Page 14 of The Tribrid Princess and the Taste of Chaos (The Rossi Legacies #7)

Sienna

“ A lright, you’re all measured. You get a set of four.

There are a few designs you can choose from.

Take your pick and finish the order on the tablet.

You’re put as a possible wolf shifter, so I’ll give you one set for now, and once you turn eighteen, let me know if you do indeed get a wolf.

Otherwise, it’s a waste to give you the suits for shifters.

They’re costly,” Ms Delfino tuts as she taps her tablet before passing it to me.

“Thank you.” I accept it and finish adding the little customisations we’re allowed as she turns to Shahira. “Alright, now you…”

As Ms Delfino measures Shahira, I muse over the training session we participated in last night. I am not looking forward to it again today.

I still feel all bruised. Although Maralai had healed me somewhat last night, I can still feel it today and gods, does it feel like a horse trampled on me! Not that I know how that feels.

I’m nervous about how I’m going to tell the girls today. I think I’m going to tell them during the football match that Allie actually wants to watch. I’ve been here for two years, and I have never watched a game. Why would anyone sit around and watch people kick a ball around? It boggles my mind.

But Allie was adamant, and she’s damn stubborn.

We also have an agreement that we try to support each other’s hobbies where we can.

She likes the sport, but she won’t play due to the sweat and dirt that are part of it.

And Heaven, well, she says you get to see hot, sweaty boys, and she’s all for that.

If only I had a reason to watch the games. ..

“Here are your Schattensicht devices.” Ms Delfino hands both Shahira and me the sleek black device that looks something between a watch and a wrist cuff.

Oh, hot damn, we’re getting these… It’s just proof of how serious it is, being where we are.

These devices let us communicate with our team, send messages and photos, track one another, recognise poisons in the air, show us maps and many other things.

It’s a touch screen that also includes a holographic 3D touch screen.

“Make sure you have your division leader link them up for you, so you are able to communicate and are connected to your team.” Ms Delfino tells us.

I nod. “Thank you.”

After that, I leave Ms Delfino’s office and head towards the football pitch.

I glance up at the sky. The sun is out, and it’s pretty warm today.

I look down at the hoodie I had put on, feeling warm already.

Reaching the bleachers that surround the pitch, I spot Heaven and Allie sitting together.

Allie is in all black with her hood up, her arms resting on her thighs, and Heaven is wearing a white dress.

She’s waving a little flag with a black and silver wolf on it.

Really?

I run up the stairs and sit down next to Heaven. “Why are you waving a flag? This isn’t even a proper match, it’s just practice.”

“Let’s just show our support, plus I got a few smiles.” She winks at me, and I raise an eyebrow.

“I see,” I smile before shaking my head. “Do either of you have a hair tie? I’m so hot.”

“Take off that horrible hoodie,” Heaven remarks, scrunching her nose at what I’m wearing as Allie holds out a black hair tie.

“It doesn’t stay in my hair. You can keep it.”

“Thanks.” I smile at her, taking it. I bend over, pulling out my waist-length hair from my hoodie and let it fall forward so I can gather it all up.

I comb my fingers through it before I put it in a high ponytail on top of my head, instantly feeling better with it off my neck, cooling the heat that is burning my skin a little.

The game soon begins. There are eleven players on each team. I spot a few familiar faces: Valerian, Jayce, Ares, Asher Nicholson and a couple others I know from sparring.

Jayce is the team captain for our Academy team and, according to Allie, he’s a striker, meaning he kicks the ball into the net or something.

The game rules are pretty much lost on me, although I’ve seen many football matches on TV.

I never really paid attention to the rules, nor has there been a reason to, but…

I find my eyes following Jayce throughout the match.

He’s playing on the team with the red band right now, his black shorts come just above his knees, and his socks are right up to his knees, but every time he kicks, I can see his muscles flex in his trained legs.

He runs his fingers through his hair a few times or shakes his head when his hair gets in his eyes. Shifters playing football are different. It’s far more intense than what you see on TV. They play harder and faster. They’re all sweating as they keep up, trying to outdo one another.

I set up my Schattensicht, so it’s ready for whenever Jayce can link it.

There are a lot of people watching, and it’s getting stuffier or it feels like that, anyway. I soon give in and pull off my hoodie, placing it on my knees as I fix the strap of my bra, so it’s hidden under my short-sleeved white t-shirt.

I reach up and tighten my hair tie when I feel that familiar burning sensation of his gaze. My heart thumps, and I look down, my eyes finding his. Then, under a trick of the light, it’s as if his eyes just trailed over me, but it’s just a trick of the light, nothing more.

The sound of cheering makes Jayce turn sharply, and I realise the other team has scored.

I see the irritation on his face as he turns to his team. He really doesn’t like to lose...

He pauses, his jaw flexing, and I see his eyes flick this way, but it’s fleeting before he runs off.

“So, there’s something I wanted to talk to you guys about,” I whisper. “Switch.”

Heaven cocks a brow before she allows me to squeeze between them both. She mutters a spell, creating a barrier around us so no one can hear.

“Are you about to tell us you like one of my cousins?” Allie asks in a deadpan voice.

“NO!” I hiss, my cheeks heating. “Never.”

Allie gives me a blank look, but simply raises an eyebrow. “So, what do you want to share?”

I swallow, knowing I’m choosing this place as they can’t just scream at me openly, and, hopefully, they’ll calm down by the time they get me alone.

I open my mouth, but the words are stuck in my throat. I swallow and try again. “I uh…”

I can’t do it.

I feel anxious at the thought of their disgust or contempt, or worse, their fear or shock when they realise what goes through my mind.

My heart thuds loudly as the crowd cheers. Someone’s scored a goal…

Allie and Heaven glance back at the game, but it’s only fleeting as they both look at me again.

“We’re waiting,” Heaven murmurs.

“It’s… I- I’ll tell you later,” I say instead. “It’s… a lot…”

This time, neither looks away, and Heaven stands. “We’re leaving now.”

“Now? Let’s finish the match!” I whisper in a panic.

“No, it’s boring. No one even got hit with the ball,” Allie remarks, making me blink. “Let’s go.”

Shit. Shit. Shit, how am I going to explain this to them?

Heaven leads the way back to her room, and no one speaks until we are there. The moment we enter, she casts a spell and locks the door. “What is it, Si?”

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to squash the panic that is already rising within me.

“I… I want to tell you both why I can’t control my powers,” I whisper, my heart squeezing with panic. I look between them, but both are simply looking at me, waiting.

I open my mouth, but I can’t say it. My stomach sinks, and I feel sick. I don’t want to lose them. “I-”

My phone beeps, and I pick it up, my heart thumping. “I have to go! Division 9 has to go deal with something.” I get up quickly when Allie steps closer.

“What were you going to say, Si? You know we won’t tell anyone, right?” she pushes, her sharp eyes piercing into me.

I nod. “I know, I just… I have to go.” I whisper, the guilt making my stomach churn, before I turn and rush from the room. I am going insane! How did I think I’d be able to tell them?

“Si, it takes two seconds to say it,” Heaven says, her eyes now full of worry.

“When I come back.” I’m not sure I can keep that promise, but I have to try.

“I’m going to hold you to that,” Allie warns, her eyes holding the same fire as it did when she saw me break down at Dad’s funeral and promised she’d find a way to kill the god behind it.

I turn away, my heart thumping as I look at the mission brief. Some attacks on a camping group 10 miles out from here, not sure what it is, but we’ll find that out when we get there.

Returning to my room, my eyes spotting the sleek Schattenblüte box on the bed, I go over to it and lift the lid off. A belt sits in the centre of the box.

Ms Delfino has sent me one of the two long-sleeved versions I had picked.

I undress and put the belt on, pressing the centre. The suit instantly wraps around my body, making me gasp as I feel it tighten around my waist, breasts, arms, and thighs. I look in the mirror and, for a moment, admire how it looks.

My heart thuds as I look at the design I chose.

It’s even more gorgeous in person, made from a fabric that feels somewhere between leather and velvet.

The thin silver almost gleams as if it’s glowing, running seamlessly along the outfit.

It accentuates my curves, and I feel a little self-conscious, but when I turn, nothing is bouncing, everything is held in place, even if it’s skin tight.

I look like a badass warrior, but I’m a fraud…

I quickly redo my hair in a high pony, making sure all of my hair is pulled up. A few strands do escape, but I don’t have time to fix them. I don’t want to be the last person there.

Taking one last look around the room, I can see Anna’s already got half her stuff packed up, not that she unpacked much, knowing she was moving. My stuff, on the other hand, needs packing.