Page 181 of Song of Her Siren

Aurora gasped, hurt by Em’s words. Her sister was supposed to be onherside. Why was she being so mean? Stomping past Teddy, Aurora knocked the castle down and threw the blocks into a basket while the backs of her eyes burned. She fell onto her bottom when the tears fell, and she loudly sniffled when she heard Teddy and Em whispering behind her. Were they making fun of her? Em was supposed to be her best friend and loyal to her.

She wiped her eyes and her nose on her sleeve when Em knelt beside her, hugging her to her side. “I know you’re scared, Rora,” Em said while kissing her head. “I’m scared too.”

Aurora turned into her sister with a sob. “I’m very scared, Em.” More tears fell, and she cried harder and harder, holding on to Em and then Papa Finn when he carried her to a chair and held her. She cried and cried, holding her papa close while praying to the Elements that she’d never lose him or any of her family.

By the time all her tears had dried up, she was tired and hungry. Her mouth was dry, and she wished she had something sweet to drink, but she didn’t want Papa Finn to let her go. She heard the servants come into the room and smelled the sweet and savory scents of butter and cinnamon.

“Are you hungry?” Papa Finn whispered while rubbing her back. “The servants brought tea and tarts.”

She sat up, smiling at him through her tears while he wiped her eyes and nose with a cloth. “I love tarts.”

Em was leaning against Papa Finn’s knee, sniffling. “So do I.”

Aurora reached for her sister’s hand, smiling when Em took it. “I’m sorry I called you a brat.”

“I’m sorry too.” Em squeezed her hand. “You’re my best friend, Rora.”

Aurora looked at Teddy, who stood nearby, his cheeks still flushed. He swayed on his feet while ruffling his feathers.

“I’m sorry you lost your parents,” she said to him, even though her throat ached and talking about dead parents made her very sad.

He hung his head. “Thanks.”

“And I’m sorry I broke your castle,” she added.

“That’s okay.” He shrugged. “Maybe we can build another one together.”

“Okay.” Aurora clung to Papa Finn as he carried her to the low table where the servants had set up the food. “After we eat tarts.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Shiri

The servants broughta buffet out to the battlements, and we sat around a long table, discussing the attacks in between bites of food beneath the light of the moon. I was still waking up from my stupor after exorcising the shifters, but, thankfully, Nikkos and Blaze had woken and were fully recovered. We were all famished, so we mostly ate and listened while Adrean told us about his travels across Delfi. They’d avoided Fae, for the most part. A few farmers perished, which was tragic, but not as horrible as losing entire towns.

“Do you think that was the final wave?” Mother asked aloud while refilling Derrick’s goblet with wine.

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