Page 115 of Song of Her Siren

What’s happened?I projected to Helian.

He grimaced while tightening his hold on my elbow.The older satyrs, their memories have been restored.

I stumbled with a gasp and would’ve fallen on my face if Helian hadn’t caught me. “That means Thorin is dead?”

“It does.” He grimaced, then gave me a pitying look. “How do you feel about that?”

I exhaled a slow breath, my vision tunneling as satyrs moved past us in a blur. “Numb.”

Helian kissed the top of my head. “For two years, you thought he was your father.”

How badly I wanted to stay in Helian’s warm embrace forever and shut out the world, but no longer would I be that spoiled child letting Shiri and others take on the burden that was meant for me. “But he wasn’t.” I pulled back, searching Helian’s eyes. “I don’t mourn him, if that’s what you’re worried about, but this means the demon mistress is preparing to invade the Fae lands.”

Shadows fell across his chiseled features. “I know.”

“Shiri will need us.” Resolve stiffened my spine as I swallowed my fear. “We must save Finn and Nikkos and get back to Thebes.”

I trembled at the thought of returning to the bitch queen, who wanted very much to thrust a poisoned blade into my back. But even more frightening than facing Malvolia was the prospect of going to war against a demon army whose size and strength were still unknown, while battling their mistress who somehow had harnessed the magic to teleport my innocent children through a portal to her hellish lair. There was no telling what else she could do to us, or how I’d be able to stop her.

* * *

Blaze

IWOKE FROM MY CHAIRbeside Nikkos’s bed with a start. I’d spent most of the night by his side while Declan slowly healed him. The green witch was talented, as far as witches went, but he had not a tenth of the magic of Shiri’s sister. Nikkos was still badly burned, though his breathing was less erratic. Dark circles framed Declan’s eyes by the time light filtered into the room. I pulled back the curtain with a grimace as mid-morning sunlight beat down on the window. I’d overslept.

Declan leaned back with a groan, rubbing the sweat from his brow. “I’ve done all I can do,” he said, thanking the young shifter, Bridget, when she handed him a saucer of tea and a thick, buttery biscuit.

“W-will he live?” I stammered, pain lancing through my chest when Nikkos let out a soft moan and called Shiri’s name in his sleep.

Declan grimly nodded. “The burns were bad, but I’ve bought him a few days.”

I swallowed at that. Hopefully, our mate and her sister would find us by then. Worry gnawed a hole in my gut. What if they didn’t? If I left Cyrene now, I could reach Thebes in a few days. Then it would take several more days for us to fly back, unless Tari was able to manifest another one of those portals. I knew Aurora couldn’t bring us here, since she’d never been here before. Or I could wait and pray our family somehow knew we needed them.

Resolve hardening my veins, I looked over at Finn, who slept on the floor by the hearth. I couldn’t take the chance that our family knew. I’d have to leave Nikkos in Finn’s care and pray we made it back to Nikkos in time.

I was about to wake Finn and tell him my plans when a wave of cries rose up from the bustling boardwalk below. I pulled back the curtain, my heart leaping into my throat when I saw three familiar dragons fly out of a giant black hole that opened up in the sky. Tari had done it!

“They’re here!” I hollered, startling Finn before throwing open the window and jumping into the sky.

“Shiri!” I flew toward the big golden dragon as the morning sun warmed my face.

Isa let out an annoyed honk and landed on a sand dune below, Radnor and Triss following close behind. I winced at the bruising pain in the bottoms of my feet when I landed too fast, spraying sand everywhere. I furiously flapped my wings forward in an attempt to slow down before stumbling to a halt.

I couldn’t contain my disappointment when I didn’t see Shiri on the back of Isa. Instead, Helian helped Tari and the children off the dragons. Though I was relieved they’d come, I’d been hoping to see my mate with them.

“Uncle Blaze!” The children waved wildly while bounding toward me.

I grunted when they threw themselves against my legs, nearly knocking me backward.

Helian clapped my back, and Tari gave me a sisterly hug. “Finn and Nikkos?” she rasped while blinking up at me.

“Alive,” I answered.

Tari’s shoulders slumped. “Oh, thank the Elements.”

“Where are Shiri and Drae?”

She quickly pulled back, averting her gaze. “They had to stay in Thebes.”

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