Page 53 of Song of Her Siren

I arched a brow. “Who?”

Veronica’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “A child. He will reveal himself soon. You must protect him.”

I shared a look with Drae. “A child?”

He answered with a shrug.

When Veronica lowered herself into a chair opposite us, I sat beside Drae, tucking my legs beneath me.

“Do you know if I’ll be able to return to Abyssus with my mates?” I asked her, though I feared I wouldn’t like her answer.

“It depends on how this war goes.”

I swallowed back my unease, forcing out the question. “If we lose?”

It felt as if the very air had been sucked out of the room as she gave me a hard stare. “You don’t need to be a gray witch to know, if you lose, then all of Faedom will fall.”

I clenched my hands to keep them from trembling. “And if we win?”

“Before my mists were destroyed, I saw two outcomes.” She stood and went to the open terrace doors again before giving me a pitying look. “The most likely one is that, no, you won’t be returning to Abyssus.”

No!I bit down on my knuckles to keep from crying out. “But I hate it here.”

Drae grasped my hand, giving me a reassuring squeeze.Your mates will be with you, my love, no matter where you go.

It took all my willpower not to throw myself into his arms and fall apart.Thank you, darling.

“Why don’t you want to stay here?” Veronica asked.

Emotion clogged my throat. “Because it’s not Abyssus.”

Veronica motioned to the darkened sky. “There is much of the city and the countryside you have yet to explore. Besides, once the court is yours, you may feel differently about it here.”

Once the court is mine?“So you’re saying Malvolia is going to die?”

Her brow creased, annoyance flashing in her eyes. “I’ve said enough. I’ve just come to welcome you back.” She gave a quick curtsy, her features twisting before she marched toward the exit. “If you’ll excuse me, I must retire.”

“Off to collect feathers?” I knew the minute the words escaped my lips, it was the wrong thing to say, but I was flustered and worried. I didn’t want to rule Delfi.

“No!” Veronica stopped as if she’d hit an invisible wall, then spun quickly, her expression resembling a frightened animal in a trap. “Malvolia will kill me if she catches me with a lover.”

I nervously twisted my fingers in my lap. “Surely, you don’t believe her.”

Her features fell as she dropped her voice to a hushed whisper. “You haven’t heard?”

“Yeah.” I swallowed back my nausea as my heart beat an erratic rhythm. “I heard her threatening her army today. I doubt that threat extends to us.”

The stricken look in her eyes rendered me mute.

“So you haven’t heard about Daminica?” she rasped.

Drae squeezed my trembling hand with a curse.

No. No. No!

“W-what?”

Veronica’s hands flew to her mouth, stifling a sob. “Malvolia caught her with one of the guards. Turned them both to ash.”

---