Page 180 of Song of Her Siren

Aurora was so angry, she had to clench her fists to keep from punching Teddy in the face. “Our mother and auntie will destroy the demons.”

“They will send them into hiding,” he said, “but they won’t destroy all of them.”

Ember gave him a curious look. “Who will, then?”

“Only the King of Darkness and Goddess of Light can destroy the demons.”

Aurora glared at Teddy so hard, she thought her eyes would cross. How did this boy know all this? “You sound like Em when she talks to her friends.”

“Who are the King of Darkness and Goddess of Light?” Ember asked.

Teddy’s eyes misted, as if he was waking up from sleep. “The most powerful death bringer and life giver that will ever live.”

Em gasped. “And they’re our descendants?”

“The children of our children and so on,” he said, sounding way too smart for a kid. “We will be long dead before they’re born.”

Ember giggled. “Maybe we can be their friends.”

Teddy frowned, his eyes too serious for a boy with freckles. “They will need many friends if they’re to defeat the demons.”

Aurora settled her hands on her hips. “How do you know all this?”

He turned up his chin, beaming. “I dreamed it.”

“You’re weird,” Aurora blurted, tired of this strange boy’s strange dreams.

He squeezed the block tighter, his face turning blotchy. “So are you.”

“Rora, that’s not nice.” Ember tugged on her frock. “He lost all three of his parents.”

She scowled at her sister. “How do you know?”

“Because they told me. They died when the demons attacked.” Ember pointed toward the ceiling. “They asked us to be nice to him.”

Aurora’s face flushed, and she felt bad. She hadn’t known Teddy had no parents. Aurora knew what it was like to lose her parents, though she was lucky that she got them back. But what if she lost them again? What if demons killed her parents like they killed Teddy’s parents? Her heart would break into a thousand pieces.

She still didn’t want to share her blocks, but she felt bad. Really bad. “Fine.” She impatiently tapped her foot, giving Teddy an expectant look. “Are you going to play with us or not?”

He shrugged. “I’ve never played before.”

Ember’s mouth fell open. “Why not?”

His face turned even blotchier. “Because I’ve never had other children to play with.”

“How sad, Teddy.” Ember stepped up to him, taking his hand. “We’ll teach you.”

Aurora jerked her sister away. “Don’t take his hand!”

“Why not?” Em asked with a pout.

“Because he’s going to marry me, not you,” Aurora said accusingly. First, Teddy took her blocks. Now, Em was trying to take her Teddy. That made her very angry. And she was already upset and hurt because demons might kill her parents.

Em lifted her chin. “I thought you said you weren’t going to marry him.”

Aurora shook a fist at her sister. “Stop being a brat, Em.”

Em’s cheeks turned red, and Aurora feared her sister would hold her breath and die. “I’m not being a brat!” she blurted on an exhale. “You are!”

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