Page 44 of Song of Her Siren

“No.” Helian shook his head. “We’ll keep an eye on him. I already called to Radnor and Isa.”

I grasped his arm. “We’re going riding?”

He nodded to a nearby window, where three dragon silhouettes circled outside, pale moonlight shining through the translucent membranes in their wings. “Yes.”

Aurora tugged on my skirt. “Can we go with you, Mommy?”

I was about to refuse her when Helian answered, “Sure.”

Helian, I projected to him.Do you think that’s a good idea? Triss isn’t ready for riders, and they don’t know how to ride.I didn’t want a repeat of the one time they’d flown Triss after escaping the demons. Triss had been flying erratically, and the children had nearly fallen off.

I don’t expect them to ride by themselves, he answered.We’ll each carry a child. Besides, he added with a wink,it will give me a chance to get to know my nieces.

My heart sighed as I got lost in the swirls of his silver-blue eyes.Thank you. They’d love that.

I smiled down at the children as they hugged my legs. “Looks like you can go.” I nodded toward Helian. “You can thank your uncle.”

“Yay!” They jumped up and down, clapping their hands, then threw themselves against Helian’s legs. “Thanks, Uncle Helian!”

His cheeks colored as he knelt in front of them. “It’s the least I can do, sprites, after almost blowing you up.”

Ember bit her lip and batted her lashes. “I don’t think you’re a bad man anymore, Uncle Helian.”

He crooked a smile, tugging on her braid. “Good. I’m rather fond of you too.”

My heart was so full, it was near to bursting, and I hadn’t realized until that moment how important it was that Helian had a good relationship with Ember and Aurora. But then my heart did burst when Ember held her hands up to him, and he picked her up, letting her cling to his neck.

Shiri cleared her throat. “We should go too.”

Drae tugged her toward his side, wrapping a wing around her shoulders. “Or we can spend some alone time together,” he whispered rather loudly.

I waggled my brows at Shiri. “Go spend some time with your mate.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she bit her lip. “All right.”

Drae let out an excited holler and swept her into his arms, his wings lifting them off the ground as he ran toward their bedroom suite.

Aurora held my hand as we found the nearest exit, slipping between the startled firemage guards and wandering out into a verdant, moonlit garden.

Radnor landed with a heavy thud, squashing a row of shrubbery. He snarled down at us.I never agreed to hauling around Fae children. It’s undignified.

Ugh. I settled my hands on my hips. “Must you always be this way, Radnor?”

Helian chuckled while shaking his head. “Yes, he must.”

Radnor blew rings of smoke out of his nostrils.I’m a dragon, not a party pony for snot-nosed mongrel cubs.

Hot magic swirled through my veins. Of all the nerve!

Isa landed beside him, crushing a lovely little bench and two flowering bushes.Do it for Triss, darling, she purred while rubbing against his neck.Those snot-nosed mongrel cubs are her future riders.

Triss flapped above her parents while alternating between making animated grunts and whimpers.

Aurora cupped her hands around her mouth, yelling up to her dragon. “You tell him, Triss!”

Fine, Radnor grumbled while flashing his fangs.Don’t blame me if they fall off.

I swallowed at that, but Helian rolled his eyes. “Don’t believe him. He’s just trying to get under your skin.”

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