Page 56 of Song of Her Siren

Chapter Eight

Blaze

Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. Working as Malvolia’s spies for the past several years, my brothers and I knew the Caldarian coastline as well as Delfi’s forests. We’d been to just about every small town along the Western Shore. Though Skullgrove was farther from the shoreline and more decrepit than most towns, it still had all the necessities—a tavern, a blacksmith, farms, and livestock. Most importantly, people. Humans, mostly.

But this town was as empty as a crypt. No dogs barked, no roosters crowed. Not even a bird chirped. It was as if every living creature had been silenced.

Or eaten, my inner voice warned.

I flew above houses with skeletal roofs, realizing the thatch had been stripped, leaving behind empty frames. After seeing those demonic spiders capture Thorin, I knew of only one manner of creature that could strip a town to the bones.

Great Goddess, we were so hexed.

* * *

Ash

STARING UP AT THE TALLceiling, I lay with Tari sleeping in my arms and counted the candles in the large chandelier, grateful they’d all been snuffed, lest they drip wax onto our heads. Helian snored on her other side, and the children slept at the foot of the big feather mattress the servants had brought into the room. With so many thoughts clawing through my skull, I couldn’t sleep.

We had to leave this castle, and not just because I had a bad feeling about my twin being so far away, but I feared Malvolia and Tari would try to kill each other before long. Though I marveled at my mate’s strong magic, I knew she wouldn’t be as fast or cunning as the sorceress queen. If we stayed, we risked Tari’s life, and if we left, we risked all our lives with the threat of demons outside the city walls. And then there was the matter of Helian. He knew I was alpha, yet he’d pulled Tari out of my arms tonight and had his way with her first. I hadn’t said anything, because I didn’t want to upset Tari, but I would have words with Helian soon.

Sure, alpha wolves shared their mates, but betas also knew their place and waited their turn, unless they had permission from the alpha. Helian most likely didn’t know this, or else he didn’t care because he considered himself the alpha. He was the king regent of Caldaria and my older brother. Even though he’d already agreed to let me be alpha, I feared he’d try to challenge my position soon. Then what? We couldn’t risk upsetting the balance of our little family with so many external forces threatening us.

My nose wrinkled when a powerful stench hit me, and I snarled at the old hound curled up beside our bed, making loud, blubbery snorts in his sleep. He smelled like death warmed over. I had no idea the mutt’s age, but I doubted he was long for this world, for his insides were probably rotting. If the girls weren’t so attached to him, I’d suggest putting him down, though perhaps Tari could cure his ailments.

The mattress shifted, and I watched with curiosity as little Ember crawled off the bed and tiptoed toward the balcony. Where was she going? Had her friends called to her, or were darker forces at work? I gave a start when she quietly opened the door and slipped outside. No way in Hades was I letting her go outside alone. I slid Tari out of my arms and followed my daughter.

Cracking open the door, I watched my daughter wag a finger at the top of a potted plant.

“Stop talking that nonsense,” she scolded. “I told you he just needs a bath. He’d never hurt us.”

Who? What?

“Ember,” I whispered, slipping out the door and shutting it behind me. “Who are you talking to?”

She spun around with a gasp, her cheeks coloring. She had the same look in her eyes my brothers and I gave the cooks when we were caught stealing sweets from the kitchens. “My friends.”

I bent down beside her and took her hand. “What are they saying?”

She bit her lip and looked away. “I can’t say.”

I squeezed her hand, a sickening feeling twisting my gut when I recalled her words. Who had her friends said would hurt us? “Why?”

Tears sprang to her eyes as she let out a sob. “Because you’ll kill Wolfy!”

Dread iced over my limbs as my head snapped toward the balcony doors at the shadowy figure that stood on two bent legs, hovering over my sleeping family.

---