Page 171 of Song of Her Siren

“They live?” Marius blurted.

“No,” he said, giving Teddy one last mournful look before fluttering to the top of the closest turret.

A scream died in my throat as I watched him fall backward off the turret, his wings as limp as windless sails. Firemages hollered, diving after him, and I thought I heard a faint splash as he fell into the violent northern waves on the other side of the wall.

I turned toward Teddy, who peered up at me with a knowing gaze, far too stoic for a child so young, as if he’d known his father was going to die this day.

My heart broke for the child to have lost his family in the span of a few days. When tears formed in his eyes, I knelt beside him, taking him in my arms. He clung to me, crying harder.

I looked up at Marius, sending a plea through our bond.What do I do?

He hovered over us, snapping open his wings to block the view as mages hauled Lord Geoffrey’s water-drenched and limp body over the wall.

Just love him, he answered.

I nodded.I can do that.That’s when I realized this child had been sent to me by the Elements. Though he was a distant cousin, I was his closest family now. Loving him wouldn’t atone for the way I’d treated Shirina, but I refused to let this child grow up unloved too.

* * *

Shiri

ISTOOD ON THE RAMPARTSwith Blaze and Nikkos, scanning the forest bordering the city’s southern wall after our cousin Teddy, the unusual orphaned child that my mother and Marius had taken into their care, had warned us that the monsters were almost upon us. I still couldn’t believe that his parents had perished. Though I hadn’t cared for Felicity and her mates, I still mourned their deaths, especially now that Teddy would have to grow up without parents. The child was so precocious, too, telling us about the waves of demons that would attack next. I just hoped we survived them all.

I hadn’t wanted to leave Drae in our bedchamber, but, as usual, he’d been in a sour mood. His depression had been negatively affecting my magic, draining me instead of refilling my well of power. That was the last thing I needed with legions of demons at our door. My heart ached at the thought that Drae would never be able to drive the darkness from his soul.

There was a stillness in the air that reminded me of the eerie calm before a storm. Even the pressure in the air felt like it had dropped, causing my head to ache and my breathing to turn shallow. Foreboding washed over me, and I knew evil was coming.

Malvolia had called back the firemages, ordering the skies cleared as we hid behind the façade Tari had created and prayed the demons couldn’t find us. Most of Malvolia’s personal army stood along the ramparts with us, and the rest waited on the beach for the signal to attack. The citizens of the city had been moved to tents on the other side of the castle along the wall that bordered Windhaven. Not ideal, but I feared nowhere would be safe once the giants reached us.

The walls began to rattle. It was just a slight buzzing at first, enough to make me uneasy. The foundation beneath my feet trembled as if the very earth was about to split open. A crack rent the air, and the first tree fell, followed by another and another.

My heart pounded a thunderstorm in my ears. The demons were upon us, and there was still no sign of Tari and the dragons.

More trees fell, flattening around us, as if crushed by an invisible fist. I smelled the decay before I saw the first giant, dragging a club behind him as he stared vacantly at the portion of wall Tari had left visible. His eyes glowed demon red, and he was missing the skin on the bottom side of his face, sinew and decaying bone exposed to the elements.

I clutched Blaze’s arm with a gasp. “Dear Goddess, the giant is undead!”

He cursed before signaling to the others.

More and more undead giants appeared, some missing limbs and eyes. All of them smelled of decay as they mindlessly attacked the wall that was only slightly higher than the tallest troll. They wouldn’t be able to climb it with their decaying bodies, but I feared they’d eventually be able to smash it.

“Can’t you control the giants with your siren?” Malvolia asked.

I shook my head. “I can’t control anything undead.”

Malvolia tossed her hands in the air. “Then, what good is your siren?”

Mother wagged a finger in Malvolia’s face. “Don’t you speak to my daughter that way!”

She gave my mother a stony look, then crooked a smile. “Coming from the woman who derided her daughter for her entire life.”

Mother snarled like a cornered animal. “At least I never tried to kill her!”

I felt like a pawn in their verbal war while they continued to hurl insults, their hatred for one another more powerful than their love for me. If only they could channel that hatred into their magic, we’d win this war for sure.

“Enough!” Marius cried, stepping between them with a scowl. “This isn’t helping.” He turned his back on them, facing me with a kind smile, pity reflecting in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

I shrugged. “I’m used to it.”

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