Page 196 of Song of Her Siren

“Where are the girls?” I swiped tears from my eyes. “We can’t let them see this.”

She nodded toward the hall. “Outside with Finn.”

“Good,” I said, my voice thick with sorrow. “Keep them away.”

Tari sat beside me, feeling the side of Malvolia’s neck, though I knew there was no pulse.

My mother and fathers appeared next, standing at the threshold, as if they were at the gates of hell.

“What’s happened?” Mother demanded.

I swiped my eyes again and nodded toward my aunt resting peacefully on the bed. “She slit her wrists.”

Mother jerked forward with an agonized cry and wild eyes, falling on top of the bed and straddling her sister’s body. “Tari, heal her!”

Tari frowned down at our aunt. “I can’t, Mother.”

“Yes, you can!” Mother grasped her sister’s hands. “You healed Derrick and Helian!”

“Their spirits had just departed.” Tari sniffled while giving our mother an apologetic look. “Malvolia has been dead a while.”

Flora collapsed on top of Malvolia’s chest with a sob. “My sister! My twin! I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Tari and I fell into each other’s arms as our mother’s gut-wrenching cries grew louder. Not even Marius and Derrick could pull her away.

I held my sister tight, so relieved I still had her after all we’d been through, and so grateful hateful demons never turned us on each other. But my relief was eclipsed by the sorrow of losing my aunt, at her cursed and lonely life swept up in a tide of tragedy. I looked at Drae over my sister’s shoulder, the grim set of his mouth as we shared a dark look. Malvolia had named me her heir, which meant our dream of returning to Abyssus was over.

Epilogue

Shiri

Abyssus

Liberation Day, Fifteen years later

Fifteen years ago tothe day, my family and I had liberated Faedom from a demon invasion, sending all but one of the parasites back to hell and closing both portals from which they’d entered. Later that night, my sister wed King Helian, one of her three fated mates. But a shadow was cast over our celebration after our aunt killed herself. It was why we, as a country, chose to celebrate Liberation Day on the day after. Our family always had a small gathering, though, toasting my sister’s marriage and celebrating the closeness of our family.

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