Page 31 of Song of Her Siren

“She likes to hang around the stables and keep an eye on Enso,” Falcon said with a nervous laugh. “Though I think she hangs around for the free food.” He playfully patted her back.

“She may need to hang around a bit longer.” I grimaced, glancing between my mates. “We’re preoccupied with other things.”

“Of course,” Falcon said with a casual shrug. “She’s welcome to stay here as long as she wants. I’m hoping, soon, she’ll let me ride her.” He paused, swallowing. “If that’s okay with you, Your Highness.”

I looked at Freya, who gaped at Falcon like a puppy begging for scraps.

“As long as it’s okay with her.” I tensed when I heard an angry squawk in the distance, echoing as if Enso was trapped in a tunnel. “Will you take us to Enso?”

“Of course.” He nodded toward the other side of the stables. “This way, but I should warn you that I’ve had no say in his care. Malvolia has assigned rotating mages to watch him.”

Why would he tell me that? Was it because Enso was being housed in deplorable conditions? I leaned against Helian for strength when he took my hand, and we followed Falcon.

The cell had been intended for dragons, a deep hole carved in the earth and reinforced with impenetrable stone. I peered into the hole, unable to see anything beyond pitch black. It took me a moment to summon my magic, but I managed to drop a few floating balls of light. They landed beside the wyvern, who was at least three stories down. A blade of sorrow pierced my heart when he looked up at me with a whimper while chained to the floor, bones scattered at his feet. He had a flattened pile of straw for a bed, and his only drink was a dirty pool of water.

Before I could complain, Helian informed the guards that Enso’s conditions were unacceptable. They bowed their understanding and promised to make him comfortable. Helian also told the guards that Falcon would have final say on Enso’s care. This earned him a few scowls, but they didn’t argue. Even though I felt better leaving my wyverns with a green witch who obviously cared about them, my heart was heavy when we left them, made even heavier when we headed toward the back entrance to the castle dungeon. I didn’t want to go down there.

Helian held my hand while we followed Ash through the maze of dark, musty halls in the dungeon beneath the castle, relying on my shifter mate’s nose to lead the way after we’d refused help from the guards.

Our father’s cell was at the very end of a particularly damp and moldy hall. I peeked through the bars to their cell, expecting more filth, though I was pleasantly surprised to see several plush rugs and fine pieces of furniture. A warm hearth crackled, casting a pleasing glow throughout the room. My aunt might have been an evil bitch, but at least she didn’t appear to be torturing my parents.

Dreading this meeting with my parents, particularly with my mother, I heaved a long breath before motioning to the guard to let us in.

Mother jumped from the bed when she saw us, her eyes watering with unshed tears. “Tari!”

Marius stood, too, offering a kind smile. He reminded me so much of Derrick, albeit thinner, with more lines framing his eyes and mouth and much more gray peppering his long, dark hair—the result of being trapped in a dungeon for twenty-four years. “Thank you for visiting us.”

A surge of guilt tightened my chest. I hated that they’d been forced down here, but we couldn’t trust Derrick until we exorcised the demon from him.

Helian and Ash followed me into the cell, giving me space while standing beside the heavy door as it clanked shut behind us.

“How fares father Derrick?” I asked my mother.

She folded her hands in front of her, motioning toward my father’s inert form. “He still sleeps.”

I heaved another breath before sitting on the bed beside Derrick and pressing my palm to his forehead, pleased to feel warmth seeping into my fingers. His chest rose and fell with each steady breath, and the color had returned to his cheeks. Any moment, and he’d wake. Then what? Would he have control of his body, or would the demon take over? My mother and Marius tempted fate by being trapped in this cell with him. At least his hands and legs were still bound in chains. I prayed that would be enough.

I stood, taking Ash’s hand when he hovered protectively near me. I forced a smile while facing my mother and Marius. “Your room looks cozy.”

My mother let out a dissatisfied snort. “You mean, our cell?”

“Well, yes.” I shifted from foot to foot, more uncomfortable by the second. Why did my mother have to be like this?

Ash squeezed my hand, projecting to me through thought.We should go.

My mother arched a brow. “Shirina didn’t want to see her fathers?”

“She’s resting,” I said. “She had to use a lot of magic this morning, checking Malvolia’s army for demons.” It was true. I’d left my sister sleeping on the same sofa that I’d napped on most of the day while Cassandra and Drae watched the children.

“Malvolia deliberately overworked her, no doubt.” Mother tossed her long, dark hair over her shoulder while making a splutter of protest. “The bitch won’t be satisfied until she’s completely turned my daughters against me.”

I didn’t have the energy to argue with her. “I must go.”

Her features fell, and she looked at me as if I’d drowned a sack of puppies. “You just got here.”

I worked hard to unclench my teeth, reminding myself that I loved my mother, no matter how much she tried my patience. “I have work to do, Mother.”

“You don’t even want to get to know Marius?” She motioned toward my father, who stood there with his hands in his pockets, his face flushing.

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