Page 162 of Song of Her Siren

Helian motioned toward the fire, where riders were preparing the morning meal, meager though it was. “You may rest and eat here, then afterward, I’ll have some riders escort you to Cyrene.”

She bowed her head. “Thank you, King Helian. That would be most appreciated.”

I smiled at my mate, not used to hearing others call him a king. I loved the sound of it.

My world shifted, and I was on the ramparts of Malvolia’s castle, trying, and failing, to destroy a huge beast as big as ten dragons trying to crush the seawall that protected the city from violent waves. I screamed, then fell onto my bottom, blinking up at Helian. I was back in his arms, dozens of Fae gaping at us.

Ash grabbed my shoulder. “Tari, what happened?”

My chest rose and fell as I struggled for each breath. “Get Aurora. Shiri needs our help.”

* * *

Tari

“EXCELLENT WORK, DARLING.” I held my daughter in my arms while Radnor flew through the smoke and clouds. One moment, we were on his back, flying over the beaches of Cyrene, and the next, we’d been transported to an entirely different hellscape, the sound of cannon fire, mixed with a monster’s roar, echoing from below. Helian pressed against my back, the strength from his love surging into me while I squinted into the smoke.

The smoke is too thick, Radnor rumbled.I can’t see a damn thing.

Magic surged through my fingers, and I threw out my hands, blowing back the smoke, revealing a horrifying war scene below. Two female figures stood on the ramparts, hitting a winged troll with black smoke. It had punctured his wings and burned his skin, but he was otherwise whole. A third figure hit the troll with a deluge of wind. Even from my position high in the clouds, I recognized her long, graceful neck and arms. Arabella. Shiri must’ve cast out her demon, and Arabella had been right about her magic—she was a powerful elemental witch.

A thunderous crack rent the air, and screams echoed from below when the troll hit the seawall, waves washing over his back. If he destroyed the wall, the city would be flooded.

I was the last hope in defeating this beast.

Tell me what to do, Radnor asked while soaring circles above the monster’s head.

“Roar,” I said, my thighs burning while squeezing his scales.

Radnor let out a roar that shook the marrow of my bones.

The beast looked up, blood pooling in one of his eyes. He threw back his head, and I recognized the ball of fire racing up the column of his throat.

Radnor banked hard to the right, dodging the stream of fire. But then the beast jumped into the sky, following us.

Holy Elements! I couldn’t spin in Helian’s arms and hit it with my magic with Aurora in front of me.

Hold on!Radnor shot upward like an arrow before spinning upside down.

Aurora shouted with glee while the contents of my stomach threatened at the back of my throat.

In the next moment, we were flying directly toward the beast. The flames of hell were visible through its open maw, and I had one chance to kill him, or my mate, child, and I would all be dead.

I threw out my hands, blinding, white magic exploding from my fingers, spiraling toward the monster. Then I sucked in a scream as we soared over the beaches of Cyrene once more, agitated dragons circling around us. Looking down at my child, I was afraid to squeeze her as remnants of white magic dripped off my hands. “Clever girl!”

She beamed up at me. “Do you want me to take us back?”

“Not yet.” I shook the magic off my hands, then patted Radnor’s scales. “After Radnor lands, I want you to take us to the ramparts.”

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