Page 10 of Song of Her Siren

My mother’s smile warmed my heart. She’d always been a kind and caring mother, even if Helian had been too hardheaded to appreciate her. I had a feeling she’d be an even better grandmother.

I didn’t miss Aurora’s look of disappointment when Mother pulled two dolls out of the satchel. Aurora preferred slingshots and toy mages, while Ember loved dolls with frilly dresses. At least she’d made one child happy.

Ember squealed, holding out her hands, her eyes widening when Mother gave her both dolls. “Oh, Grandmother. These are the most beautiful dolls I’ve ever seen!”

Both dolls had blue eyes rimmed with silver, warm complexions, and dark hair, just like Ember and Aurora.

My mother dug into her satchel again. “I thought you’d like them.”

Ember held the dolls up to her sister. “They look like us.”

Aurora frowned at the dolls, clearly not impressed.

“They do,” my mother said, “which is what makes them so beautiful.”

“I love them!” Ember squeezed the dolls to her chest. “They’re my most favorite Bethamys ever!”

My mother’s smile could’ve lit up a dreary winter. “I’m glad.” Then she pulled three toy dragons with shimmery scales out of her bag, handing them to Aurora.

Aurora’s jaw dropped. “Dragons!”

“Carved from Sirenium wood,” Mother said. “Very hard to break.”

I recognized the dragons. The largest had crimson scales. Another had golden scales and a horn on her snout. The smallest had bright orange scales and a horn, too.

Aurora lined them up in front of her from largest to smallest. “They look like Radnor, Isa, and Triss.”

My mother nodded. “They do.”

Aurora cocked her head, reminding me of a hound listening for the origin of a sound. “How’d you know what they look like?”

My mother’s cheeks flushed. “My good friend showed me them in her mists while we were still in Ventus, and then I commissioned the best cobbler to make them.”

Bygood friend, Mother meant her lover, Gadea, the high priestess of their temple in Ventus. Her lover had the power to scry Mother’s loved ones in her mists, though the magic wasn’t always reliable.

“What do you say, girls?” I said to them.

“Thank you, Grandmother,” they replied in unison before jumping up and throwing themselves into my mother’s arms.

Closing her eyes, Mother held them tight as tears streamed down her cheeks. “Oh, my darlings. I’ve waited so long to hold you.”

Ember kissed her grandmother’s cheek. “You’re a sweet grandmother. I love you already.”

Aurora kissed her other cheek. “You’re my favorite grandmother.”

I bit my lip, wondering if Flora was listening. Not that I cared about her feelings. From what I’d gathered, Flora wasn’t very nurturing with Aurora or her aunt Shiri, believing they would both turn evil like their Aunt Malvolia. Of course, it was a lie spun by the mindspinner, Thorin. If we ever crossed paths, I would send the bastard to hell.

The children quickly released their “favorite” grandmother to return to their new toys. I jumped to my feet and snatched an embroidered napkin off the table, handing it to my mother. She smiled her thanks while dabbing her eyes. It was then I noticed Flora scowling at us from her chair beside Derrick’s bed.

I returned her scowl with a wolf’s snarl, pleased when she looked away. I still hadn’t forgotten that she’d tried to get Thorin to take the children’s memories. That woman would have to contend with one pissed-off wolf if she dared to harm my children again.

* * *

Shiri

WHILE THE OTHERS WEREpreoccupied with the children, Drae, Blaze, and I seized the opportunity to slip away. Blaze swept me into his arms, keeping stride with his brother while we flew to the seawall that protected the Fae realm from the massive waves that battered the shore. I relished the feel of the salty spray as we flew over the wall and above the violent northern waves. Though the frigid wind was biting, my bare-chested mage was always warm, thanks to the fire that heated his veins.

Several firemages swarmed the skies, searching the seas, as if they were looking for treasure. Another group dredged the waves with nets, their faces contorted as they dragged the heavy ropes.

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