Page 173 of Song of Her Siren

Finn, I projected to my mate.Time to go to Abyssus.

Okay,my love,he replied.Be safe.

My throat tightened with despair.Guard our children well.

With my life, he answered, then leaned over the children and whispered in Aurora’s ear while slipping the tau stone off her neck. In the next moment, my mate, children, and their dragon vanished from the sky, leaving a hole between us that mirrored the wide chasm in my heart.

Tears streaked my face as I held back a sob. I said I’d never part from them again, but they were gone, and my heart was shattered.

Ash squeezed my waist.Finn will keep them safe, he projected to me.I know I’m asking a lot, but put them out of your mind for now. You need to focus on defeating the demons.

Hewasasking a lot, but he was right. I was so lucky I had him here with me. Even if he was no longer alpha, his role in our pack was critical, for I still needed him for guidance and protection. Gritting my teeth, I did my best to put my girls out of my mind while focusing on the task at hand.

We flew over a thick forest that gave way to undulating hills. We were in the Caldarian countryside on the outskirts of Peloponese. I’d been here once before, saving a child who’d fallen from a tree and then growing a garden for her family and the rabbits I’d given her. Had the child, her family, and the rabbits survived the demon invasion? Not that I could dwell on that now. I had to focus on defeating the demons. Not long, and we’d be over Peloponese, which was only a spear’s throw away from Windhaven and then Thebes.

“Hang on, Shiri,” I whispered. “We’re almost there.”

* * *

Shiri

IWATCHED HELPLESSLYas more and more giants stumbled into the town, scratching their heads while looking around for any signs of life. They still hadn’t noticed that half of Thebes had been camouflaged, though I feared it was only a matter of time before they found us. Then what? Without Tari’s magic and Drae’s love, would I be able to defeat them?

“Shiri,” Blaze whispered, his hand upon my back. “What do you need us to do?”

I leaned against his chest, relishing his warmth. “Stay with me.”

“We’re here for you,” Nikkos said as he stood beside me, grasping my hand.

A giant stomped toward the abandoned houses lining the end of the street, removing a thatch roof and peering inside like a child playing with a dollhouse. Then several more giants followed suit, removing the tops of houses and smashing them with roars when they found them devoid of life.

I sucked in a gasp when one giant stumbled into another, tripping over his own feet and landing on the magical barrier that Tari had created. He blinked at the firemage army lined up on the beach, then raised his club. Firemages took to the air, hitting the beast with their flames and others shot at him with cannon fire. He stumbled back, falling on the other side of the wall, a cannonball lodged in his empty eye socket. Other undead giants walked up to their injured friend, squinting at the invisible barrier. Then one waved his club, watching with awe as it passed through the barrier.

He let out a deep, demonic chuckle, and I knew we were screwed.

Three horns rang out, and more firemages took to the sky, crossing the barrier and striking the giants with flaming spears. I watched helplessly as giants struck them down like bugs, stomping on their broken bodies.

I had to stop this.

I turned to Blaze, a plea in my voice. “Take me to them.”

“Shiri, where are you going?” my mother cried out, but I didn’t answer.

Blaze swept me into his arms and jumped into the sky. He flew me to the seawall on the other side of the barrier. I slipped out of his arms, and before I could raise my hands, he grasped my face, capturing my lips in a heated kiss.

He pulled back, desperately searching my eyes.I love you, he projected to me.You can do anything, Shiri. You have the magic in you. Believe in yourself.

I swallowed, so relieved I had my strong mate while remembering how he’d been my rock, my protector and supporter during my darkest moments. He’d helped me defeat Mephis. He would help me through this too.

I spun in his arms, grateful when Nikkos landed beside us, his wing draped over my shoulder while he held on to my waist. We faced the giants, who were too busy attacking the magical barrier to focus on us. I let out a slow exhale, and then I summoned my magic, imagining the inky poison leaching from my fingers as a wave of water big enough to wash over the entire wall, drowning the giants before turning them to dust. The magic flew so fast and furiously out of my hands, it burned the tips of my fingers, rolling down the seawall and fanning out across the beach, sweeping up every troll in its path.

Giants ran when they saw the black fog coming, many of them stumbling back through the crevice in the wall or over the invisible barrier, but my magic was able to sweep away at least half of them.

My eyes flew open as fatigue swamped me. I fell against Blaze, and he flew me back to the castle. I looked over Blaze’s shoulder to see Nikkos flying farther and farther behind us, his wings just a blur as Blaze dodged the giants that had made it through the barrier.

Slow down, I projected to Blaze.

Not until you’re safe, he answered, barely missing a burst of cannon fire as war raged around us.

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