Page 174 of Song of Her Siren

Though Malvolia and I had turned many trolls to dust, our magic had also sent about a dozen of them beyond the barrier, and they were now wreaking havoc on the city, tearing down towers like children knocking down blocks as they made their way toward the castle walls. I worried I’d only made things worse, but I was too fatigued to destroy them. Firemages hit them with cannon fire and spears, and Enso and Freya dropped flaming branches on their heads. Malvolia’s black smoke launched from the castle walls and spiraled through the air, striking the giants’ eyes. They let out agonized roars, but even blinded, they didn’t stop advancing on the city.

Blaze landed on the battlements, and I slipped from his arms, clutching the wall while searching for any signs of Nikkos. I spotted him in the distance, flying erratically, one side of his feathers smoking.

I jutted a finger toward him, my heart feeling like it had fallen out of my chest. “Nikkos!” I turned to Blaze with a cry. “Save him!”

Blaze jumped into the air with a curse, streaking across the sky in a blur and intercepting his brother. My hands flew to my mouth when they both caught fire, spiraling onto a cobblestone road in the center of the town like falling embers.

No, no, no!

I had no way of getting to them.Drae!I called to my mate through thought.Drae, we need you!Where was he? Why wasn’t he helping us?Have you forgotten us? Have you no love for us at all?!

Blaze rolled Nikkos around on the ground until the flames had extinguished from their wings. They both stumbled to their feet, and I could tell by the blood on their backs that they wouldn’t be able to fly to me.

Time slowed to a crawl as the tile roof of the building above them slid to the road. They ducked, scrambling away when a giant’s club barely missed them. I had to get to them, but how?

Then the giant crashed through the stone building, lifting his club once more, and I knew my mates were out of time.

No!!!

I flung out my hands, black smoke flying from my fingers when the monster raised his club again, but my smoke slowed moments before the beast’s club came down. I blinked, and the giant turned to ash, his club rolling down the sloped, cobblestone road.

My chest tightened, and I couldn’t catch my breath. Where were Blaze and Nikkos? Had I been too late?

I gasped when I turned around, and Drae was sitting on the stone floor, appearing stunned and fatigued, with Nikkos and Blaze groaning at his feet. What had happened? The only explanation was Drae had slowed down time to save his brothers, which I knew took a lot of his energy. My legs nearly gave way as I stumbled toward my mates, my veins turning to icy sludge when I saw the amount of blood on Nikkos’s and Blaze’s backs and wings.

“I need a green witch!” I hollered as mages and witches ran around us, but nobody stopped as they raced around the battlements like headless gnomes.

A tremor rolled through the castle, the stones rattling beneath me. Fear set fire to my veins. The giants had reached us! I crawled on the ground, pulling myself up to peer over the side of the wall. There had to have been at least three dozen giants striking the side of the castle, making me realize I’d barely made a dent in their numbers. My head rattled as the entire castle trembled with each blow.

Malvolia stood on the highest turret above the battlements, hitting the monsters with her smoke, and Arabella stood beside her, blowing them back with her wind. But I knew it wouldn’t be enough.

“Look there!” A mage pointed toward the sky. Thousands of winged shadows flew toward us from Peloponese, and I prayed they were Tari and the dragons and not more demons.

“It’s the dragons!” another mage hollered.

Relief washed over me, and my legs finally gave way. I slid to the ground with a sob, crying into my hands.

When Nikkos let out an agonized groan, I quickly swiped away my tears and grabbed a cool bucket of water, pouring it down his back, hoping it soothed him. I hadn’t expected skin and feathers to fall away from his back. It took all my willpower not to vomit.

I stroked Nikkos’s face as he blinked up at me with glossy eyes. “Hang on, darling. Help is coming.”

I haven’t forgotten you.Drae’s voice rang in my mind.I do love you. There’s a chasm in my soul now, and I don’t want my darkness to extinguish your light.

My heart caught in my throat as I looked into my mate’s mahogany eyes, swirling with longing and love, as he sat beside me. I swiped tears from my eyes, a maelstrom of emotions warring within me.

He still loved me! He still loved us!

I fought the urge to fling myself into his arms.I promise, it won’t. Just give me a chance, and let my light chase away your darkness.

He nodded, and I found myself sitting on the floor, his hand in mine, Nikkos and Blaze resting beside us. As tired as I’d been just moments earlier, magic buzzed through my veins, infusing me with renewed energy. All thanks to Drae’s love. My shoulders slumped in relief when thousands of shadows blotted out the sun above us, and the dragons rained fire on the giants below.

Two dragons landed on the ramparts with bone-rattling roars, and my sister, Helian, and Ash jumped from them, marching toward us with determined strides.

Tari knelt beside me, flashing a tender smile. “I heard you in my mind calling for a green witch. Would you settle for a white witch?”

No longer fighting back my tears, I heaved a relieved sigh. “Gladly, sister.”

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