Page 82 of Song of Her Siren

“What do I say again?” Shiri asked Cassandra.

Cassandra opened the book of demon spells, turning toward the spot she’d marked. “Vadeo in domum tomun,” she said to my sister, “but it must be sung in siren tongue.”

Shiri heaved a groan of frustration. “What is siren tongue?”

“I don’t know,” Cassandra said. “I thought you did.”

When Shiri looked at me, hopeless, I shrugged. “I have no idea, either. Maybe use your siren voice but infuse melody into it.”

Cassandra flipped a page in the book, pointing to a bunch of scribbled lines and symbols. “This passage here says the song is in the siren’s heart.”

Shiri rolled her eyes. “What a load of dragon dung.”

I gritted my teeth at my sister’s sharp tone. She was frustrated—we all were—but we weren’t going to get those demons out of our mates if she didn’t try. “Shiri, I think it means you need to look into your heart to find the song.”

Wolfy stumbled to his feet, his tail tucked between his legs as he let out a keening cry. He had chains wrapped around his neck and waist, binding him to the wall behind him, and the smell wafting off him was even worse than before.

“Hey, boy. It’s okay. I’m here,” Shiri said as she knelt beside the hound, stroking his back.

My breath hitched. What if he broke through his muzzle and attacked her? If a demon possessed my sister, the consequences would be catastrophic. Would I have the strength to turn my dear twin to ash before she used her siren on us? What choice would I have? Goddess, we should’ve come up with a plan before she went in there.

Shiri was petting Wolfy’s brow and scratching behind his ears. “It’s okay, boy. It’s okay,” she said in a soothing voice. “Go to sleep, Wolfy,” she commanded, her siren ringing through the room.

Only when the dog let out a whimper and fell fast asleep did I heave a sigh of relief.

Shiri angled toward Cassandra. “What do I say?”

“Vadeo in domum tomun,” Cassandra answered.

Shiri heaved a long breath as she turned back toward the dog.“Vadeo in domum tomun,” she said, her voice lacking inflection.

“Put more melody into it,” I called to her.

She released another breath and smoothed hands down her skirts. “Vadeo in domun tomun.”

Cassandra shook her head. “Really look into your heart.”

“Vadeo in domun tomun,” Shiri repeated, though, again, her words lacked inflection.

Frustration warmed my veins and tightened my chest. Was she even trying?

Cassandra knelt beside Shiri, rubbing her back. “Think of something that warms your heart. An old childhood memory.”

That should’ve been easy. Shiri and I had many fun childhood memories. Holding on to Father’s neck while he flew us from treetop to treetop, bathing in the pond with our mother, then crawling into Mother’s arms before bed while she rocked us to sleep.

“Shiri,” I whispered when my sister just sat there, her expression stony. How could she not recall anything?

She covered her face with her hands, stifling a sob. “I can’t. I can’t.”

What was wrong with her? Releasing the girls, I clutched the rusty cell bars. “Sister, what can I do?”

“Maybe she doesn’t have good memories because Yaya didn’t love her.”

I looked over my shoulder at Aurora, whose eyes shone with far too much wisdom for a child her age. Swallowing back my sorrow, a hammer of guilt struck my chest when I realized those fond childhood memories were seen through my eyes, not hers. I often remembered her standing there while Mother held me, and selfish child that I was, I didn’t plead with Mother to hold Shiri too.

Shiri jumped to her feet, demanding the guard release her from the cell.

“Sister!” I called as she brushed past me with downcast eyes.

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