Page 129 of Song of Her Siren

I can’t abandon Tari.The excuse fell flat, even to my own ears. Why was I resisting? Why hadn’t I claimed my throne? Was I a coward too?

You wouldn’t have to. Don’t forget, she’s a dragon rider now too. Tari needs the dragon army to help her defeat the demons, he rumbled.You have the best claim to the throne, but you need to seize it now before the army unravels.

Curse the Elements, he was right. Now was my chance to assert myself as their leader. Goddess protect me, I knew this wasn’t going to be easy. I heaved a resigned groan.Okay.

What?His chuckle echoed in my skull.No fight?

I’m about to be a father, I answered, wondering if I’d finally lost my mind.It’s time I grew up and accepted my responsibility.

He dipped hard to the right, then circled back toward the crowd.Then let’s go bite off a few heads.

* * *

Tari

IWOKE TO THE DISTINCTsound of dishes clanking and what sounded like a chair being dragged across the floor. Slowly sitting up, I rubbed sleep from my eyes. Pink streams of sunlight filtered into the room and a warm fire lit the hearth beside me. The girls were following the young shifter, Bridget, around like they were her personal shadows as she pulled a small table to the center of the room. Bridget’s face was screwed up tight, as if my children were bothersome fleas. I didn’t see Helian or Finn, though I heard the sound of Nikkos’s steady snores coming from the bed. My nostrils flared and my tummy rumbled at the delicious smell of garlic, onions, and warm butter. I rested a hand on my abdomen. Fortunately, I didn’t feel the slightest bit of nausea, only the pangs of hunger.

Aurora was the first to notice I’d woken up. “Mommy!” She bound up to me like an excited puppy.

I grunted when she slammed into me. “My baby!” I tried to smother her with kisses as I took her into my arms.

She quickly pulled away, her face flushing, her gaze darting to Bridget. “I’m not a baby anymore.”

My heart faltered at her rejection. I shouldn’t have been offended. It was obvious she was trying to pretend she was a big girl to impress Bridget.

Ember sat in my lap while clutching her doll to her chest. “Are you okay, Mommy?”

I pushed back my emotions and stroked her arms, pleased when she didn’t pull away. “Where’s Papa and Uncle?”

“Uncle Helian is with the dragons,” Ember said. “Papa Finn is downstairs.”

I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I need a hug first.”

She gladly hugged me, and then Aurora surprised me with a hug too. Guess she could still be a big girl and love her mommy.

Aurora motioned toward Bridget as the shifter stoked the embers in the hearth with a scowl. “Did you know Bridget is a shifter like us?”

“I did.” I dared not look at Bridget. It was clear something was bothering her, whether it be my children or something else. “I’ve met her before.”

“She just learned how to shift, and she’s twelve,” Ember said, frowning. “Papa Finn said we have to wait eight more years to shift.”

Aurora crossed her arms with a pout. “That’s a very long time.”

“I know, darlings, but that’s okay.” Despite the tightness in my throat, I managed a smile. “You don’t want to rush.” I wasn’t ready for them to grow up, especially not when I’d already missed so much of their childhood.

“Why not?” Aurora stomped a foot, as if I’d denied her a second tart.

Ugh. I hadn’t realized this would be so hard. It took all my willpower to fight back tears. “I want you to stay my babies for as long as possible.”

Aurora vehemently shook her head. “I want to be a grown wolf, so I can fight demons.”

“No!” A jolt of panic shot through me. “You saw what the demons did to Papa Ash and your uncles. I don’t want you fighting demons.” I checked their necks to make sure they each wore their tau stone necklaces, so the demon mistress, Megaera, couldn’t teleport them to her lair again. They were lucky they’d survived their ordeal, but they might not be so fortunate if it happened again. I fixed them each with a stern look. “Understood?”

“Yes, Mama,” they said in unison.

I hugged them both, refusing to release them when Aurora squirmed against me. If anything happened to them, I’d burn down the world to get them back—one more reason Shiri was a better Fae than me, because I knew she’d be behind me, putting out the fires.

Startled by the loud clanking of glass, I released the girls, then narrowed my eyes on Bridget. “Is everything okay?”

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