Page 47 of Song of Her Siren

“Thebes is safest.” He motioned toward the tall stone wall that surrounded us. “It’s walled and protected by a ten-thousand mage army.”

I turned my gaze toward the castle with the pointy turrets jutting into the sky in the distance. “But that bitch is here.”

“Believe me.” Nervous-sounding laughter bubbled up from his throat. “I know.”

The dragons gave a start when the foliage rattled behind them. Radnor snarled at the wolf-beast that broke from the bushes: a seven-foot monster with tattered clothes hanging off two furry hind legs, nostrils and eyes flaring as if he was charging into battle.

I clasped my hands together. “Ash!”

“Papa!” The girls dropped their stones and ran to him.

Chest heaving, he whimpered as they clung to his legs, totally unafraid that their papa was a frightening beast. He shifted back into his Fae form, his clothes hanging off him in tatters. He had cuts and blood all over his arms and face.

I picked up my skirts, cursing my thin slippers, and hurried to his side. “You’re bleeding.”

He wiped blood and sweat from his brow. “Just a few cuts from the brush.”

Just a few cuts?He looked like he’d been beaten by a thousand whips. How was he not howling in pain? Was he too focused on being angry with me?

I swallowed back my apprehension while reaching for him. “Let me heal you.”

He jerked back, snatching his arm out of my grip. “It’s fine.”

Helian stepped in and led the girls away, asking them to show him how to skip rocks.

“Please, Ash.” Emotion thickened my voice and misted my eyes. “I’m sorry I lost my temper with Malvolia.”

“You didn’t only put yourself at risk.” Fur sprouted on his face and hands, and his voice dropped to a dark rumble. “You put usallat risk.”

“I know.” Magic slowly filtered into my fingers, swelling them as they itched to heal my mate. “It was careless and foolish.” Reaching for him, I desperately searched his eyes. “I won’t let it happen again.”

Much to my shock and relief, he pulled me against his chest, holding me tight. He kissed my forehead, murmuring in my ear. “I can’t lose you, Tari.”

“You won’t.” I melted in his embrace, overwhelmed with gratitude and relief that he was no longer angry with me. At least, I hoped he wasn’t. Upsetting Ash was the worst feeling ever. “I’ll ignore her next time, but we’re dining in Shiri’s suite from now on.”

“Good idea.” He stroked my back with warm hands. “Malvolia can eat alone.”

Boneless as a gutted fish, I moaned while he continued to rub my back. It felt so nice to be held in his warm embrace as I smoothed my healing hands across his cuts.

Helian loudly cleared his throat behind us. “Should we go for a swim?”

The girls squealed. “Yes!”

Ash broke the embrace far too soon, making me miss his warmth when he held me at arm’s length.

“Do you girls know how to swim?” I asked them as they held hands with Helian.

“Of course, they do,” Ash rumbled. “They’re shifters. It’s in their nature.”

Aurora straightened her shoulders. “Aunt Shiri taught us how to float if we get tired.”

“I don’t know.” I cast my gaze to the dark pond, its blackened waters illuminated by torches surrounding the opposite temple. “It’s so dark.”

The girls can ride Triss. Isa’s thought rang in my ears.

I spun around, facing my dragon, who hovered over us like a hawk watching her nest. “You want them to ride Triss?”

When she nodded, the girls jumped with joy. “Oh, can we, Mommy?”

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