppose Satanael?”

“Yes.” Astarte had sighed. “There are as many cabals as there are breeds of helllizard.”

Mae, Nikolai, Vlad, and Cortes had stared at the Goddess.

“There are many types of helllizard,” Chazaquiel had expounded.

The Eighth Leader of the Grigori had begun naming them before mumbling to a stop in the face of Astarte’s pointed look.

“Come.” Astarte had risen to her feet and turned to Mae. “The hour is late. If we want to get to Hell Deep by nightfall, we should leave now. Alicia and Ilmon are likely already at Armaros’s keep.”

“Should I try teleporting us there?” Cortes had suggested. “All I need is someone’s memory of the place and Mae’s magic to translate it to my core.”

The Goddess and the demon commanders had stared at the sorcerer like he’d suggested they perform a frightful sex act.

“Wait.” Arakiel had cocked a thumb at Cortes, his tone full of suspicion. “This guy can teleport?!”

Cortes made a face. “Let’s just say I gained some new spells after Mae…touched my core.”

This time, the Goddess and the Leaders of the Grigori had fixed Mae with various pearl-clutching expressions of disapproval.

“There were extenuating circumstances,” she’d said defensively.

Astarte had lowered her brows. “So,that’show you guys got here? A space warping spell?!”

Mae had avoided her stare and maintained a tactful silence.

Astarte’s shoulders had slumped.

Tamiel had gently patted the Goddess’s shoulder. “She is her father’s daughter, after all.”

Mae had brightened. “Oh. Did Azazel do something similar?”

“Don’t sound so damn proud about it!” Arakiel had snapped.

Mae had hesitated. “Alicia told us something recently. That a demon who looked like Azazel was spotted near this domain. Is that true?”

“It is,” Arakiel had grunted. “But I could find no trace of him when I went looking so I am uncertain if it was truly Azazel.”

Astarte’s voice broke through Mae’s reverie. “We’re almost there.”

Mae squinted when they emerged from some clouds. All she could see up ahead was a whole lot of gray.

Nikolai’s fingers clenched on her waist. “Isn’t that a mountain?!”

“Shit!” Vlad cursed.

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