Page 20
Shiri
I could hardly stomach food as I sat bleary-eyed and alone at the breakfast table. I’d just come from checking on my family in the dungeon. My mother was a bit more subdued, and I suspected her good behavior was due to Marius’s influence. Ash was mostly lucid, asking about Tari and Helian. But Drae...whatever was left of him was eclipsed by the demon who stared at me like a starving dragon, and I was a sacrificial lamb. I loathed that demon with the heat of a thousand suns. But even worse, I was ashamed to admit he also terrified me. What if he was right? What if I couldn’t summon my siren song? What if he’d already discarded Drae’s soul?
Overwhelmed by grief and hatred, I stared at the platters of food that were meant for an entire family. And Malvolia had said we didn’t have enough food to feed the peasants begging for shelter in Thebes. What a joke. This palace probably wasted enough food each day to feed the entire city. Speaking of Malvolia, I’d received a summons from her a few moments ago. I scowled at the note with her seal on it. I knew I had to go to her soon, but I couldn’t move from this spot, not when Tari could arrive any moment with news.
I stared outside the balcony doors as the morning sun rose higher into the sky. More firemages flew in formations outside, their wings buzzing with nervous tension, as if they were preparing for battle. Perhaps they were, hence the reason for the summons, yet I couldn’t bring myself to rise from the table.
Tari said she’d visit every morning and evening. Had healing our injured mates taken too much of her energy? Or was there a more sinister reason my family hadn’t returned? Added to my worry was the lack of sleep after being forced to lie in that big, swinging bed by myself. It was enough to drive me to madness. I missed my mates, and the children and Tari, so badly that my chest ached from longing. No wonder Malvolia had gone crazy.
I jumped when I heard a child’s giggle and spun around, gaping at Tari, Helian, the children, and Blaze!
Ember tugged Aurora toward the hearth, where they had a bucket of toys. “I need another Bethamy,” she loudly whispered.
I ran to Blaze, throwing myself into his arms with an overjoyed cry, though my relief was short-lived. Had something happened to Nikkos and Finn? He held me close, whispering words of love into my ear, his wings wrapping us in a cocoon.
Where’s Nikkos and Finn? Too choked up to speak aloud, I asked him through thought, my voice echoing between us.
They live , he answered while kissing away the tears that stained my cheeks. Nikkos was burned, but he’s stable for now. Tari will return to heal him.
I slumped against him. Thank the Elements.
After Blaze warmed my skin and liquified my insides with more kisses and hugs, Tari loudly cleared her throat. We reluctantly pulled apart, though he held tightly to my hand.
I’m never parting from you again , he projected to me, his brow marred with deep lines.
More tears burned the backs of my eyes as I squeezed his hand. Good, because I need you.
“The elder satyrs say their memories of Thorin have returned,” Tari said aloud. “The mindspinner is dead.”
My gaze flitted to the mages flying in formation outside the window. No wonder their numbers had increased. “That explains why Malvolia summoned me.” I motioned toward the summons on the table. “I was preparing to go to her
“Ash and Drae?” Tari asked.
“Unchanged.” I tensed, hoping she wasn’t disappointed in me. “I just came from visiting their cells.”
Her features fell, panic flashing in her eyes, making me feel even worse for not being able to heal her mate. “The demons will attack soon.”
My stomach tied in a knot. “We need to hurry.”
“I know.” She nodded. “We’ll heal Nikkos and return him to you.”
Blaze cleared his throat. “Tari, there’s something you should know.”
“What?” she asked.
“The countryside has been ravaged. Skullgrove is a ghost town.” He frowned. “It looked like the work of the demonic spiders.”
“We were just at Dunhull,” Helian said. “The satyr village was untouched.”
Tari’s jaw dropped. “Maybe because the first time we visited Dunhull, I hid them with a masking spell.”
“Can you hide Cyrene?” Blaze asked her.
“I’m not sure.” She chewed her lip while blinking up at Helian. “That town is much bigger. It will take a lot of magic, and I need to heal Nikkos.”
“The other green witch will keep Nikkos alive.” Blaze grimaced. “Concealing Cyrene should be your priority, or the entire town could perish.”
Helian squeezed Tari’s hand. “We can’t let that happen.”
“I won’t.” She glanced over her shoulder, calling to the children. “Girls, let’s go.”
“And Abyssus too,” Blaze blurted, a plea in his voice.
“Yes, Abyssus!” Panic shot through my veins. I’d be devastated if we lost our home and the dear Fae who lived there.
Tari nodded her agreement. “I will do everything I can to secure both places.”
“Thank you, sister.” I squeezed Blaze’s arm while reaching toward my family, wishing I could go with them and see Nikkos. “Return to us soon.”
“I will.” She lifted Aurora into her arms while giving Blaze a stern look. “Your most important job now is to help her unlock that siren, so Ash and Drae can be freed.”
He tensed beside me. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“You must,” Helian said grimly. “We’re counting on you.”
Then they disappeared, leaving me staring after the empty spot where they were just standing while feeling a surge of guilt that I hadn’t freed our mates.
Blaze cupped my face with his warm hands while searching my eyes. “You can do this, Shiri. I have faith in you.”
I didn’t know if I should’ve been relieved or terrified by his confidence in me. The pressure of trying to figure out this siren song before it was too late for Drae and the others felt like a giant was sitting on my chest and made it even harder for me to focus. Everyone had faith in me, yet I had little faith in myself.
* * *
Tari
O NE MOMENT, WE WERE standing in Shiri’s bedchamber, and the next, we were on a sandy beach, the waves lapping at our feet, the dragons roaring as they soared overhead. I kissed Aurora’s cheek. “Very good, sweetheart. Your magic is amazing.” Now that she’d been to Dunhull and Cyrene, she could transport us all over the Fae lands.
She blinked up at me with smiling eyes while clutching a toy to her chest. “Thanks, Mama.”
I wondered why she didn’t tire as easily as I did when I used my magic. Was it because of her youthful energy? Or was it simply that easy for her to teleport across a country?
She squirmed out of my arms when a familiar wolf’s howl sounded behind us. Finn!
I spun around as Ember and Aurora raced toward their papa, kicking up sand behind them. They squealed like piglets when he swept them into his arms and hugged them close.
Is all well in Thebes? Isa projected to me while her shadow passed overhead.
Nothing has changed , I answered.
Helian took my hand, and we trudged toward Finn, sand particles somehow finding their way into my stockings and chafing my feet while dusting the bottom of my gown as the relenting sun beat down on my back.
I couldn’t stop smiling when we finally made it to Finn. He set down the girls and lifted me into his arms with a howl, twirling me until my head spun.
“Easy!” Helian admonished. “Don’t forget she’s with child.”
“Oh!” Finn stopped, releasing me like I was a hot coal. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” I said, clinging to him, inhaling the masculine smells of spice and sweat that wafted off his hard, bare chest.
His wolf’s whimper echoed inside my head. I’ve missed you so much.
His lips found mine, and I melted into him while he thoroughly kissed me. Cupping the back of my head with a growl, he swept his tongue into my mouth, claiming me as his mate. Elements, I wanted to rip off his trousers and have my way with him, except the giggling children behind us brought me back to reality. I reluctantly broke the kiss, panting against his mouth.
We’ll finish tonight , I said through thought.
His possessive growl rattled my bones and liquified my insides. Or we finish now and Helian watches the children.
As if he anticipated Finn’s intentions, Helian loudly cleared his throat. “We have work to do now.”
I squinted at Helian, the glare of the late morning sun piercing my eyes as he motioned toward the gathering crowd at the edge of the boardwalk, who watched us with interest.
Reluctantly, I pushed out of Finn’s embrace and took his hand in mine. Later , I projected to him again. But don’t worry. I squeezed his hand when he let out another wolf’s whimper. I’m anxious to be alone with you too.
He grimly nodded, then looked over my shoulder. “Where’s Blaze?”
“We already took him to Shiri,” I answered.
He arched a brow. “Ash?”
I tensed, not knowing how to explain to him that his brother was demon possessed.
Helian grasped Finn’s shoulder, his expression sympathetic. “Long story. He’s demon possessed, but Shiri will get it out of him.”
My heart shattered into a million grains of sand when Finn tossed back his head with a mournful howl.
The girls hugged his legs.
“Please don’t cry, Papa Finn,” Aurora pleaded, tears welling in her eyes.
“He’ll get better,” Ember reassured.
I wondered if she was just trying to soothe him, or if Ember’s friends had told her that.
I swallowed back my emotions, wishing I had a cool drink to soothe my parched throat. “Finn,” I rasped, “we will save Ash, but right now, we need to focus on the imminent danger.” I motioned toward the town. “Blaze thinks the demonic spiders will attack Cyrene. I used a lot of magic getting us here earlier, so I need to rely on your strength to summon a masking spell for Cyrene.”
He swiped tears from his eyes. “All of Cyrene?”
I nodded. “Like I did to Dunhull.”
His eyes lit with determination. “What do you need from me?”
I squeezed his hand. “Your love.”
“You have it.” He wrapped an arm around my waist while pressing my hand to his heart. “You’ll always have it.”
My heart felt like it had swelled three times its usual size as his love poured into me. I managed to brush a kiss across his lips with two children pressed between us. Then I kissed Helian as he closed in our circle. Even though a big slice of my heart was missing without Ash, I knew my family’s love would give me strength.
You can rely on my strength, too, Goddess. Isa’s powerful voice echoed in my mind.
I squinted up at Isa, sunlight piercing my eyes as she made a slow descent toward me, Radnor and Triss following. Thank you, Isa.
Helian shielded us when the dragons landed in a spray of sand.
The girls splashed water up to their ankles as they ran with Triss across the beach. Finn instinctively chased after them like a protective father wolf.
Our goddess Maiadra used my mother’s strength to overcome the demons. Flashing a fanged grin, she hovered over me, the sunlight making her large eyes sparkle like rubies. Think of me as more than just your bonded dragon . I’m your magic magnifier.
“How?”
Fly with me , she answered while stretching her long neck across the sand. I’ll show you.
I shared a look with Helian before climbing onto Isa’s back.
“We’ll be back soon,” Helian called to Finn as he jumped on Radnor’s back.
The dragon pair launched into the sky, the draft from their wings causing ripples in the water below. The children’s squeals of laughter echoed as Triss splashed them with her tail while Finn supervised.
I couldn’t deny it felt amazing to break free on the back of Isa with Helian and Radnor nearby while the wind blew my hair. As the dragons soared above the town, I spied nests of other dragons on the beach. They were lazing in the sun, too tired and lazy to come fly with us. I inwardly cringed when I saw piles of wyvern skulls near their nests. Hopefully, they got their fill, because they wouldn’t be dining on wyvern again. Fortunately, I didn’t see any wyvern spirits, which meant they’d passed beyond the veil. Squinting against the sun, I spotted a camp of hundreds of tents along a ridge, far beyond the other side of the dunes.
I caught Helian’s eye as he glared toward the camp.
They don’t belong there , he projected to me.
I know , I answered grimly.
They are an army without a king. Radnor’s deep voice echoed like a gong in my ears. A shame, because we could use them in this demon war.
Helian’s cheeks flushed as he looked away.
There will be time to address that later , Isa interjected, a note of pity laced in her voice. For now, we need to hide the town. Are you ready, Goddess?
Yes , I answered, magic pooling in my fingers, though I couldn’t stop thinking that Radnor was right. We needed the dragon army, the army needed a king, and the only logical choice was Helian. What would that mean for our family? I didn’t think Finn or Ash would be welcomed to join them. And I knew they wouldn’t want to join the army, either, not after what they’d done to Lupine.
Rub my neck , Isa instructed.
Do you have an itch?
Her deep chuckle reverberated my bones. No, Goddess. It’s where you’ll find your strength.
I arched a brow as the wind whipped my hair across my face. I’ve never heard of that.
Just try it.
I released the tension in my neck and shoulders, focusing on the magic that buzzed in my veins, made stronger after hugging and kissing Finn. When I released my hold on the pommel and rubbed Isa’s neck, the strangest thing happened. The tingling in my fingers magnified tenfold. It was like the feel of her scales awakened a well within me. Why hadn’t she told me this before?
Because it also drains my energy , she projected to me, as if she’d been reading my thoughts, her voice a lazy, slow drawl as she soared lower and slower over the town.
Oh, Isa. I didn’t know.
It’s fine, Goddess. You have my strength. Now use it.
And so I did. Magic poured from my fingers, dusting the town below as I imagined nothing but an endless shoreline of rolling dunes and undulating waves. No boardwalk. No clapboard buildings. No dock with rocking ships. Just a vast, empty beach.
By the time we landed on the beach, the town had disappeared, and I was slumped over Isa’s back, completely drained of my energy. Isa splayed across the sand, letting out a blubbery snore. Radnor sat protectively beside his mate and whimpering child, growling at other dragons who popped up their heads from behind dunes.
I thought I heard startled voices crying out, but I was too tired to care.
Finn and Helian helped me from Isa’s back, and Finn carried me across the dunes.
“What about Abyssus and the shifters?” I mumbled, forgetting the name of the shifter town.
“They can wait,” Finn rumbled.
I didn’t want to wait. I wanted to save everyone now. My wretched fatigue. Why was I so tired all the time? Was this all from the pregnancy? I didn’t remember being this tired when I was pregnant with the twins. Then again, I had never used this much magic before.
I rested my head against his broad chest. Do you know where you’re going?
A shifter knows , he answered.
Good , I murmured before giving into my fatigue and closing my eyes.