Page 66 of Song of Her Siren

After we got the girls ready, their eyes still heavy with sleep, we held their hands and headed outside. We weren’t about to leave the girls behind, and we had agreed not to separate. Not with so many enemies willing to plunge their daggers into our backs.

Helian finished saddling up the dragons by torchlight. It was still dark outside, but I couldn’t wait another moment.

Triss made snorts of protest as Isa licked smatters of blood off her scaled face like a cat grooming her kitten. Isa craned her long neck toward us when we stood beneath her shadow, pale ribbons of the sun’s first rays shining through the membranes on her wings.

“Good morning, Isa!” Tari called to her.

Good morning, Goddesses.Isa hovered over us, her neck swaying like a snake as she projected her thought into our minds.How did you sleep?

Tari heaved a loud sigh. “Meh.”

“Not well,” I answered. “You?”

She blew out a plume of smoke while giving her mate a side-eyed glare.As well as can be expected when your mate snores and farts like a bubonic troll.

Radnor turned on his mate with a fanged snarl.The witch cursed me with a flatulence spell.

Laughing, Tari planted her hands on her hips. “I did no such thing, though I’m happy to take the credit.”

Isa rolled her eyes.I’m sure it had nothing to do with that rotting whale carcass you ingested.

Helian finished cinching Radnor’s saddle, then landed on the ground with the dexterity of a cat jumping from a tree. “Try sleeping beneath his belly after he’s eaten rotten meat. It smells like a week-old battlefield.”

Radnor let out a blubbery growl, embers flying from his mouth and landing precariously close to our feet.Are we going to complain about my digestive system or go find the book?

When Tari cleared her throat, I nudged her side, projecting a thought into her mind.No more banter, sister. We need to find the book.

Shooting me an apologetic look, she said, “Helian, and I will ride with Radnor and one child.” She motioned toward the children. “You’ll ride with Isa and the other.”

When Aurora held up her arms to me, I took her and thanked Isa as she flattened her body against the ground. After Helian helped me strap Aurora into the saddle, I buckled myself in too.

It didn’t take long for Tari, Helian, and Ember to get settled on Radnor, and then we were thankfully off, the cool morning air sending a chill down my spine with each flap of Isa’s wings. I wrapped my arms around Aurora, holding her tight as we flew over the city’s jagged buildings and then over smaller homes with thatched roofs. Most of the city wasn’t awake yet, an eerie silence greeting us from below while the sun barely crept over the horizon. The fishmongers and bread bakers had yet to set up their stands at the market. Perhaps that was a good thing. I didn’t want them to see us leaving and panic that we might not return.

After we passed a beautiful park with a temple and inky black pond at one end, we flew over the tall wall that wrapped around the city, lit with torches at each tall turret. The firemage guards’ eyes were trained on us as we flew past them, and I wondered if they’d shoot at us if Malvolia commanded it.

I squinted into the darkness, shocked to see rows upon rows of tents pitched just outside the wall. The occupants of the tent city still slept within the confines of the flimsy walls that billowed in the breeze.

Odd, I projected to Isa.I don’t remember all those tents outside the city walls.

Those are country peasants begging to be let in, she answered.They’re afraid of demons attacking their villages.

What? Why haven’t they been let in?

Malvolia says there’s not enough food or shelter for them, Isa answered darkly.

Not enough food or shelter?We could build more shelters, and Tari could grow more food.But they are Delfians, I argued.It’s the queen’s job to protect them.

Isa’s laughter rang in my ears.Don’t tell her that.

Rage boiled and bubbled my blood. How could my aunt just leave them out there? Even if she cared nothing for their safety, didn’t she realize they would be turned to soldiers in the demon army if left outside the walls?

I wondered how many children were among those displaced Delfians as I squeezed Aurora tight, grateful she and Ember were safe. Resolve hardened my spine. If Malvolia wouldn’t let them in, then I would, and she could go to hell if she didn’t like it.

* * *

Shiri

“THIS IS IT?” MY SISTERasked while spinning a slow circle around the rubble that had once been a beautiful temple. She held tightly to the children’s hands, refusing to let them explore, though they begged to go collect stones for Aurora’s slingshot.

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