Page 99 of Song of Her Siren

“It’s a wonder you two are fated mates with all your bickering.”

Fury clouded my vision as magic pooled in my hands. “You fucking bitch!”

Helian snatched me back, then jumped between us, holding out a staying hand to Malvolia.

My aunt’s taunting laughter was like a thousand needles burrowing into my skin. “Is that any way to talk to family?”

Tears burned my eyes while I tried to get past Helian. “You’re notmyfamily! You’re the evil witch who tortured and neglected my father for twenty-four years, who forced my family to live in poverty and fear, and who even now continues to taunt me while trying to seduce my mate!”

Malvolia walked to the edge of the balcony, boldly turning her back on the growling dragons while resting on the wide railing. Had she a death wish? “I have already apologized for the other things, but your mate is a dragon rider and a king, yet you make him a beta.” Ignoring the dragons’ growls, she picked grime from her fingernails while glaring at me from beneath her lashes. “You don’t deserve him.”

The rage that pressed on my chest was a steaming kettle, ready to explode. “My relationship with my mate is none of your business.”

“It is when I see a perfect male specimen going to waste,” she drawled, “when there are so many things that you’re too young and inexperienced to teach him.”

I want only you, Tari.Helian’s plea echoed in my skull while he latched on to my arm.Please back away. She’s trying to get you to fight her.

A nagging voice inside me said he was right, but damn, I couldn’t let her get away with this. She wouldn’t stop unless I stopped her.

Magic dripped off my finger as I pointed at Malvolia. “You stay the hell away from him!”

“Oh, my dear niece.” She let out a sultry laugh while thrusting her breasts in Helian’s direction. “You should be less worried aboutmyadvances and more worried abouthisreaction to me.”

“He hates you,” I spat.

“With the heat of a thousand suns,” Helian added with a groan. “Malvolia, please just go.”

“Do you?” She gave Helian a questioning look while seductively licking her lips. “Or do you simply tell your mate that to appease her?”

Helian released a huff of air. “Oh, I mean it.”

She waved him off as if he was a fly buzzing about her head. “You need not worry, niece,” she said to me. “I only keep my lovers for a season before I discard them. Think of all the bedroom tricks he could learn from me. We would both benefit from the arrangement.”

I’d always known Malvolia was crazy, but this was a whole new level of insanity.

I had to work hard to unclench my teeth while looking into her eyes that had turned blacker than a serpent’s, a reflection of her dead heart. “There will be no arrangement other than me turning you to dust, should you step over the line again.”

Malvolia eyed me as if I wasn’t fit to polish her boots. “You will be ash on the floor before you have a chance to conjure your magic.”

The twisted bitch! She would kill her own niece over a chance to fuck my mate? Turning her to dust was too good for her. Flexing my fingers, I regarded her through narrowed slits. I wanted her to suffer.

Radnor blocked Isa when she let out a roar that shook the ground, shielding her with his wings.End the whore before we get involved, he warned me.

No!Helian boomed, his chest heaving as he tried to pull me away.You promised Ash you wouldn’t lose your cool.

I froze, momentarily stunned. Damn him! He was right! Ash would be furious if he saw that I’d taken Malvolia’s bait. But I couldn’t back down now, or she was sure to seize on my weakness and finish me off.

“Please don’t hurt our mommy! Please!”

I gasped when Aurora and Ember ran to me, shielding me by clinging to my legs. Well, damn. Why weren’t they in bed? I gently nudged them behind me. “Girls, stay out of this.”

Malvolia at least had the decency to back away.

A stream of fire arced above our heads, and I looked up in time to see Marius landing with Shiri in his arms.

After they landed on the terrace, Shiri stumbled out of our father’s embrace. Her accusatory glare drifted from Malvolia to me, her eyes widening when she noticed the girls clinging to my legs. “What the hell is going on?”

Malvolia straightened, having the decency to tighten the belt on her robe while concealing her breasts. “Shiri, why aren’t you checking the refugees for demons?”

---