Page 128 of Song of Her Siren

Chapter Twenty-One

Helian

After a filling mealof vegetable stew and bread, I stared at the heavy curtains drawn to block out the midday sun while Tari, Finn, and the children curled up on a rug beside the hearth for a nap. The inn was full, and Nikkos occupied the only bed in the room. I didn’t have the heart to toss him out when the tang of his blood still filled the air. Besides, Tari looked comfortable in Finn’s arms, the children sleeping beside them while the hearth fire warmed their bones.

So I kicked off my boots and rested in a big chair opposite my sleeping family. The only awake soul in a dark and stuffy room, I was left to stew on a thousand different thoughts, from worrying about the advancing demon army to my tenuous position as heir of the Caldarian throne. If I wanted to claim it, I would have to do so soon, and I knew it wouldn’t be without a fight. The question was, did I want it? Not particularly. But then who would rule Caldaria, and was it fair for me to reject the throne and deny my unborn son his birthright?

The dragon army was close to the city, for their roars had been rattling the tavern all morning. They sounded agitated. Was it because the town had disappeared? I’d been mentally calling to Radnor, but so far, he’d only given me short, rude replies.

Prince,the dragon’s dark voice finally echoed in my head.What are you doing?

Ahh, so now he wanted to talk?Waiting for Tari to wake.

Why, when you could be flying?

I watched the steady rise and fall of her chest. She wasn’t waking for a while.I have to guard her and the children.

The shifter can guard them. There’s something you need to see.

I perked at that, tired of sitting in this stuffy room. I decided not to comment on how Radnor still refused to acknowledge my brothers by name. They would always be “the shifters” to him. I would’ve expected nothing less from Radnor. Dragons were notorious for scorning all Fae, except their riders. Sometimes, they despised their riders too. I considered myself lucky Radnor respected me—usually. Besides, I did want to go riding.

Finn, I projected to my brother through thought.

His eyes flew open, then narrowed to glowing, wolfish slits.What is it?

Radnor needs me to see something. Are you okay to watch Tari and the girls by yourself?

His low growl vibrated the worn rug beneath my feet.I’m not going to justify that question with an answer.

I’m coming, I projected to Radnor while throwing on my boots and sheathing my sword.What’s happening?

You’ll see.

Great. Another cryptic response. Whatever it was, I had an uneasy feeling it wasn’t good.

I quickly exited the inn, avoiding the arguments in the street. Some townspeople were complaining that the merchants couldn’t find the port. Others were arguing they’d rather that than be overrun by demons.

The strangest thing happened when I stepped off the boardwalk and into the sand dunes. The bustling town behind me vanished, the sounds muted, and all I saw was a vast beach with a high tide lapping along the shoreline surrounded by undulating sand dunes. I squinted at a rocky inlet that was naturally carved into the beach, where the water was deeper, and the docks were somehow hidden, but I saw not a single mast or sail. Wild. I would use that as a marker when I was searching for the town, but I hoped I could find my way inside.

Radnor met me on the beach. His mate and hatchling soared overhead, their agitated roars telling me something was definitely wrong. As soon as I jumped onto Radnor’s back, he shot into the sky like an arrow, leaving his mate and child behind while flying across the dunes. I relished the sun on my face and the wind blowing back my hair. I didn’t get enough flying time at Malvolia’s castle, and I grew restless when I couldn’t fly. I was honestly surprised I hadn’t started drinking again, but glad that I didn’t give in to the temptation. I’d become a better Fae after I stopped drinking.

The dragon army was farther down the beach, spread out in a cluster of large nests made up of moss, sticks, and discarded sails surrounding a tent city that was thrice the size of Cyrene. Riders and dragons converged on the other side of the tent city, separated into two groups, as if divided by an invisible line in the sand. Ivar and his goons stood on one side, and another group of dragon riders stood on the other. Dragons hovered over their riders, snarling at each other. Both groups were on the verge of a brawl that would no doubt end up with many crushed and burned riders and scarred dragons. No wonder Radnor had left Isa and Triss behind.

What’s going on?I asked Radnor as we circled around them.

Dissent among the ranks, he answered.Many dragons and their riders want to return to Peloponese and battle demons, but their leader is a coward.

The captain who led the attack against innocent women and children is a coward?I shook my head while scowling at the riders below. One with a stump for an arm stood out among them.I’m shocked.

Radnor made a sharp turn, soaring low across the ocean and cutting through the waves with his talons. Salty water sprayed my face and cooled my thighs as I hugged the saddle. I held on tight, moving with Radnor as if we were a single being, when he pulled up sharply and made an abrupt turn.

He aimed for the throng of dragons and riders.They need a king to unite them.

And there it was. The real reason Radnor had called me outside. He wanted me to claim my throne and assert myself as the leader of the army.

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