Page 57 of Song of Her Siren

“Please don’t kill him, Papa!” Ember screamed.

I jumped up and shifted, bursting through the balcony doors with a roar. Helian hollered, leaping to his feet, his sword at the ready. Aurora and Tari were gone. I had no time to worry where they’d gone before the shadowy figure lunged for me with a howl. I ducked and spun, facing my enemy. Its face looked like Wolfy’s, though it reminded me of a demonic shifter, with claws twice the length of mine and a maw that dripped hot saliva that sizzled when it hit the floor.

“Wolfy, don’t kill my papa!” Ember cried from the doorway.

Ash, don’t let him infect you!Helian’s warning rang in my ears, but all I cared about was eliminating the threat to my family.

When the beast spun around, snarling at my child, I sprang onto his back, no care for my own safety while slicing and biting the creature that threatened Ember. I was vaguely aware of Helian ushering Ember outside. The beast tried to throw me off his back but then howled when he was hit by twin flames. Sweat dripping into my eyes, I blinked while trying desperately to hold back the demon when its jaws snapped at Drae.

“Stop!” a dark voice rang out, and I froze, compelled to obey.

The demon froze, too, whimpering when the voice told him to drop to his knees. We tumbled to the ground, and I landed hard on my side, registering the foul taste of the creature’s blood in my mouth. Blood. Demon blood. In my mouth. Goddess, help me.

“Demon, don’t move!” Shiri called. “Drae and Ash, you are free from my spell.”

Helian returned from outside, carrying a sobbing Ember. “Is everyone okay?” he asked.

“Not sure yet,” I answered, stumbling to my feet and wiping demon blood off my mouth with the back of my hand. Chest heaving, I snarled down at the creature who had threatened my family. He had that same disgusting smell and matted fur as Wolfy, though this demon was no harmless, mangy hound. He had a longer maw than me, with rows of razor-sharp teeth and blood red eyes. How had I been such a fool? How had I not recognized demon stench for what it was? And I’d foolishly bit the creature, which meant I could turn into a demon too. I tossed back my head and released a mournful howl.

“Stop howling!” Shiri cried as she took Ember from Helian.

I looked at her through misty eyes, my breaths coming in ragged gasps.

“Where’s Tari and Aurora?” Shiri asked, her voice softening.

I couldn’t answer, for I didn’t know, and my world was imploding.

As fire raced through my blood, I felt like my body no longer belonged to me. My eyes were windows into another world as I gaped at my family.Goddess, no!

Helian circled the room, his sword at the ready. “They were here a minute ago.”

Blood dripped from Drae’s neck as he bent down and picked up a Tau stone necklace. He rubbed the stone between his fingers. “Aurora teleported them.”

“Where?” Helian asked.

“Here!” Tari’s voice echoed from the other room.

I wanted to feel relieved when I saw her carrying Aurora, but I felt only agony. I’d failed them. I’d failed my family. Why had I bit the demon?

Shiri quickly crossed over to her sister, hugging her with the girls between them. She pulled back, examining them for wounds. “Where were you?”

“Aurora teleported me to the nursery,” Tari answered.

Shiri cupped Aurora’s cheek, smiling. “Good girl.”

Tears streamed down Aurora’s face. “I’m sorry I couldn’t reach Em.”

“Don’t be sorry.” Tari kissed the top of Aurora’s head while rocking her on her hip. “Em is safe.”

I gaped at my family, my limbs frozen in either shock or fear, or perhaps the demon had already taken over. I wanted to warn them to get away from me, but my throat closed, and my tongue felt like a huge, bloated fish. What was happening to me?

Aurora jutted a finger at the demon dog panting on the floor. “What happened to Wolfy?”

“He’s not feeling well, sweetheart,” Shiri said.

Helian nudged the creature with the tip of his sword. “What do we do with him?”

“We put him in the dungeon with the other demons,” Tari said, “and we heal him after we find the spell.”

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