Page 39 of Song of Her Siren

She let out an excited squeal. “You’ll let me?”

“Yes, darling.” I balanced Ember with one arm and held a hand down to Aurora. “You must practice in case bad demons attack.”

“All right.” Aurora beamed up at me. “Let’s go.”

Ash lurched forward, grabbing my arm. “Not without me.”

Shiri grabbed my other arm. “Me too.” She blew Drae a kiss, and he caught it with a grin.

Aurora made another excited squeal. I blinked, and then we were standing in a dark room. Had Aurora teleported us already? I squinted at a set of gossamer curtains covering a moonlit window, our only source of light.

“It’s dark in here,” Ember whispered.

“We should’ve brought Drae,” Shiri said.

“Hang on.” I handed Ember to Ash and summoned my magic. It was slow to move at first, tingling my fingers as if they’d gone numb. Then a spark flared from my fingers, followed by another and another until I’d created several faery balls of light that floated to the ceiling, casting a pleasing glow on the pretty four-poster bed, rows of books, toys, and dolls, and a low table in the center of the room.

Ember gasped while craning her neck toward the ceiling. “Those are so pretty, Mommy.”

I cupped her soft cheek. “Thank you.”

Ash set her on the floor, holding on to her hand. “Let’s go find your gowns.”

Skipping toward the toys, Aurora called over her shoulder. “I’ll help you, Em.”

Ember ran to her sister and took her hand while dragging Ash with her.

Moved by their display of affection, I clasped my hands to my chest. “They’re so sweet together.”

Shiri snickered. “The best of friends when they’re not getting on each other’s nerves.”

I spun a slow circle, admiring the size of the room and the many more rows of books behind us. “What a magnificent nursery.” To think, this could’ve been Shiri’s and my nursery if our aunt hadn’t turned into a madwoman. Or perhaps we would’ve had a similar nursery at Elisi. I couldn’t deny my bitterness toward my aunt and the demons who’d destroyed our childhood.

“I prefer the smaller nursery at Abyssus, as well as Mrs. Euphemia,” Shiri said.

“This is one of our safe places,” Aurora called as she shoved toys into a basket.

“I told them to come here if demons attack,” Shiri said.

“Good idea,” I answered while watching firemages fly by our window.

“Here,” Shiri continued, “or else their nursery in Abyssus if here isn’t safe.”

“And where if none of those places are safe?” Ash asked while helping Ember slip gowns off other, less fortunate dolls.

“The Fallax Islands,” Shiri and I said in unison, sharing a smile, though I noticed the sadness in her eyes and felt the depression radiating off her.

You okay?I projected to her.

She shrugged, looking away.Yeah.

You were never a good liar, sister.I grasped her elbow, searching her eyes.You’ve lost two of your mates, and you feel like you’ve lost Ember and Aurora. I’ve been so consumed in my own worries, I haven’t thought enough about what you’re going through.

She cast her gaze to the girls while they fought over space on Ash’s lap.We’re all making sacrifices.

That didn’t mean we wouldn’t feel resentful toward each other by the time this was over. Our mother and Malvolia had once been inseparable, best friends and confidants. Now their relationship was in ruins. I swallowed back a knot of sorrow.I don’t want us to end up like our mother and Malvolia.

She jerked back as if I’d struck her.We won’t.

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