Page 17 of Song of Her Siren

I brushed his messy hair from his eyes before feathering a kiss across his lips. “Come back to me, my love.”

He pulled me tight against his hard chest while wrapping his wings around us, sealing us in a feathery cocoon. “I will, darling.”

And then his mouth found mine, branding my lips in a heat-searing, bodice-melting kiss that swept me from this moldy forest into heaven in his arms. His hands were all over me, my breasts, my face, my hair, as if he was committing to memory my body by touch. It was the most erotic thing ever, making me wish our house was still standing, so I could drag him inside and have my way with him again.

I let out a cry of protest when he broke the kiss, untangling his hands from my hair. “We have to go, my love,” he murmured against my lips.

We couldn’t part. Not yet. First Nikkos, now Blaze. It was hard enough being separated from one of my mates. How would I endure missing two?

I tightened my hold on him, refusing to let him release me so easily. “I miss you already.” Pressing a palm to his warm, hard chest, I traced the tip of one swirling tattoo. “I wish I could go with you.”

He slanted a sexy smile, making me want to shove him to the ground and ride him like a dragon. “I wish I could take you, though I’ll have to settle for a lock of your beautiful hair, if you’ll let me.”

A sigh escaped me when his warm fingers traced my neck. “Of course.”

He slipped a blade from his pocket and quickly sliced off a lock of my chestnut hair, rubbing it between his fingers before stuffing it into his pocket with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

“Hurry back,” I pleaded.

He dragged calloused knuckles down my cheek, causing my eyelids to flutter. “As fast as my wings will allow.”

I let out a gasp of protest when he released me, handing me over to Drae, who wrapped a wing around me while balancing Aurora with one arm. And then, before I could stop him, Blaze shot into the sky so fast, I saw only a shadowy blur.

“He’ll be fine, darling,” Drae whispered while tightening his grip on my shoulder. “He can outfly any danger.”

Go now. This place is cursed. Blaze’s dark warning echoed in my skull, indicating he projected his thought to his brother too.

Drae ruffled Aurora’s hair. “Ready, sprite?”

She nodded, then let out a sharp whistle. “Come on, Wolfy.”

Our loyal hound pressed against my skirts, looking up at me with big, trusting eyes. My fingers itched the moment I grabbed on to his leather collar. It was going to take more than one bath—perhaps even magical intervention—to get rid of his fleas and the moldy stench of this place.

* * *

Shiri

OUR LANDING WAS MUCHsmoother than before, so smooth, in fact, that I stood rooted to the spot, afraid I’d fall over as I blinked at the dragon trio who gawked at us as if we were ghosts. Radnor, the largest of the three, with glistening crimson scales, had an annoyed look in his hooded, golden eyes. Drakes were known for their short tempers and dragitude, and Radnor was the grumpiest of them all. The only non-dragon he liked was his rider, Helian. He only tolerated Tari and me because we were bonded to his mate, Isa. And he put up with my nieces because they were bonded to his hatchling, Triss.

Wolfy let out a startled bark. When all three dragons eyed him, the hound was smart enough to hide behind my skirts.

Radnor turned a snarl on me.It’s about damn time you came for us, witch.

I jutted one hand on my hip. “Nice to see you too.”

When I’d first heard Radnor’s telepathic thoughts in my head, I had considered myself privileged, for dragons could usually only mindspeak their riders. But since Tari and I were bonded to Isa, we could also speak to our dragon’s mate. Now I realized that privilege was more of a pain in my behind. I’d rather pick fleas off Wolfy than listen to Radnor complain.

I gasped when Triss let out an excited squeal and bounded toward us. The hatchling was as big as two horses and didn’t know her own strength. When her mother stomped on her tail, jerking her to a stop, she flopped onto her back with a wail until her mother released her.

Isa hovered over her hatchling, appearing like a snake prepared to strike, her large, crimson eyes narrowing to slits.Your tantrum doesn’t work on me, child. Control your excitement before you crush someone.

The hatchling’s jaw was in danger of scraping the ground as she sat up with an exaggerated pout while giving her mother a pleading look.

Isa lovingly rubbed her snout against her daughter’s side.Play gently, child, and keep to the ground.

Grunting her understanding, Triss jumped to all four paws and carefully stomped over to Aurora, her wings pinned behind her. Then she lowered her head, and Aurora climbed onto her scaled back with all the dexterity of a squirrel scaling a tree. Aurora giggled while Triss hopped around the garden, Wolfy yapping as he chased the hatchling’s swishing tail. Dodging the old hound, Triss let out a roar of delight. She jumped a little higher with each hop while slyly keeping one eye on her mother.

Isa had finally had enough, stomping on her child’s tail again. I shielded my ears when Triss let out a wail like a dying cat in heat.

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