Page 20 of Song of Her Siren

Ash quickly crossed over to us, taking Aurora from Drae while mouthing his “thanks” to us. Tari rushed to Ash, pulling Aurora into her arms and plastering her with kisses, despite Aurora’s protests.

“You have welts on your arms!” she said to Aurora.

Aurora tried to hide them from her mother, even as she furiously scratched her raw skin.

Tari smoothed her hands down Aurora’s arms, pale magic coating her skin like a salve.

Aurora giggled when she held up her smooth arms.

Helian stood off to the side, shifting from foot to foot and looking ten shades of awkward while my sister and Ash fawned over Aurora. I empathized with Helian, for I, too, knew what it was like to be part of a family and yet also not.

My mother and Marius sat beside Derrick’s bed, too focused on him to notice that we’d come back. Lady Cassandra, Helian’s mother, seemed to have left as well.

I held tightly to Wolfy’s collar, even though he threatened to pull my arm out of its socket as he barked at Ember, who stood at the threshold to the veranda. Wolfy finally broke free, clomping toward my little niece like a horse. Ember let out an excited squeal before falling on top of the old hound. I cringed, realizing the girls would need the strongest lye in their baths tonight. Giggling, Aurora squirmed out of her mother’s arms and joined her sister in feeding Wolfy meats and cheeses off the buffet. The old hound barked his delight, scarfing down the food without even chewing.

“I remember him.” Tari nudged my side, a smile in her voice. “I didn’t think he could get any scragglier, but he’s proven me wrong.”

It was true. Our poor old hound looked more worn than our leathery soles with the holes in the bottoms of the feet. And he smelled equally bad. I had to breathe through a wheeze when he was near.

“Don’t feed him too much,” Tari admonished the girls when they set a platter of pickled fish on the floor in front of the dog. “He’s not used to so much food.”

She was right. If it wasn’t for his mangy coat of fur, I was certain we would be able to see his rib cage. He was so tall and lean, he appeared in danger of toppling at the slightest breeze.

Our mother crossed over to us with a scowl. “What’shedoing here?”

“You tell me, Mother.” I didn’t bother hiding the accusation in my voice as I leered at her. “Why did you leave him?”

She couldn’t hold my stare for long. “We left him with a nearby farmer.”

It took all my willpower not to activate my siren. “Which farmer?”

She twisted the sash of her gown around a finger, her cheeks coloring. “Old one-eyed Robbie.”

I threw my hands in the air, frustration hammering a nail into my skull. “Everyone knows Robbie eats dogs!”

She rolled her eyes. “An unfounded rumor, though it doesn’t matter, since Wolfy didn’t stay.”

“He probably ran away because the crazy old human tried to eat him,” I scolded.

“He missed us.” Ember’s bottom lip hung down while she rubbed his side. “Poor Wolfy.”

“Careful,” I warned her. “He’s covered in fleas and goddess knows what else.”

Our mother made a gasp of protest.

One of the firemage guards stepped out of the shadows, clearing his throat. “Our queen doesn’t allow mongrels in her castle.”

“Oh, doesn’t she?” Our mother jutted both hands on her hips, her expression defiant. “Too bad. He’s staying.”

Our mother never cared for our hound. Now, suddenly, she was protective of him? No doubt her desire to aggravate her sister outweighed her repulsion to fleas.

Ignoring her scowl, I walked past her and sat beside our father Derrick, taking his warm hand in mine. He still slept, though I saw the slightest movement beneath his eyelids.

“How is he?” I asked Marius as he sat beside me.

“Still sleeping,” Marius answered, “though he’s stirring a little.”

I frowned at the chains binding his wrists, remembering that Helian had even thicker chains when he’d been demon possessed.

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