Page 3 of Song of Her Siren

Do you think it’s a trap?I asked him through thought.

He cut me a dark look while curling his hands into claws.Anything is possible when it involves Malvolia.

Footsteps echoed outside the room and the doors were thrown open. Malvolia made her entrance with only the two previous guards, her black cape billowing behind her, exposing shapely legs in black tights beneath a short skirt. She wore an inky crown of thorns upon her head, secured by tightly weaved, dark braids. Her pale face powder and black eye paint did little to conceal the heavy circles beneath her eyes. She stopped, staring at us for a long moment, appearing as if she was deciding whether to welcome or kill us.

Drae and Blaze pressed closer to me. The wolf flashed in Ash’s eyes as he hovered protectively beside Tari while my twin pushed the children behind her skirts. Ash let out a low growl, rumbling the floor beneath us.

Aurora bravely tried to imitate her father’s growl, though since she hadn’t had her first shift yet, she sounded far too human.

Ember nudged her sister’s side. “Quiet, Rora, before Aunt Malvolia kills us.”

I winced at that, hoping Malvolia didn’t hear.

“Ah, there you are, nieces—and grandnieces.” She paused, glaring at Tari’s ruffling skirts as the girls squirmed behind her. “I was wondering when you’d join us.” Malvolia clasped her hands together, schooling her face into a mask of stone.

My chest tightened when I looked into my aunt’s eyes and saw the flash of pain. A maelstrom of emotions threatened to overwhelm me as she walked past me, refusing to spare me another glance. During the short time we’d stayed with my aunt, we’d formed a tenuous bond. Yeah, she was a bitch, and yeah, I hated her, but I couldn’t explain why I had also wanted to impress her. Why I still craved her approval. Was I seeking the love and acceptance I’d never gotten from my mother?

My aunt seemed different, as if the air around her was a choking black fog, and she was slowly being strangled by the darkness within her. What had happened to bring about this change? Worry over the demons? Or perhaps guilt from knowing that Thorin had tricked her into killing thousands of people? Whatever the cause of her depression, I felt her sorrow so keenly, my heart nearly broke from it.

She gave me a pointed look. “You’re missing a mate.”

Wow. I didn’t think she cared about my mates. “Nikkos is with Tari’s other mate, Finn,” I said. “We’ll retrieve him soon.”

Drae cleared his throat, bowing before the queen. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. What happened to the demons who attacked?”

Smoke curled out of Malvolia’s fingertips, her smile wickedness personified. “The spiders are ash. The corpse king and his demon wyvern are licking their wounds.” She steepled her blackened fingers. “But I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before they crawl back out from under their rocks.”

“Where are our parents?” Tari blurted, her tone harsh.

Malvolia paused and gave Tari a long, cool look. “Flora and Marius are keeping vigil over Derrick.”

Tari turned up her chin, refusing to be intimidated. “Does Derrick live?”

Malvolia plopped onto her throne, draping one leg over the armrest while giving Helian an appreciative once-over. “For now.”

Blushing, Helian averted his gaze, and I wondered what had happened between them while he was her prisoner. Anything was possible when it came to our horny aunt.

I jutted a foot toward Malvolia while struggling to find my voice. “And you’ve reconciled?”

She refused to make eye contact with me as she stared at something beyond my shoulder. “If that’s what you call it.”

I worked hard to unclench my teeth. She was punishing me for abandoning her army, for refusing to kill my own sister. “What doyoucall it?”

She finally looked at me, her eyes cold and dark. “A tentative truce until we destroy the demon mistress.”

Crossing my arms, I impatiently tapped my foot. “And then?”

She leaned back in her throne, inky smoke leaching from her fingertips. “And then I’m sure Flora will enlist you to kill me next.”

“Thorin tricked you, Aunt,” I blurted. “My mother never wanted to steal your throne.” Maybe they had formed a truce, but Malvolia was still paranoid, which made her dangerous—very dangerous.

“I know, though it doesn’t matter now.” She heaved a sigh. “The seeds of hate have already been sown.”

Seeds that she helped plant,I wanted to add. “I’m tired of strife, Aunt,” I said on a sigh. “We won’t try to kill you, so long as you don’t try to harm us.”

She leaned forward, back stiff. “And what of my throne?”

“What of it?” I laughed. “I’ve never wanted it. My mates and I just want to live in peace at Abyssus.” I motioned toward Blaze and Drae, who grumbled their agreement. “Tari and her mates have Caldaria. Our mother just wants you to return our fathers’ ancestral home to them.”

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