Siren's Song by Mary Weber

option, yes. Because without your blood, Draewulf cannot ever fully succeed. He will stay mortal and thus can eventually be killed.”
    â€œBy an Elemental who no longer exists because I’m the last of my race.”
    â€œMaybe. Or perhaps in sacrificing yourself, you will destroy him too.”
    â€œWell, which is it?”
    She shakes her head.
    â€œAre you saying I should kill myself?”
    â€œNot in the least—I would never condone such a thing. I’m saying you can run or fight, but when the time comes—and it will—you may have to fall at the hand of another before Draewulf takes you. No one escapes this life, nor do they escape war, unscathed. And in this case you are the piece that will make all the difference. So hold it all lightly, Nym .”
    The words from the Inters slip through my head: I wasn’t supposed to survive.
    A sharp throat clearing comes from the Cashlin guard. “Your Majesty, three of Draewulf’s airships are nearly here.”
    My legs are frozen, my head is frozen, and my voice has gone to litches. Eogan’s dying and this is all a hull’s nest.
    â€œYour Majesty,” the female guard says, more insistent.
    â€œJust tell me.” I swallow. “If it comes down to such a thing, will my sacrifice guarantee Draewulf’s defeat and my people’s freedom?”
    The queen’s face grows gray. “I cannot answer that other than to say freedom comes in many forms. But it always comes at a price.”
    â€œAnd what if I run? Will that at least slow his defeat?”
    â€œIt will.”
    â€œIn that case, if the people will die no matter what, then why spend their last few weeks leading them to a violent end?”
    â€œI think the question is, can you justify not trying to defeat him?”
    â€œI can if you’re wrong.”
    The guard slips her hand onto my arm.
    â€œAgain, I cannot tell you for certain.”
    â€œBecause you don’t know , or you refuse?”
    â€œAs I said, ultimately the choice is yours to make. Now leave. The time has drawn short for Eogan, and his death will be at your feet if you willingly stay.”
    The drone of an airship rattles the domed glass ceiling as I stare at her. Knowing that what I choose now will set the course for not just the Hidden Lands’ destiny, but her destiny as well.
    And that is a weight I don’t want anything to do with.
    She nods at me, as if already knowing what my choice will be.
    â€œTake that there,” she says calmly, and with a tip of her head indicates a letter slid into the Luminescent guard’s pocket. “Give it to King Sedric.” She pauses, then, as if on second thought, says, “Tell him from what I can see, you have roughly ten days.”
    â€œUntil what?”
    â€œUntil Draewulf is finished with Cashlin.”
    Wait— ten ? I grab the letter just as the Luminescent jumps toward the queen and grabs the handles on her chair.
    â€œI must see to Her Majesty. Show yourself—” The guard’s words are drowned out in an explosion that blasts just beyond the window behind the queen, sending the sound of shattering glass through the room as a burst of heat and fire and screams billows up from a section of city wall in the distance.
    The bombing shakes the entire Castle. It’s so violent and loud. I drop to a crouch while the guard hovers over the queen as we wait for the sky to fall. Except Queen Laiha’s expression doesn’t seem concerned, and after a moment the shaking stops and the garden room stays intact.
    I rise and tuck King Sedric’s letter into my dress top.
    â€œGo!” the guard says.
    â€œThe sooner, the better,” the queen adds. “For all of us.”
    I’m racing up the crystal stairs to the bridge when her voice calls after me, “You should know, though, that the one called Lord Myles stands on the edge of a decision as well. One choice will send him