Page 62 of Song of Her Siren

“The book of spells that is buried beneath the rubble of Kyan’s Temple.” Sibilant laughter rang in his words. “But it is dust by now.”

A barbed dragon’s tail of tension coiled around my neck and pierced my spine. “I will recover it, and then I will banish you and every last demon to hell.”

“You won’t.” He gave me a bored look before ruffling his wings. “Only sirens with pure hearts can learn the song.”

Now I knew he was bluffing. “What makes you think my heart isn’t pure?” My siren voice rang through the stagnant air, so he couldn’t lie to me.

He leaned forward, his wings unfurling like a dark phantom, his glowing eyes shining like beacons as shadows eclipsed the rest of his features. “I can see the darkness that clings to you like a cloak. I can smell the bitterness that rots your heart. You feel rejected, unworthy, and now that you have no one to love you, you will not learn the song in time to save Faedom.”

Fear and dread sluiced through my veins as I held up my hands and let out a warrior’s cry. “You lie!” The demon lurched back, and I shocked even myself when dark smoke that looked like Malvolia’s deadly magic coiled out of my fingertips.

Mephis pressed up against the stone wall and flashed his fangs. “That dark magic comes from your blackened heart.”

“Lying demon scum,” I said on a rush of air as my smoke slowly snaked its way to the demon in my mate’s body.

“Torture me and you torture your mate.” He let out an unnatural hiss. “Kill me, and he dies with me.”

“Bastard!” With a roar, I lowered my hands, the magic retreating into me. Great Goddess, how had I done that? Was this another aspect of my magic that had been unlocked? And how in Element’s name did I send it back?

He heaved a sigh while hanging his arms like a limp puppet. “When you’ve calmed down, we can discuss negotiations.”

I jerked back with a hiss. “I don’t negotiate with demons.”

Demon fires burned in his eyes. “Oh, you will if you wish to save Faedom...” He paused, his smile rivaling that of the devil himself. “And your mate.”

He was lying. Dangling a carrot in the hopes that I would take it and put my family at risk. No doubt he wanted me to unchain him, so he could bite and infect me too.

Molten ore swelled my veins as I spun on my heel and marched into the hall. I refused to even glance in the other cells as I kept walking at a brisk pace, hoping I could outrun the demon’s dark laughter that lapped at my heels like dragon fire. Mephis was far more menacing and powerful than the demon Nox that had once possessed Helian. My heart wept at the thought of that monster controlling Drae, at my mate locked helplessly inside his own body while he watched that demon taunt me.

Drae, my darling mate. I will not rest until I free you.

After reaching the end of the dungeon hall and yelling at the guard to release me, I stumbled into another cavernous hall, dark, save for a few flickering sconces. I swiped at hot tears that gushed out of my eyes. I had to get out of this underground prison before the walls closed in around me.

I hadn’t taken two steps when I heard Malvolia call my name. Spinning with a snarl, I faced the bitch who had haunted my childhood nightmares, the very same evil queen whose magic I’d somehow inherited, and the woman whom my mother thought I’d one day become.

Malvolia’s features were pinched as she approached me, her black cloak swirling around her feet. “There you are, niece.” She walked a wide circle around me while looking me over with a sneer. “You will not use your siren magic on me again.” Black magic pulsed around her like a plume of dust. “Understood?”

Of all the nerve! I felt like a cornered animal as I faced her, curling my hands into claws. “And you will not try to kill my mate or anyone I love.” I paused, then did my best to mimic her voice. “Understood?”

Narrowing her eyes, menace infused her words. “I will if they’re a threat.”

“No, Aunt.” The siren rang out in my voice. “Even then, you will not harm them.” Dark magic pulsed off my skin and hovered in the air between us. “And while we’re at it, you will stop seducing Helian and antagonizing Tari.”

She took a step back, eyes widening as she gaped at the fog radiating off me. “Y-you forget who’s queen.”

“And you forget that you cannot defeat the demons who killed Mortimus without Tari and me.” I didn’t have to mention my aunt’s deceased winged horse, but since she was so selfish, I hoped my reprimand would sink in if I made it personal. I pulled in the smoke like sucking in a breath of air, and it retreated into my pores.

She gasped, taking another step back. Good. Let her be afraid of me.

“Good night,” I said through clenched teeth before turning and walking away. I prayed she didn’t stab me in the back, though death would be a welcome reprieve to my misery, so long as that demon controlled Drae.

* * *

Tari

WEARING A PATH IN THEplush rug, I paced the floor. The sitting room was quiet, save for the crackling of logs on the fire and the sound of dragons snoring outside. They slept in the garden just below our terrace, the scales on their backs poking from behind the balcony rails barely visible through the open doors. It was comforting knowing they were so close, so long as a demon didn’t sneak into the garden and infect them too. If so, we’d all be screwed.

I stopped pacing long enough to stare at the door leading to the hall and heard footsteps echoing outside. My shoulders sagged in disappointment when the echo of the footsteps slowly faded. Shiri had been gone for over an hour, and we still had no word from her. I’d finally gotten the girls to sleep on the mattress beside the hearth after singing bedtime songs and rubbing their backs with soothing magic. Cassandra had fallen asleep on the mattress beside the girls, and neither Helian nor I had the heart to tell her to go back to her bedchamber.

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