Page 23 of Song of Her Siren

I cringed at the way she emphasized “bitch,” and I feared the tension between them would only worsen.

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Shiri

TWO TIMID MAIDS DRESSEDme in fighting leathers. They were afraid to cinch my laces too tight, acting as if I’d turn them to dust while sharing nervous glances and refusing to answer when I asked them what had happened to Daminica. I’d much prefer my aunt’s green witch, and my lady-in-waiting, to them. I would have to insist she replace the frightened maids. I only hoped Daminica hadn’t fled to the country, like so many of my aunt’s court.

I’d received a summons from my aunt to meet her along the castle battlements, and Drae’s general sent him a summons too. He flew me to the battlements, where we reluctantly parted ways. I would have to talk to my aunt about separating us. I’d already lost Blaze and Nikkos. It was unfair her general kept calling away my last mate.

The castle servants lined up along the bridge, their knees knocking together, their brows dotted with sweat. Sunlight reflecting off her golden scales, Isa perched on the tallest battlement turret, her long, spiky tail winding around the tower while she snarled down at the servants.

Squinting against the sun’s glare, I caught her eye, then looked over her shoulder in search of her mate and child.Where are Radnor and Triss?

She nodded in the direction of the barrier wall that divided the city of Ventus from monster ocean waves.He’s teaching her how to fish for sharks.

Sharks? Holy Elements! I spied two winged shadows sailing in the distance that could’ve been nearby birds or faraway dragons.

Isa hung over my shoulder, blowing her hot breath down my back as I tested terrified castle servants and soldiers for demons. I was relieved to have found none among their numbers, though I feared it was only a matter of time.

After the servants left, Malvolia beckoned me toward her at the other end of the ramparts. Isa jumped from her perch with a growl. I approached my aunt, the long neck of my dragon’s shadow following closely while she shook the ground beneath me with each step.

You don’t have to follow me everywhere, I projected to Isa, though I appreciated her protectiveness.

Her dark voice rang in my skull.I don’t trust the bitch.

I knew she spoke of my aunt and was afraid my dragon and Malvolia would have a confrontation. Then what? Despite Isa’s size, she was no match for the sorceress queen, who’d taken out an entire army of demon spiders.

Don’t worry. I can handle myself,Isaid to her.

Isa’s huff of air in response wasn’t reassuring.

My aunt turned up her chin, her polished crown of thorns gleaming in the midday sun. “Is your dragon going to follow you everywhere?” she asked before tossing a sneer in Isa’s direction.

When Isa snarled at Malvolia, smoke pouring from her snout, I knew I’d have to separate them quickly before one of them killed the other.

I turned into my dragon, placing a hand on her warm scales.Go join Radnor and Triss. I’ve got this.

But I don’t trust her, she repeated.

I forced a smile.Neither do I, which is why I’ll be okay.

Have it your way.She jumped from the battlements with a roar and flew off.

Ugh. I’d have to apologize to Isa later, though for what, I wasn’t sure. Dragons were so temperamental. I appreciated that she felt obligated to protect me, but it was safest for me to deal with Malvolia alone. That way, I wouldn’t have to worry about Malvolia turning meandmy dragon to dust.

I followed my aunt’s long strides as we walked off the castle grounds and toward the beachy area beneath the shadow of the massive wall, as tall as five dragons, that shielded the city of Thebes from the worst of the northern waves.

It dawned on me that this was my first time alone with Malvolia since I’d deserted her army to save my sister. Her guards and servants followed several paces behind us. I didn’t see any of her coven. At the very least, I’d expected Lady Veronica to join us. None of my aunt’s usual lovers were here, either. She changed lovers every season, which meant her three new lovers should still be hanging around for another few months. What had happened to everyone? Then I remembered Drae’s warning, that Malvolia would be more unhinged without her winged horse familiar, Mortimus. Had my aunt’s depression and rage driven everyone away?

I didn’t say anything as I followed the sorceress queen across the sand, fine particles finding their way inside my socks and slippers, chafing the soles of my feet. Despite the barrier between us and the frigid northern wind, the chill still found a way to burrow beneath my leather tights and gown, making me miss the warmth from my firemage mates as I clung to my cloak. As I wordlessly followed my aunt up the same platform she’d made me stand on almost a month earlier, I took a chance and looked into her eyes, though I saw only iron reflecting back at me. I worried her emotionless eyes mirrored the fathomless pit in her soul.

I cleared my throat, summoning the nerve to speak. “Aunt Malvolia.”

A deep horn sounded around us, and hundreds of Ravini mages took to the sky like an inky geyser bursting from the ground.

She kept her gaze on the mages, her face as taut as a bowstring. “Yes, Shirina?”

“I’d like to offer my condolences on losing Mortimus.” The wheels in my brain spun, and the words poured out of my mouth like vomit. I hoped I sounded sincere, though I was too terrified to gauge my performance. “I know how much he meant to you.”

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