Page 146 of Song of Her Siren

Shadows fell across Drae’s face again, red flames flashing in his eyes. “Shut up, Fae!” he grumbled.

Great Goddess. Drae is still with us!I blinked up at Blaze. “Did you see that?”

He gaped at me. “His soul is still there!”

“No!” the demon cried out. “He will be gone by night’s end, unless you do what I say.”

I clutched the bars of his cell, eyes narrowing. “He can hear your thoughts, can’t he? He knows you’re lying. You won’t fight alongside me. You’ll try to destroy me.”

He averted his gaze for just a heartbeat. “No.”

Though I thought about asking him again with my siren voice, I didn’t need it. I released the bars, snarling. “You’re lying. I will remove you from my mate. I won’t fail him.”

His cheeks flushed, and his voice dropped to a frightening rumble. “You will not survive the demon war.”

“Maybe,” I called over my shoulder while walking toward Ash’s cell, “but neither will you.”

* * *

Tari

IDIDN’T WANT TO LEAVEHelian behind, but he insisted on remaining with the other dragon riders. Isa took Finn, the children, and me back to the town, so I could finally heal Nikkos. The plan was to return to Helian after I’d healed Nikkos and taken him back to Shiri. Some of the dragon riders still bore ill will toward Helian, and I didn’t trust them not to attack my mate in his sleep. He would be safer with us nearby, especially since the dragon riders were now terrified of Finn.

I didn’t care how tired I was; Nikkos had been waiting long enough for me to heal him. I felt terrible that I’d come specifically to save him, and yet, he still languished in that bed. Finn had tried to convince me to wait, but after a filling supper, I felt strong enough to heal Nikkos. He wasn’t as burned as Helian had been the night Radnor had saved me from the bertcha, though Nikkos’s wounds were still severe.

Moonlight filtered into the room by the time I finished healing Nikkos, and his feathers had grown back even blacker than before, his face as soft as a babe’s. Though I was tired again, I wasn’t completely exhausted. I would need to quickly replenish my magic in case the demons found us. I flashed Finn a coy look, knowing exactly how to fill my well of magic—by making love to my fierce and brave mates. I’d especially missed Finn so much and couldn’t wait until I could have a moment alone with him.

Finn shifted into his monster wolf form and lifted a sleeping Nikkos into his arms. After I left the rabbits in the corner of the room, happily munching oats, I grabbed the girls’ hands, and we teleported to Shiri’s sitting room.

She screamed when she saw us. Finn handed Nikkos to Blaze, who flew him up to their swinging bed.

Shiri gave me a fierce hug, then pulled back, searching my eyes. “I’ve been so worried.”

“I’m sorry.” I wiped a tear from her eye. “Disguising Cyrene and Abyssus exhausted me.” I also explained what happened to the shifter stronghold and our meeting with the satyrs on Fallax. “He’ll probably sleep through the night,” I said to them after Blaze returned from dropping off Nikkos in bed. “He was in bad shape.”

Shiri wiped more tears from her eyes as Blaze draped his wing over her shoulder. “All that matters is that he’s safe and well now.” She lurched forward, taking me in another fierce hug. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“No need to thank me.” I rubbed her back, holding her tight. “What I did was nothing compared to the sacrifices you’ve made for the girls all these years.”

She kissed my cheek, rubbing my arms. “It was an easy sacrifice. They’re easy to love, just like their mother.”

Now it was my turn to cry. After we shared another tearful hug, I reluctantly pulled away. I hated pressuring her, but I needed to know if she’d made any progress with her siren. “How’s Ash?” I asked, then tensed.

She slanted a smile, motioning toward the terrace. “Ask him yourself.”

I swear my heart fell out of my chest when I saw Ash standing in the doorway, his silvery eyes glowing beneath the moonlight.

“Ash,” I breathed.

The girls reached him before I did, letting out wild little howls and slamming into his legs. He fell to his knees, holding them against his chest. My legs felt like they’d buckle beneath me as I gaped at him, then at Shiri.

“You did it?” It was more of a question than a statement. I still couldn’t believe Ash was here, demon free and laughing while the girls climbed all over him.

She nodded. “You should’ve seen it. A portal opened up and sucked the demon right out of him.”

I gasped, my hands flying to my mouth.

Blaze flew down to Shiri, pulling her to his side while beaming with pride. “I never had a doubt she would do it.”

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