Page 136 of Song of Her Siren

“It’s better than being turned into demons.” A note of fear rattled his voice. Coward. “News travels fast from Thebes. We heard that members of your family are demon possessed.”

I leered at him while wishing I could punch that smug look off his face. He had no right to drag my family into this, but he was trying to rile me. “My mate’s sister is working on a spell to free them.”

“What do you think will happen when a demon bites a dragon?” His voice rose to a feverish pitch. “Do you want to take the chance that our dragons will become possessed?”

“You can take the chance now or later,” I said. “If we don’t have enough help destroying the demons, they will only get stronger before they come for you.”

His laughter was that of a madman. “What good are two white witches if they can’t defeat the demons?”

What about his speech the last time I’d seen him, how he was willing to do anything to take down the demons? Was that all a lie to keep Ash from attacking him? He obviously knew that Ash was one of the demon-possessed. So, now that the threat of Ash tearing him to shreds was gone, he would go back to being a cowardly prick?

“Be honest.” I didn’t bother hiding the venom in my voice. “The real reason you won’t help is because you’re a coward, Ivar.”

“Coward?” He flinched as if he’d been struck, stumbling slightly. “No. Practical? Yes. I cannot wield a sword and ride a dragon with one hand!” Waving his stump, his words came out on a slur. Was he drunk?

The wind shifted, and the strong stench of stale mead hit me like a brick to the skull.

Do you smell that?I projected to Radnor.

Of course, he answered.He’s drunker than a toad in a barrel.

This rider was in no position to be a leader. “But the rest of us can.” I grasped the hilt of my sword again. “It’s time you stepped down as captain, Ivar.”

He flashed his teeth. “Make me.”

“Very well.” I heaved a shaky breath. There was no turning back now. Today, I would claim my birthright. “Ivar, I challenge your rule by duel.”

Ivar tossed back his head, his oily laughter like a serpent’s hiss. “You need a quorum to challenge, and you won’t get it. The riders and dragons are loyal to me.” He motioned to the dragon behind him, a big golden beast the size of Radnor.

The creature snarled down at me, only backing away when Radnor snapped his jowls at the beast.

I’d never been more disgusted by a fellow dragon rider in all my life. “Is this the leader you want?” I called to the others. “One who forces you to hide and starve?”

The other riders mumbled and whispered to each other, their gazes darting between Ivar and me.

Declan stepped next to me and loudly cleared his throat. “We are out of fish and game, and those wyverns sustained us for a day. Now what? Shall we eat each other?” He motioned toward me. “Prince Helian is the rightful heir to the throne, and the Elements chose a white witch as his mate. He offers to lead us back to our city, to our nests and our homes, to take back from demons what is rightfully ours.” He paused, scowling at the captain. “While Ivar wants us to hide like cowards.”

Their grumbles grew louder.

I slid my sword from its scabbard, extending it into the air. “So answer me now, by roar and by sword, do I have a quorum?”

The dragons let out a cacophony of thunderous roars that rattled the ground beneath my feet while nearly all the riders jutted their swords into the air.

The color drained from Ivar’s ruddy cheeks. “The fight will be unfair.”

“I will tie one hand behind my back.”

He took a step back, his trembling hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “You would steal the glory from your brother?”

“It’s clear now you never intended on fighting him.” I advanced toward him. “The more you fight this, the more cowardly you appear.”

Flames fanned his face and neck. “I am no coward!”

I shrugged. “Then prove it.”

“Tie his sword hand behind his back,” he said to one of his goons while giving me a murderous glare. “Let’s see how you fight now.”

I swallowed back my panic. My sword hand? I glanced at my dragon hovering over me.He has the advantage, since he’s been using his other hand for the past few weeks.

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