Page 165 of Song of Her Siren

She squeezed my arm, offering me a reassuring smile. “I’ll find him.”

Blaze and Ash worked on unchaining Drae from the wall. “We’ll take care of him, Shiri.”

“Good.” Despite the frigid water that had turned my legs numb, I wiped sweat from my brow, a wave of nausea washing through me. “I need to lie down.”

Nikkos swept me into his arms. “Don’t worry.” His eyes dazzled as he flashed his dimpled smile. “I’ve got you.”

When Nikkos flew me out of the dungeon and toward our suite of rooms, it felt like we’d escaped the bowels of hell. They carried Drae to the soft rug in the sitting room, and Nikkos laid me down beside him. I touched Drae’s head, alarmed that he was cold and clammy, his pallor as gray as a corpse.

I turned to Tari, my eyes welling with tears. Tari grabbed his wrist. “I feel a faint pulse. We must hurry.”

She sprinkled waxy flowers over him and then grabbed my hand, pressing it to his chest.

“What are we doing?” I asked.

She frowned.I don’t know, she answered through thought,but I feel like you need to do this with me. Close your eyes.

I did so, a strange sense of weightlessness washing through me as I was transported to a vast, cavernous space. I couldn’t see my hands in front of my face or even my sister, but I felt her presence nearby.

Tari, I called into the abyss.

I’m here, she answered, her voice echoing through the chasm.Call to Drae.

“Drae, my love!” I called into the void. “Come find me, please! I need you!”

I called to him for what seemed like an eternity, my voice faltering with each agonizing plea, until, finally, I spotted a pinprick of light in the distance, like a lone lantern in the heart of the Periculian Forest.

“Drae!” I cried, my voice urgent while I imagined reaching out a phantom hand. “Please! I’m here for you! Return to me, my love!”

The light pulsed brighter and brighter, growing as it moved toward us.

“Almost,” Tari whispered.

The light was almost upon us, pulsing warmth that radiated around me. “Drae!”

I sat up with a gasp, my chest heaving as I strained for breath, Drae’s name on my lips. I looked at my two hands in front of me, at the roaring hearth as Blaze sat on the floor beside me, his hand upon my knee. Nikkos rubbed my feet, blinking at me with tears in his eyes. I was shocked to see moonlight filtering in from the balcony doors. Moonlight? How long had I been asleep?

Tari sat up with a groan, and Ash lifted her into his arms, carrying her to the sofa. I snuggled in the crook of Drae’s arm, relieved to feel warmth radiating off him and a strong heartbeat. The color had returned to his cheeks, and his chest steadily rose and fell as he gently snored in his sleep. Somewhere in the distance, I heard the children laughing, and I smelled warm butter and spices. My stomach rumbled, and I knew I needed to eat, but I didn’t want to leave my mate. Not now. Not ever again.

* * *

Shiri

ISTOOD ON THE BALCONYoverlooking a peaceful garden while Freya and Enso soared overhead, their occasional squawks reminding me they were alive and well. A lot had happened since Tari had healed Drae. My mate had finally woken up long enough to eat two platters of food and wash up in the bathing room. He hadn’t spoken much, other than thanking Tari and me for saving him. His eyes were haunted, almost as if he’d brought the abyss back with him. He’d flown to our suspended nest and fallen back to sleep shortly after bathing, and I couldn’t help but feel deflated and disappointed at his distance, fearing he’d returned to us a stranger.

I had no one to talk to about my worry for Drae. Blaze and Nikkos were patrolling the ramparts. Tari and her family had returned to the dragons, but not before my amazing sister had hidden Cyrene with her magic. She’d cleverly concealed the half of the town with the castle and most of the homes, creating the illusion of another wall around the exposed half. Then she grew a huge garden by the stables to feed the displaced masses. Malvolia had evacuated the vulnerable citizens to the hidden part of the city, so when the demons finally struck, our army would have time to launch a counterattack.

Hopefully, it would work.

Shiri.

I gave a start at Drae’s plea in my head. Having no mates to fly me to the secluded swinging bed hanging from the ceiling, I climbed the rope ladder and crawled into bed beside Drae.

“I’m here.” I knelt beside him, pressing my palm to his forehead. “How do you feel, darling?”

He sat up against a pile of stacked pillows, his wings drooping like windless sails, his brow marred with concern. “Haunted.”

I lifted his hand to my lips, pleased when he didn’t pull away. “The demon is gone.” Even as I plastered a small smile on my face, I looked into a stranger’s eyes, worried that I might never get the old Drae back.

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