Page 126 of Song of Her Siren

His wings fluttered as he stepped away from Wolfy’s cell, pulling me with him. “He smells even worse than before, like a week-old corpse.”

I was suddenly hit by a stench so foul, it took all my willpower not to vomit. “I know.”

Blaze plugged his nose while holding my hand. “What do you need from me?”

I plugged my nose too. “Your love.”

“Come here.” His eyes softened as he pulled me into another hug, his feathers tickling my back. “Are you ready?”

I recalled Mephis’s words.I can see the darkness that clings to you like a cloak. I can smell the bitterness that rots your heart. You feel rejected, unworthy, and now that you have no one to love you, you will not learn the song in time to save Faedom.

He was wrong, though. He only said that in hopes that I wouldn’t expel him from Drae’s body, but I would heal my mate—and the rest of my family too. I bade the guard open Wolfy’s cell, and then Blaze led me inside while Cassandra followed close behind.

I knelt beside Wolfy, and Blaze followed while still holding tightly to my hand. My heart twisted when our old hound whimpered, his scraggly tail slapping the hay. I looked up at Cassandra. “The spell?”

“Vadeo in domum tomun,” she said.

I reached toward Wolfy, gently resting my hand on a big paw while letting my magic build up in my chest. I squeezed Blaze’s hand as the words flowed from my mouth in a strange melody. “Vadeo in domum tomun.”

Wolfy let out a keening whimper while struggling to stand, his chains clanking with the movement.

“Keep going.” Blaze squeezed my hand. “It’s working.”

“Vadeo in domum tomun,” I sang again, putting more force behind my words as my siren flowed through me, echoing across the walls and shaking the ground beneath my feet. “Vadeo in domum tomun,vadeo in domum tomun.”

Wolfy flopped onto the ground with a howl, shaking like a fish out of water.

“You’re doing it, Shiri,” Blaze said, excitement ringing in his words.

My siren voice swelled my chest. “Vadeo in domum tomun,vadeo in domum tomun.”

Wolfy howled so loud, I resisted the urge to shield my ears.

“Vadeo in domum tomun,vadeo in domum tomun.”

The ground shook like giants were pounding on the walls.

“Vadeo in domum tomun,vadeo in domum tomun.”

Cassandra cried out, and Blaze jerked me out of the cell when a giant black hole opened where the hearth had been.

I clutched my throat as the hole began to pulsate and move like a fleshy throat, sucking a clawed shadow out of Wolfy before sealing shut with a shudder. The hole disappeared in a flash, and the hearth appeared once more. None of the soot-stained bricks were out of place, and for a moment, I thought the experience had been a dream.

“Great Goddess!” I blurted. “What in Elements’ name was that?”

“The portal to hell,” Cassandra whispered behind me.

I looked at her over my shoulder. She was as pale as a winter’s frost.

A loud canine whimper brought me back to reality. Wolfy was lying on the floor, his tongue lolling to one side as drool pooled around his mouth.

“Guards!” Blaze called over his shoulder. “Summon a healer for the dog.”

Two guards nodded and then bolted as if the flames of hell were at their heels.

I couldn’t control the trembling in my limbs as I slumped against Blaze, my legs feeling like deadweights. I’d done it! I’d driven the demon out of Wolfy. At least, I hoped I had.

Blaze rubbed the tension from my shoulders, whispering in my ear. “I knew you could do it.”

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