Page 64 of Song of Her Siren

Isa’s laughter echoed in my mind.Don’t push her, Radnor. She’s been wanting to use that spell on you.

Oh, I plan on it before this war is over, I teased.Either that, or I shrivel those big watermelon dragon balls to the size of grapefruits.

Fair enough, Radnor answered with a grumble.I’m ready to call a truce.

* * *

Helian

ISTARED AT THE FIREwhile my mate and her sister slept in each other’s arms. Shiri had been nearly inconsolable when she’d returned to us. From what I could gather, Drae was possessed by a powerful demon, and Shiri had unlocked a new and frightening power, black wisps of smoke like Malvolia’s magic. It had taken a lot of convincing on Tari’s part that Shiri wouldn’t turn into Malvolia, and I still wasn’t sure Shiri believed her. After much crying between the two of them, they’d finally fallen asleep, lulled by the crackling fire that cast a soft glow across the otherwise dark room. But no way was I sleeping. What if another demon attacked us and bit me or Tari and the children?

My mother had woken up and was nursing a tea while curled up on the sofa, refusing to leave until I agreed to go to sleep. I had a sinking feeling she was only here to ensure I didn’t drink. Not that I hadn’t been tempted. Goddess only knew how hard it was for me to ignore those decanters of brandy sitting on the buffet, calling to me like sirens seducing sailors. They told me I could have just one drink to calm my nerves. They lied. I couldn’t stop at one.

“When do you plan on sleeping?”

I turned to my mother, who gave me a sympathetic look, the same one she used to give me after my father had boxed my ears. “Probably never,” I said on a sigh while hanging my head between my knees. Damn, I wanted a drink.

“Helian, you need rest too.”

I rubbed my throbbing temple while grappling with my personal demons that told me I could control myself if I poured one drink and then ordered the servants to take the brandy away. “I’ll rest when every last demon is banished to hell.”

She stood, palming her mug. “Ask Malvolia to station more mages outside.”

I shook my head. “The dragons are outside. I’m not asking that bitch for a damned thing.”

“There’s too much tension here.” Her gaze darted to the door as if she was expecting Malvolia to barge in any moment and turn us all to ash. “It’s not good for you and Tarianya.” She gave me a pointed look. “Or your unborn child.”

Helplessness washed over me, making me want to pull out my hair by the roots as I stood on shaky legs. “What am I supposed to do when the queen blatantly tries to seduce me?”

“You’re a dragon rider.” She set her tea on the low table, motioning toward the sleeping dragons in the garden. “Take your mate and the children away from here.”

I eyed her suspiciously. “And go where?”

“You’ve survived for the past five years on your own.” Bridging the distance between us, she grasped my arm. “Have you nowhere?”

“There’s a place we can go, but what about the others?” What of the dangers of leaving everyone behind while demons threatened to overtake us? I looked down at my mother, who still clung to me. “What about you?”

“I’ll join the other priestesses.” A wistfulness shone in her eyes. “They’ve relocated to a temple in Thebes.”

“Why aren’t you with them now?”

Pain flashed in her eyes before she averted her gaze. “Because my children and grandchildren are here.”

A blade of guilt sliced through me. She’d always been a dedicated mother. I didn’t deserve her. “And Gadea?”

“She’s gone to the temple to help the priestesses rebuild the mists Malvolia destroyed.” There was no mistaking the bitterness in her tone. “But she’ll be back. She usually visits me at least once a day.”

What a fool Malvolia had been to destroy the seeing mists. Now we’d have no warning of what was to come, no sage advice from the gray priestesses. “I don’t want Malvolia taking it out on you if we leave.” Just like she’d killed a green witch to get back at her seer.

“Never mind us.” She released me, a plea in her eyes. “All I care about is your safety.”

I forced myself to look away, turning to face the fire. “I don’t deserve your concern,” I mumbled, shame heating my face.

“Of course, you do.” She rested a gentle hand on my back.

The weight of a thousand dragons pressed on my chest while I recalled all the times I’d been cruel to my mother, blaming her for our family’s fracture. Coward though I was, I still couldn’t face her. “I haven’t been a good son.” Tension stiffened my shoulders as I forced out the words. “It was unfair of me to blame you for being unfaithful to my father.”

Her audible sigh added to the tension in the room before she finally cleared her throat. “Iwasfaithful to my husband and put up with his abuse and infidelity for many years before I slept with the shifter kings. One night in the arms of lovers who were kind to me.” There was a wistfulness in her voice that broke my heart again and again. “That’s all I’d wanted. To feel loved for once and not despised because I was my husband’s second choice.”

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