Page 35 of Song of Her Siren

She made a sour face, as if being in the same room with Ash was like swallowing poison. “I’ve never cared for shifters. Too barbaric.” She shuddered, scowling at Ash. “Too Feral.” Seeming lost in thought, she added, “Except for Ember and Aurora. I made an exception for them, since they’re such precocious little witches.”

Ash’s deep wolf’s rumble rattled my bones.

You have no idea how badly I want to turn her to ash, I projected to my mates.

Helian’s curse echoed in my head.Do it and save us the trouble of dealing with her. She’s still a prejudiced bitch.

Ash squeezed my sides.But she did save our children. For that reason alone, you should spare her. Don’t worry.His chuckle echoed in my mind.I don’t give a troll’s ass what she thinks of shifters.

“But now that I know Helian is your fated mate”—Arabella paused, flashing Helian a dazzling smile—“I don’t hate you as much for taking him from me.”

Helian’s laughter echoed off the walls.

Arabella’s features fell, and I hoped his rejection felt like a blade twisting in her heart.

“That’s good,” I answered coolly, “but he was never yours.”

* * *

Tari

SERVANTS TRIED TO INTERCEPTus and show us to Shiri’s bedroom suite after we left the dungeon, but Ash bared his fangs, and they scattered like mice. He had shifted back into his Fae form, his clothes hanging off him in tatters, though he still had glowing wolf eyes and a deep monster voice. His nostrils flared as he led us down one hall and then another, scenting his way back to our family. I was shocked to see moonlight streaming from the many tall, leaded glass windows that lined the halls. How was it night already, and just how long had we been in that dungeon? Perhaps healing Arabella had taken longer than I’d thought.

Ash led us to a door with two firemage guards stationed outside. It was unnerving to have them there, even if Malvolia said they were for our protection, for I knew they also served as her spies.

Ash went to kick the door open, but Helian jumped in front of his brother, chuckling. “Easy, brother. We’re not on Thesan anymore.”

Thesan was the wild island where Ash and Finn had been hiding from King Fachnan. For five years, they’d cohabitated with deadly natives, Fae-eating sirens, dangerous monsoons, and food-stealing gnomes. After living so long like feral wolves, it was no surprise that Ash would prefer kicking down a door to opening it.

Helian opened the door, motioning for us to go through with an easy smile.

Ash grumbled and brushed past him. We were greeted by my sister and Drae, who ushered us into a room with a roaring hearth, plush carpets, a long, wide sofa, two big, comfortable chairs, a serving buffet, and a small dining table. A cool breeze blew in from the open double doors that led to a beautiful veranda with flowering plants bathed in moonlight. I spied another set of closed double doors that no doubt led to the bedchamber and bathing room. This sitting room looked much like the one in our parents’ bedchamber. So much opulence and extravagance compared to our little shack in the Periculian Forest. I resented Malvolia for this room, for this castle, knowing she never went to bed with a hollow stomach and holes in her stockings.

The children ran to us, circling Ash’s legs like yapping little dogs, reminding me of their shifter blood. Ash set me on the sofa and scooped the girls into his arms. He plopped onto the floor, and they climbed all over him like he was their personal mountain. I watched with awe, my heart warming as the hard lines around his eyes softened and his lips spread into a fanged grin.

Only those two could melt a big, scary shifter, Shiri projected as she sat beside me, taking my hands in hers. She frowned.You look tired. You’ve used a lot of magic.

I know.I slumped against the pillows with a groan.But we need to unearth that book.

Not tonight, sister.Shiri squeezed my hand, her brow marred with concern.We’ve both used too much magic today. We’ll go at first light.

A lump of panic wedged in my throat as I thought about those demons inhabiting our father and Arabella. They wouldn’t stop trying to infiltrate the castle. They would keep attacking until they possessed us all.The demons could attack us any day. Each day we delay, we put ourselves at risk.

“I know,” she answered aloud, her voice infused with a touch of siren, “but we’re not going there in the dark, especially when demons could be lurking.”

“Tari, she’s right.” Helian knelt in front of me. “You’re resting tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll go.”

I loathed the pity in Helian’s eyes and the way he sounded like he was soothing one of the girls. It suddenly occurred to me that perhaps it was because I was acting like a petulant child. The thought humbled and unnerved me.

“You’re right.” I exhaled a long, slow breath, thanking Cassandra when she handed me a cup of steaming tea sweetened with lots of cream.

“So they moved you here?” I asked my sister.

She curled her legs into herself, flashing a warm grin. “This was our bedroom suite the last time we stayed here.”

I motioned toward the curtains billowing through the open doors and inhaled a big breath of cool sea air. “I could live on that terrace.”

She winced, looking away. “It’s beautiful here, but it’s still not Abyssus.”

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