Page 87 of Song of Her Siren

The girls squealed when we walked outside and were hit with a blast of cold northern air. I held Ember tight, rubbing warmth into her arms while wishing we had my mates to keep us warm. I was jealous of Tari who pressed into Helian. We followed the servant across a short cobblestone path and ended up on a paved walkway lined with stoic firemages standing wingtip to wingtip. Their palms faced up, producing glowing flames that lit up the night and warmed our walk.

The walkway snaked toward the platform where Malvolia stood as still as a statue, her gaze fixed on the cloth-draped corpse atop the pyre opposite her.

Ember sucked on her thumb while watching the firemage guards with curiosity. She pulled her thumb out of her mouth, blinking at me. “They look like my uncles.”

I brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “I know, but they’re not.”

She rested her head against my shoulder with a sigh. “I miss them.”

It took all my willpower not to collapse onto that path and give in to my tears. “So do I, darling,” I rasped.

Isa roared.How are your spirits, Goddess?

I looked up at the three winged shadows circling in the starry night sky.I’m worried I won’t be able to get the demon out of Drae.

You will, she answered, her wings coming to a standstill as she soared directly above me.I have faith in you.

Though it should’ve comforted me, my chest ached at the thought of my dragon having faith in me. I’d already failed to get the demon out of Wolfy. What if I failed again? I didn’t want to disappoint her too.But what if I can’t?

She flapped again, dipping lower, so that I could see her soft golden underbelly shimmering in the pale moonlight.Then a wyvern will volunteer as sacrifice.

I shifted Ember in my arms as a shot of venom went straight to my heart.I don’t want it to come to that.

We reached the dais stairs, and I was hit by the sweet smell of lavender. The entire platform was surrounded by it.

I know you don’t, Isa answered.This is why you have a pure heart, Goddess, and don’t believe otherwise. A dragon knows.

I nearly stumbled over my own clumsy feet as we reached the bottom step.

Helian grabbed my elbow. “You okay?” he asked as he took Ember from my arms.

I gaped at him. “I-I think so.” Was Isa just trying to cheer me up, or did she truly believe I could extract Drae’s demon?

I don’t lie to stoke your ego, Goddess.Her voice was a dark rumble rolling through my skull before she flew away in a huff, shooting across the sky like a falling comet. Just lovely. I must’ve projected that last thought to her.

Now you’ve done it.Radnor’s dark chuckle reverberated in my mind.Don’t ever doubt Isa. A dragon’s word is her honor.

Go eat dirt, Radnor, I snapped, in no mood for a scolding from him.

He chuckled louder, then flew after Isa. Triss made little roars of protest while following her parents.

I followed my parents up the dais with Helian and Tari behind me, and we took our place behind Malvolia, who stood as still as a block of ice, the hood of her long, black robe drawn low, so that I could only see her pinched mouth. We had a clear view of the platform from here. More firemages circled the pyre, their glowing hands poised to light the brush and timber beneath the platform. Mortimus’s body was draped in cloth and covered in more lavender bushes, though it didn’t mask the smell of rotting horse corpse soaked in sea water. The fumes practically burned my nostrils and seared my brain. Knowing there wasn’t enough lavender to wash that stench from my memory, I covered my mouth and nose with my hand, breathing through a wheeze.

Aurora buried her face against her mother’s chest. “It smells bad,” she said too loudly.

“Shh,” Tari said while stroking her child’s hair. “That’s not polite.”

“But it does,” Aurora cried. “Can I teleport to the nursery?”

“No,” Tari admonished. “Plug your nose.”

Tari gave me a hopeless look, then scowled at Malvolia’s backside.I hope she hurries.

My family moved aside when two figures in dark purple robes walked onto the dais. Though their hoods were also drawn low, I recognized Cassandra’s lovely smile as she passed her grandchildren. Her lover, Gadea, was with her, a crown of lavender atop her hooded head. Her full lips were pressed into a firm line, the rest of her ebony skin concealed by the cloak, save for her arms that were crossed in front of her, as if she, too, were a corpse upon the pyre.

Gadea stood before the queen, bowing low. “My Queen, before we begin, would you like to say a few words about Mortimus?”

Malvolia pulled back the hood of her cloak, her icy stare sending a shiver down my spine. “No.”

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