He threw back his horned head and laughed. Booming, mocking laughter that rivaled the thunder.
“Ah, how beautifully innocent. Lucy born of light.” A sneer touched every word. “Very well. You’ve called me. Whatever shall you do with me?”
My throat felt as if I hadn’t had water in years. I tasted a few raindrops and found my voice.
“Let Casziel go.”
“Is that your command?”
“Y-yes.”
Ashtaroth narrowed his eyes. “Done.”
I blinked. “He’s free?”
“Of course… For a price. You didn’t very well believe I’d let him go so easy?”
“What do you want?”
“I’ve already made my terms clear.”
Fear chewed at my insides. My voice wavered but I fought through the tears. “Okay. Let him go and…” I swallowed hard. “Take me instead. He’s suffered enough.”
“Girl,” Ashtaroth said with a soul-curdling smile, “you don’t know the meaning of the word.” He held out his hand to me. “Come, my pet. Come…”
I realized then that Ashtaroth couldn’t leave the pentagram. His outstretched hand was waiting for me to put mine in it. He couldn’t take me, I had to surrender.
My soul recoiled but I could think of no other way. He’d already had Casziel for centuries. Maybe it was my turn…
I started to reach out trembling fingers when a raven darted in from the darkness. Casziel suddenly appeared beside me in his demonic form but dressed in his human clothes—black jeans, shirt, leather jacket. His skin was luminescent, his sword drawn. He put himself between me and Ashtaroth at the edge of the pentagram.
“Lucy,” he breathed, agonized. “What are you doing?”
I touched his cheek. “Saving you.”
“Saving…?” He shook his head, his expression aghast. “No. No. You have no idea what you’re saying. “I told you, you can’t save me, Lucy. Nothing can.”
“Love can,” I said, hot tears spilling down my cold cheeks. “There’s nothing more powerful. It can save you. I believe that with all my heart.”
Casziel was shaking his head, and over his immense wings, I saw Ashtaroth, a triumphant sneer on his lips, raise his sword.
“Look out!” I cried.
Cas shoved me to the ground and whirled, bringing his sword up just as Ashtaroth brought his down. Steel sang out against steel. Ashtaroth pressed hard—Casziel’s sword dipped until it touched the ground—then Ashtaroth kicked his midsection, sending Cas crashing into the wooden stairs.
I cowered, my heels scrabbling against mud as Ashtaroth loomed over me.
“There is no end to your husband’s lies,” he said. “You can save him, sweet Lucy born of light.” He reached for me again. “Come with me, pet, and I will release him—”
“NO!”
Behind me, Casziel morphed into his raven form. He streaked at Ashtaroth’s face, wings flapping and talons slashing, tearing skin. His beak was like a knife as he punctured one of Ashtaroth’s eyes. It popped like a ripe grape and dripped down his cheek.
Ashtaroth unleashed a scream of rage, and he gripped the bird in one hand. I heard the sickening crunch of bone, and then he flung the raven away. Casziel reformed on the ground beside me. His right wing was bent and broken, his right arm sickeningly misshapen and hanging limply at his side.
“Cas…” I cried. I rushed to him, kneeling in the mud. “Oh God…”
“Lucy…” he begged, his breath hitching with pain. “Please listen to me…Run. Run.”