Page 58 of Song of Her Siren

Ember swiped tears from her eyes. “I don’t want Wolfy to go.”

“I know, darling,” Shiri cooed, drying her tears with the hem of her robe. “But it’s for his safety, as well as ours.”

Mouth dropping, Tari looked at me as if seeing me for the first time. “Ash, are you okay?”

I could only shake my head.

Helian nearly stumbled over Wolfy as he spun around, gaping at me. “He has blood on his mouth.”

Tari clutched her throat, letting out a strangled sob. “I think it’s Wolfy’s blood!”

I gave her a look as if to say I was sorry, but then I remembered we could still speak telepathically.I’m sorry, my love. Tell Shiri not to let me come near you.

Shiri pointed at me, her deep siren voice echoing across the walls. “Ash, do not move from that spot.”

Tari narrowed her eyes at Shiri, and I realized her sister must’ve heard our telepathic conversation.

Tears burned the backs of my eyes, and my legs felt like they were encrusted in ice as I nodded my understanding. I spoke again to my mate through thought, knowing her sister could hear.I won’t, Shiri. Thank you.I hung my head as the first tear fell.I’m sorry, Tari.

“Don’t be,” she blurted aloud, her voice thick with emotion. “You were defending us.”

But I shouldn’t have bit him,I wanted to say. I’d known better, and Helian had warned me. I’d let my animal instincts take over without care for my own safety. Now, Tari and the children would have one less protector. I peered up at Helian through blurry eyes.Guard our children and our mate well, brother.

Helian clasped a hand across his heart. “With my life.”

When Tari took a step toward me, Helian jerked her back. “No. We can’t go near him until he’s chained.”

The children sobbed and Tari’s cry rang out.

“Drae,” Shiri said on a hiss while staring at him like he was a wild animal. “What’s wrong?”

I looked at Drae in disbelief.Kindred, a dark voice whispered in my mind.

Shut up, you fucking demon!My inner-wolf roared, warning the others.Drae is demon possessed too!

Shiri cried out. Helian took Ember from her, and she stumbled toward Drae, extending a hand to him.

“Don’t touch him!” Helian warned while giving Shiri a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry, but you know what you have to do.”

Shiri stopped as if she’d hit an invisible wall, her misty eyes fixed on the bloody bite mark on Drae’s neck. “Drae, do not move from that spot.”

Pain flashed in his eyes as he slowly nodded.

Fuck!Tari and Shiri only had Helian to protect them, all because I’d so foolishly bit the demon.

Two loud dragon roars sounded overhead, and about a dozen firemages burst into the room, burning the walls with their arcing flames.

“Put away your flames, firemages!” Shiri commanded. “I have taken care of the threat.”

Their fires instantly doused like a bucket of water to a lit match, and they parted, pressing against the walls when their queen entered the room in a flurry of black robes. “What happened?”

Shiri held up her hands in a defensive gesture. “I’ve got it handled, Aunt.”

Malvolia spun around, her eyes narrowing on me. Then she jumped back, snakes of smoke flying from her fingers when she glimpsed Drae’s eyes.

“Stop!” Shiri cried out, a heartbeat before Malvolia’s magic struck Drae.

Malvolia and her magic stilled. Shiri slowly approached Drae and Malvolia, her eyes widening when she saw the frozen trails of deadly smoke a breath away from Drae’s nose.

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