Page 142 of Madness of Her Mages

Our mother averted her gaze, but not before I saw the guilt reflecting in her eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She did. For one of my returned memories was her looking at Aurora with distrust while favoring Ember, just like she favored me over Shiri. I could see the difference in the way both my parents treated Shiri compared to me even now.

“You do.” Shiri’s voice rose and cracked with each word, and I felt her depression from my parent’s rejection in the marrow of my bones. “All my life you’ve been waiting for me to turn evil. Don’t try to deny it,” she snapped as our mother turned her gaze to her feet. “Tell me, Mother. If I was evil, why didn’t I use my siren voice to kill you and my sister?” She kissed Ember’s cheek. “Why have I loved and cared for Tari’s children as if they were my own?”

Aurora squirmed in my arms, and I reluctantly set her down, smiling at her as she took my hand. I placed my free hand on my sister’s back.I never thought you were evil. You’ve proven time and again you’re the better sister.

No one of us is better or worse, sister.She flashed a watery smile. We are each unique, and we were each lied to and manipulated by our parents.

Sorrow weighed on my heart because I knew she was right.

Our mother looked up at her through watery eyes. “I-I...”

Before I could scold my mother, Bea squawked loudly as she flew erratic circles above me, and then I gasped when a giant, winged shadow appeared above the haze.

Shiri’s mates jerked back, their mage flames activated as the behemoth crimson dragon landed in front of us with a thud, shaking the ground beneath us.

The girls gasped, and Aurora hid behind my skirts. I thanked Nikkos when he took her in his arms. Demon hopped up to his friend, running circles around one massive paw.

“It’s okay, everyone,” I called to them. “It’s only Radnor.” Jutting my hands on my hips, I scowled at the dragon. “Where have you been?” I said aloud. My mates and my family would only hear my side of the conversation since Radnor could only mind-speak Helian and me.

Trying to sleep, and what difference is it to you, witch? he said to me through thought as he curled his tail around his paws like a bored cat. Then he bent down when Demon nuzzled his paw. He lifted a talon, scooting Demon back.Shoo, rodent.

Demon hopped back with an angry stomp, then ran away, flicking his back paws. Poor Demon. What a grumpy dragon! If anyone had a reason to be angry, it was me. If Helian had been riding Radnor, Beau would still be alive, and Radnor could’ve shielded Helian from the blast.

“What difference is it to me?” I threw up my hands in frustration. “You abandoned Helian!”

Rightfully so.The dragon’s nostrils flared as he flashed his fangs.He was being an insufferable prick!

A sob tore from me at his callous words. “He’d be here if not for you!”

He gave me a curious look.What happened?

I stormed up to the dragon, tilting my head back with a glare while blades of rage pierced my heart. “Did you not see that explosion? It killed Beau, and we couldn’t find Helian.”

His golden eyes bulged.Where was he last seen?

“Riding Beau!” I cried out as my eyes welled with tears.

He jumped to all four paws, then crouched while letting out a low growl.Where?

My shoulders sagged, the weight of Helian’s loss more than I could bear, and I feared the child growing in my womb would never know his father. “We found Beau floating in the ocean not far from the Tribus Point. I didn’t see Helian’s spirit, but we couldn’t find his body.”

“He was in a demon bubble.”

I looked over at Ember as she rested her head against Shiri’s chest while sucking her thumb. “What?”

Ember raised her head, pulling her thumb out of her mouth. “The demon had him under the water in a bubble.”

I clutched my throat, my gaze darting from my mates to Shiri and back to my child. “Ember, I don’t understand.”

“Was he dead?” Shiri asked her while brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes.

Ember shook her head. “The bubble protected him.”

Knee-wobbling relief swept through me, threatening to collapse my legs. I reached out to Finn, and he wrapped an arm around me, steadying me on my feet.

“Was it a gray bubble?” Shiri asked.

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