Elizabeth swallowed. How could they possibly win against adragon?
Beside her, Asmodeus’s eyes widened, and she gathered that seeing a dragon wasn’t a common occurrence, even in the Underworld.
The dragon was enormous, with blood-red scales, a horned face, and muscular limbs ending in razor-sharp talons. The hair on the back of her neck stood up as it released another deafening roar.
The dragon was tethered to the castle by a chain that stretched for several hundred feet before pulling taut. It strained against the restraint, muscles bulging with the effort. Grudgingly, the dragon returned to the battlefield, circling above the castle. A thick collar encircled its neck, keeping it leashed to its master.
Good gods.
They had thought this mission would be quick and straightforward. The demon princes had assured her that they had enough forces to win.
However, it appeared they had greatly underestimated Raziel’s army and had not known about the dragon. The dragon alone could change the tide of the war, and, judging by its sheer size and the ferocity with which it fought its leash, it could decimate their army with ease.
As if her traitorous thoughts spoke it into existence, the dragon unleashed a torrent of flame on their left flank. Demons howled and the smell of burning flesh rent the air. The enemy took courage from the dragon's attack and doubled their efforts with renewed vigor.
When one of their fighters made it to the castle gate, the dragon lumbered over and surveyed the scene. Both sides watched and waited. The dragon blew a gust of flame through its nostrils, bathing the demon at the gate in fire. The demon howled.
An enemy in a black horned helmet struck the dragon with a barbed metal crop.Again! the dragon handler seemed to say.
The dragon blinked and engulfed the world in flame.
The wails of demons dying before the dragon's arrival were nothing compared to the screams of demons being burned alive. The smell of burning flesh was—
Elizabeth ran to the platform’s edge, retching. She wiped her mouth on her sleeve, hoping no one noticed. Even her demon companions looked green.
The dragon picked up one of their fighters, chomped him down like a tasty morsel, and snorted smoke. It spat out metal projectiles—a helmet, and a squashed iron breastplate.
Asmodeus swallowed hard.
If we can’t neutralize the dragon, we lose, and Caspian will stay trapped in that castle forever.
Elizabeth exhaled sharply, unable to see a solution. The dragon was currently immolating fifty demons, their shrieks of terror echoing through the air.
“Not with a dragon,” Abbadon snapped at the other princes, arguing over battle plans. “If we can’t getintothe castle, there is no sense in waiting around while a dragon murders half our forces.”
“Now we understand how Raziel amassed such power and fear,” Lucifer mused. “I wonder how he captured a dragon and bent it to his will.”
“Many demons who would not trust a newly Fallen angel might reconsider once they see this,” Belphegor said, watching with interest as the dragon unleashed another torrent of flame onto their ranks.
Abbadon cursed and spat. “We want to help Betsael, Lucifer, but we cannot win against such odds!”
“Wemustfight,” Lucifer said firmly, darting a wary glance at Elizabeth.
“Elizabeth, what in the Seven Hells did you offer him?” Asmodeus whispered sharply out of the corner of his mouth.
She ignored him, mind racing.
When the demon king had sent that flurry of mind speech, he had made it seem like a small price. If this was what his half of the bargain looked like, she didn’t want to know how challenging her side would be to fulfill. Now, she wondered if it had been wise to agree so quickly.
But I gave my word.
And, for better or worse, if she lived through today, she would have to keep it.
She chewed her lip and surveyed the carnage.
“I will not risk my entire household on this fool’s mission,” Abbadon snarled, jerking her out of her thoughts.
Asmodeus looked over at her and sadly shook his head.
