Page 8 of Song of Her Siren

“Helian.” She released Ash’s arm, handing him a satchel before bridging the distance between us.

I had hoped to use my brother as a buffer, but he went to the children. He set our mother’s satchel on the floor and piled a plate with tarts before sitting next to the girls.

My mother reached out, as if she wanted to touch me, then pulled her hand back. “You are well, son?”

No doubt, she thought I was nothing more than my father’s spawn. Not that I’d blame her after the horrible way I’d treated her.

“I am.” I smiled, a blade of longing piercing my heart. “Thank you. And you?”

She gave me a curt nod. “Fine.”

I swallowed, wishing I had a nice cool ale to quench my throat. I’d picked a hell of a time to give up drinking. “And Gadea?”

Her eyes widened at the mention of her lover. “She is fine too. Thank you for asking.” She motioned toward Derrick’s supine body. “I take it Tarianya healed him.”

“He’s still possessed,” Flora blurted.

My mother gave Flora a cursory glance before hovering over Derrick again. “His pallor is much better.”

“His wound is healed,” Flora said, scowling, “though he still has a black line on his chest.”

My mother nodded. “It’s from the demon living inside him.”

“Tari and I will figure out how to get it out of him,” Shiri said, her voice breaking. “Give us time.”

I flinched on Shiri’s behalf when her mother turned to her with condemnation in her turned mouth.

“A demon army is coming. We don’t have time!”

“I have no doubt that, if there’s a way, Shirina will find it.” Malvolia sat in a chair beside the bed, crossing one shapely leg over the other while smiling at me. “She’s a very gifted witch.”

I averted my gaze, heat from embarrassment creeping into my cheeks. The bitch was having fun toying with me.

“I know that,” Flora snapped. “She’smydaughter.”

Malvolia only laughed in response.

My mother cleared her throat. “Will anyone go get Finn?”

“Yes. Why?” I asked, my throat cracking, as though I was a prepubescent boy. “Have you seen Finn in Gadea’s mists?”

“No. Gadea is in the process of rebuilding her mists in the temple here after the spiders invaded our temple.” Her eyes misted. “I felt Finn cry out in my mind when the girls were taken. I felt your cries too. I saw you surrounded by demonlings and flattened trees, and I saw Finn and a Ravini male flying on wyverns across the Fallax Islands.”

I loosened the collar of the restrictive shirt one of Drae’s manservants had given me this morning, feeling as if the walls were closing in on me. I purposely avoided looking in Malvolia’s direction, though I could still sense her gaze boring into me. “Blaze will intercept Ash and Finn along the Caldarian Coast and fly with them back here.”

“Good.” My mother squeezed my hand, smiling. “I won’t be able to rest until all my sons are safe.”

My knees weakened at the longing and love in her eyes. I didn’t deserve such a kind mother.

“There are too many people in here,” Flora grumbled. “Derrick needs his privacy.”

Malvolia jumped to her feet with a dramatic sigh before giving Shiri a dark look. “You will be at court tonight, niece.” Her gaze swept over the room, her eyes flaring while fixing on me. “I expectallof you at court tonight. No more wasting time. We have a war to plan.”

I thought I was in the clear, making sure to avoid eye contact as she brushed past me, her shoulder lightly jarring mine. But then she stopped, leering at me out of the corner of her eye. “Where’s your menace of a dragon, prince?”

I gaped at her like a lamb caught in a giant’s fist, taking too long to find my words. “He’ll be here soon.” I flinched when she touched me, recoiling when she dug her claws into my collar.

Her breath was a serpent’s kiss in my ear. “I’m available if you need something to ride.”

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