Page 29 of The Tribrid Princess and the Taste of Chaos (The Rossi Legacies #7)

Jayce

A ll colour disappears from her face, and for a moment, she looks like a deer caught in headlights as she looks from Leo to Raihana, and then back at Leo.

I can see her trying to figure out her next sentence. Maybe if it wasn’t Leo sitting opposite her, she might be able to come up with a somewhat believable lie.

“Heaven?” Raihana asks quietly as she stares at Sienna, clearly trying to control her emotions.

“Not exactly…”

She’s lying.

So, Heaven helped her, and I thought us boys were fucking reckless.

“Ahren, go get her,” Raihana orders. “Allie and Tatum, too.”

Ahren’s gaze flicks from Sienna to Raihana before he disappears from his seat with a quiet puff.

“How do they work, Sienna?” Raihana asks her niece.

“They are basically like batteries, power-charged and remain dormant until I pull on them.”

Raihana visibly pales. Placing her hand on one of Sienna’s tattoos and closing her eyes, she whispers a spell, and I feel the buzz of magic in the air before Raihana jerks her hand away.

I can sense her anger and panic rising, but what intrigues me is how the panic is giving way to fear. I glance over at her as she sits there, trying to remain passive and in control. I wonder what is worrying her.

The door opens and the Rossis all troop in. Allie looks across the room, giving both Leo and me a disgusted look before taking a seat opposite me. What did I do?

Heaven sits opposite Sienna, and Tatum takes a seat opposite Ahren.

“The runes, Heaven, how did you create them?”

“Sigils,” Heaven corrects, brushing her fingers through her hair, her face emotionless.

She’s hard to read. Right now, I can pick up on Tatum’s annoyance, Leo’s keen interest, Ahren’s anger, which he hides pretty well as he looks between his sister and cousin, and Alessandra’s disgust, no doubt about the seat she’s sitting in.

“Sigils. Whatever. How did you even come across the spell?” Raihana asks, her voice shaking ever so slightly.

Sienna frowns as she stares down at the desk, guilt enveloping her.

This girl’s emotions are always off the fucking chart.

She projects them so strongly, it overpowers everything else.

“There were mentions of it in a certain book,” she now says, looking at Raihana before apologetically mouthing a ‘sorry’ at Heaven, who still remains unfazed.

“Yes, mentions. I am asking how you learned how to perform the spell!” Raihana’s snaps.

“Does it matter? No harm is being done. It’s helping Sienna, so I really don’t see what the problem is, Mama,” Heaven says lightly, but I sense the underlying tone beneath the nonchalance. She may not project her emotions, but she’s not happy.

“It matters. Because there’s only one person I know of who could perform this kind of spell and of this calibre!” Raihana shouts as she stands up, slamming her hand on the table. A flash of hurt crosses Heaven’s eyes. I don’t think she’s used to being shouted at.

“Aunty! It’s not her fault! She has done nothing but help me! It was my idea!” Sienna exclaims defensively, jumping to her feet, her hair brushing my face, and I lean back. She’s lying.

Ahren’s frowning, but he remains silent.

“That’s not true, Si. I was the one who suggested it,” Heaven corrects as she now stands with an odd elegance. It’s kinda weird for a girl her age.

“Heaven…”

“Maybe that’s where I have gone wrong. We are witches, so why don’t we go by our given name as we should?”

“You’re a hybrid, Heaven,” Raihana reminds her.

“Well… we’ll see about that. But I am Aldona of House di Bianco Galdur, regardless.”

A tense silence fills the room. That name… That’s Endora’s bloodline… yeah, fucked up situation.

“You are Heaven Somers.”

“Doesn’t matter what you want to call me; it doesn’t change my lineage. I am capable-”

“Heaven! Tell me, where did you learn that spell?!” Raihana shouts, making Sienna flinch.

“Alright, relax, Raihana,” Leo cuts in, but Raihana raises a finger.

“I’m talking to my daughter. I don’t need anyone to interfere,” she warns the King. If it wasn’t so serious, I’m sure a few of us would savour this moment.

“Then maybe you’d like to do that in private?” Leo counters coldly

“First smart thing he’s said,” Allie whispers, earning a frown from Leo.

“Here is fine,” Heaven says, giving Leo an emotionless smile.

She’s always been like this.

“Where did you learn the spell, Heaven?” Tatum asks, looking up at his sister as he takes her hand and gives it a squeeze. That seems to do the trick as she closes her eyes for a moment.

“I learned it from my ancestors.”

Silence. It’s almost as if everyone’s heart has stopped, a chilling wave filling the room.

Sienna stills as she drops into her seat, her heart the first to start racing wildly as she stares ahead, so stunned she seems to have forgotten that her cardigan is hanging open.

I keep my attention off her tits. The last thing I need is Ahren to notice, or Tatum.

I’m not sure which one is more annoying at this point when it comes to her.

“Endora. From the very monster who ruined so many lives?! It’s not possible, your aunty- your mother!” Raihana begins, looking at Sienna before her head snaps back to Heaven, “Went to the brink of death to cut the link between me and that monster!”

“Well, seems like you may have cut yourself out of the equation, but it didn’t cut our line for good; it just passed onto me while you’re still alive.”

Even Leo is silent, a deep frown on his face, and I can almost see his mind working.

“Then we sever it again. Del can do it, maybe Ahren. You are not to converse with-”

“Mama! Enough! You may not have had the control to fight her, but I am not you. And no one gets to choose what I do, not even you.” Heaven’s voice rings through the room, and I almost feel bad for Raihana. It would suck for anyone to have to be treated like that in front of an audience.

I look around the room, wondering if anyone is going to speak, or is this usual Rossi behaviour? When no one speaks, I sit forward.

“We’re going a little off topic, and it’s been a long night.

I can confirm right now everyone’s emotions are fucking loud but hers.

” I glance at Heaven. “If she’s saying she can control it, I believe her.

She might be angry, but she is in control.

” I glance at Leo. I didn’t sense a lie when she said that to her mom, either.

I then glance at Sienna. “Unlike this one.”

I earn a pout from her, but she doesn’t seem pissed at my remark.

He nods. “We’ll figure that out another time, Raihana. Cool off if you need to, but we’re here for the barriers and what was taken,” Leo says.

Ahren sighs as he looks over at Tatum, then at the three girls, but says nothing.

“No need,” Raihana says and takes her seat, tight-lipped, her anger still obvious.

“Also… it was Ahren who got us the book that first mentioned the sigils,” Alessandra throws in.

Did she really just throw Ahren under the bus?

Ahren arches a brow at her, but she simply gives him a smug shrug.

“Just facts.”

“I’m sorry, this is my fault. But Heaven did help me. All she’s doing is the same as everyone else, trying to help me,” Sienna says softly.

Ahren leans in closer to her, and I barely catch the words, “Cover up.”

Hmph, like I haven’t already got up close to her.

“Alright, everyone, just go back to your dorms. Jayce, send me what pictures you have of that book. I don’t think there’s any other copy of the book, is there?” Leo frowns.

“No, those that are non-translatable weren’t duplicated,” Raihana confirms. “We should change that.”

“Fuck,” Leo mutters. “They know where we are, but I still don’t know where they are.”

I can tell that it’s getting to him.

“Alpha Matherson may have something. Best to ask him,” I suggest, glancing at Sienna, who has smoothly wrapped her cardigan around herself. She was about to tell me something before shit went down… and I plan to get it out of her.

Raihana is the first to turn and leave the room. “Come, Ahren, we need to work on the barriers.”

“Do you want my help?” Heaven asks.

“Go to bed,” Raihana replies curtly, not turning back.

“Sure,” Heaven says, tossing her hair over her shoulder. And holding her head up high, she leaves the room. Ahren offers her a smile, but she ignores him. Tatum pinches the bridge of his nose as he stands up and excuses himself.

Why are girls so much more emotional? And I mean all of them.

Sienna looks like she’s about to cry, her emotions heightening again. And Allie is dissecting the table, staring at probably some random speck of dust.

I stand up, about to leave, when I glance at Leo. “Does everyone know about the attack?”

“If you mean your family, yeah.”

I give him a curt nod. Mom will be worried then. Sienna gets up to follow me, and we don’t speak as I lead the way back to our dorm, and I mind-link my brothers.

Mom wanted us all to meet up for dinner. Let’s do it tomorrow evening. I’ll get our leave sorted, I say.

Sure, I ain’t doing nothing. Theo is the first to answer.

That’s a bit fucking last-minute, ain’t it? Ares replies.

I do have plans already, Carter adds.

Irritation seeps through me. Renji?

Hey, I’m game. I did have plans, but I am more than happy to reschedule.

Smart answer, because I was fucking about to blow.

Well, I had a date, so I don’t know if I want to reschedule, Carter adds.

You’re all going to be there. I don’t give a shit if you had plans or not, you know Mom will be worried after that attack, I explain curtly.

She does need to get used to it, though, things are going to continue-

Ares, I snarl in warning, my eyes are blazing, and he’s fucking lucky that he’s not in front of me.

Alright, Jayce, relax. We’ll all make it. Right, Ares? Renji tries to defuse the tension.

Fight, fight. Jaycey boy and Ares the Arse boy! Theo sings.

That doesn’t even rhyme, Carter cuts in.

Fuck you, Theo, Ares curses.

Seven tomorrow. With that, I cut the link, blocking them all out.

“You ok?” Sienna asks me from behind, curiosity in her eyes. She probably sensed my anger.

“Yeah,” I answer, looking around the halls. Some kids are making their way to their dorms, but the tension still lingers.

Blood still covers my hands and Sienna… I want to ask her what she was about to say because it definitely wasn’t about her sigils, but now isn’t the time.

Every time we look at one another, those memories return, the tension between us like a crackling live wire.

We enter Division Nine quarters, where the rest of the division members are obviously waiting for us.

“What the fuck happened?” Valerian asks.

“Long story, and I need a shower,” I say.

“Is it true that you fought the enemy witch?” Maralai asks Sienna, her eyes wide with curiosity as she looks at her.

“Umm, kinda. She was strong and if she wasn’t called away…” Sienna trails off, and I resist the urge to correct her. She doesn’t give herself any credit.

“Jayce!” Allison steps into my path, and I frown as I brush past her.

“As I said, I need a shower,” I reply coldly before I walk right into the bathroom, locking the door behind me.

Twenty minutes later, I step out of the bathroom in a towel, only to see Sienna sitting on the sofa a little too close to Lucius as they grill her.

“What the hell are you guys doing? We have lessons tomorrow. Get to bed,” I command, glaring around the room.

“Really, Jayce?” Artemis cocks a brow as she looks down at me pointedly.

I cock a brow but say nothing, ignoring the others staring. Haven’t they seen a man in a towel before?

My eyes find Sienna’s, and I notice how hers have darkened already, and I have half a mind to call her to my room so we can continue what we almost began…

“Get to bed. You need the rest,” I order instead, turning and entering my bedroom, ignoring the giggling, idiotic girls behind me.

Shutting the door after me, I drop a message in our family group chat.

Renji has already filled them in, and I feel relieved for that.

I toss my phone onto the bed as I drop onto my desk chair and run my fingers through my wet hair.

I need to unwind…

There’s far too much to think through. So I grab my sketchbook and, flipping it open, look down at the page I landed on. Her butterflies… Last term I wondered how many she had, but I saw a few more tonight.

I begin marking them all down slowly. Eight on her thigh, one on her neck, six on her arms… I massage my temples, trying not to envision every curve of her body.

I can hear everyone heading to their rooms now. The last-minute shouts, the exhausted promises of what they’ll do tomorrow, the yawns, Sienna saying goodnight as she says she’s off to shower.

Flipping onto a clean page, I begin sketching her, my mind unable to block the thoughts of her out.

I’m almost done shading in her breasts when I hear a small puff behind me, and I snap the sketchbook shut just as Ahren appears a few feet away.

“Boo,” he says. I shove the book away and turn in my chair. I glare at him.

“Shouldn’t you knock?” I growl.

“Wow, you have never been so hostile. What’s up?” Ahren cocks a brow.

“Ever heard of privacy? What if I had a girl in here?” I cock a brow.

“If there was one, she would have been here by now,” he answers.

Before I can reply, there’s a knock on the door. Something tells me it might just be Sienna, and I fucking hope not. “Yeah?” I call.

“Jayce?”

I look at Ahren, and his eyebrow arches even higher.

Well, fuck.