Page 29 of Song of Her Siren

Ash sat beside us, and Aurora crawled into his lap, burying her face against his chest.

This is too much for them, I projected to him, knowing my sister could hear our telepathic conversation.

The wolf flashed in his eyes.I know, but we need to prepare.

“Megaera is going to use Thorin’s powers for herself,” Shiri said aloud.

Drae cleared his throat and ruffled his wings. “If you thought Thorin’s mindspinning was dangerous before, I fear his power will be far more lethal in her hands.”

Ash stroked Aurora’s hair. “What other magic does she have?”

She pulled back long enough to peer up at him, her silvery blue eyes matching his while she bared her sharp canines. “All the magic.”

Dread iced over my veins. How would we be able to defeat her?

“What spell did she use to capture you?” Shiri asked.

Aurora spun in Ash’s lap, sharing a look with her sister before answering. “We don’t know.” She wiped moisture from her eyes with the backs of her hands. “We were hugging Triss, and then we were falling through a dark hole.”

Cassandra knelt beside Ash, dabbing Aurora’s eyes with a handkerchief while smiling lovingly at her grandchild.

“Cassandra,” I asked her, “does Gadea know?”

“I’m sorry.” She frowned while pocketing her handkerchief. “She doesn’t.”

“You and Tari will need to drink the retinea tea,” Drae said while leveling Shiri with a dark look. “We can’t risk this demon changing your memories.”

Shiri answered him with a scowl. “I’m not drinking it.”

“Retinea tea?” Cassandra asked as she sat on the sofa behind us.

“It protects our memories,” Shiri answered, “though it slows our magic.”

She leaned forward, eyeing us with curiosity. “Where did you hear about this tea?”

“The satyrs on the Fallax Islands use it,” I answered.

She jerked back, as if she’d been slapped. “The Fallax Islands have satyrs?”

Shiri grunted when Ember crawled out of her lap and climbed onto the sofa beside Cassandra.

“They’ve been living there since the time of Maiadra,” Shiri answered as Drae helped her stand. “Didn’t you see them when you had the vision of Finn?”

Cassandra shook her head. “I saw only Finn and a Ravini mage with him. The satyrs must have wards to hide them, similar to the ones the demons are using.” She took Ember in her arms, kissing the top of her head. “Tell me more about the tea. How can you be sure it works?”

“My memories came back after I drank it.” I shuddered when recalling the nightmarish two years I’d spent dodging Thorin’s advances while believing him to be my father.

Cassandra rubbed Ember’s back while my child went limp in her arms. “But it slows your magic?”

“Yes,” I said. “It takes a few extra seconds to manifest.”

Shiri’s lips twisted. “Those seconds could mean the difference between life and death.”

“We can’t risk having our memories altered.” I gave my sister a warning look. “Believe me, you don’t want to go through the nightmare I suffered.”

Helian paced the floor in front of us, his hand on the hilt of his sword. “I don’t think it’s wise for you both to drink it. At least one of you should be able to instantly access your magic.”

Shiri threw her hands in the air. “That’s what I’ve been saying.”

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