Page 79 of Song of Her Siren

Malvolia snarled like a rabid hound about to bite. “She broke the law.”

Tension gripped my spine as I balled up my fists. “We could have used her skills in the coming war.”

“Thebes has other green witches.” She shrugged, acting as if she didn’t care while that black smoke retreated into her, gathering in her hands.

Shiri, Tari warned me through thought.She’s preparing to attack.

I wisely stepped back when my sister tugged on my sleeve. I had to gather my composure before this escalated. The heartless bitch. Had she always been this cruel? Had she ever loved anyone other than herself?

“If it helps you sleep at night,” I said with a slur, forcing a note of calm into my voice. “I’m not letting my mate die.”

Cassandra loudly cleared her throat. “I will search the book to see if they have a spell.”

Malvolia shook her head. “You’re trusting a book written in demon tongue to save him?”

“What do you suggest, Aunt?” I blurted, feeling as if someone else had taken over my tongue. “Turn him to ash like you do to everyone else?” Magic rushed to my fingertips as I stared her down. I was tired of playing nice. I was ready to kill her if she tried to strike me.

I glimpsed a flash of panic in her eyes as she looked at my hands. “You’re upset because your mate is demon possessed,” she said with a casual flick of the wrist while taking a step back. “For that, I will let your insolence slide.”

She was backing down. She knew I was a threat. This would either work to my advantage or my detriment when my back was turned.

I jutted a foot toward her. Might as well push her now and get this battle over with. “Why aren’t the Delfian refugees allowed inside Thebes?”

Anger flared in her eyes before she pasted on another bored expression. “They could be demon possessed.”

“I can test them.”

“We do not have enough food to feed them all.” She waved toward the buffet beside the back wall with more food than we’d ever eat. Once the food grew cold, servants brought in new trays of endless meats, vegetables, tarts, and other pastries. The waste was ridiculous, and I hoped the servants ate it or at least fed it to the hogs and hounds.

I angled toward my sister, who was still standing behind me. “Tari can grow food.”

Malvolia shrugged, acting as if my sister’s magical gift was somehow useless. “My concern is the people of Thebes.”

So she only cares about her precious capital city?Tari’s thought echoed in my head.She’s just like King Fachnan.

I’m starting to think she’s worse, I answered. “You are queen over all of Delfi!” I tossed my hands in the air, frustration driving a blade into my skull. “If those peasants aren’t allowed inside, the demons will turn them into their soldiers. Is that what you want?”

Her lips twisted into a hateful snarl, her eyes flaring as she looked me over as if I, too, was a country peasant. “I will grant them entrance if you can find time in your busy schedule to check them for demons.”

I dug my nails into the back of Cassandra’s chair. “I will make the time.”

“I’ll alert the guards to make room for processing them,” she said with a disinterested drawl. She was a terrible queen.

“Good,” I said, the dismissive edge to my voice indicating I was finished with her. “In the meantime, I’m getting these demons out of my family.”

Cassandra’s hands shook as she hastily flipped the pages of the book. “I haven’t found the spell to restore Drae’s spirit yet.”

Tension from the urgency of saving Drae pressed heavily on me as if a dragon sat on my chest. We didn’t have time for Cassandra to search out another spell. “What spell did you use to save Helian?” I asked my sister.

“I just pressed Inretius flowers to his chest and commanded him to come back to me.” She frowned while twisting the frayed ends of the strings on her stays. “But I don’t have any flowers with me.”

I shot Malvolia an accusatory glare. “If Daminica was here, she would’ve found some.” I should kill her for killing Daminica. I should kill her before she killed anyone else.

No!Tari’s warning echoed in my ears. I hadn’t realized I’d been projecting my voice.

“I will send orders to the castle apothecary.” Malvolia took another step back, tension radiating off her in waves. “They will deliver the flowers to the dungeon.”

She didn’t offer to join us in the dungeon. Perhaps she’d finally learned to keep her distance.

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