Page 32 of The Tribrid Princess and the Taste of Chaos (The Rossi Legacies #7)

Jayce

“ W ords well spoken,” Dad says, a small frown on his face. “I do agree. Finding someone who fits and is able to handle the pressure is going to be hard.”

“Gramps, you’re getting out of shape sitting at home. You should try for it,” Theo suggests with a smirk.

Grandad raises an eyebrow. “I think you were looking in the mirror rather than at me when you made that assumption,” he counters with an equally cocky smirk.

“Ooo damn, Grandad burned ya!” Ares snickers. My lips twitch slightly.

“But it’s not a bad idea…” Mom says, her face serious, just as the two waiters place our drinks down.

“It’s not for me, it’s a big responsibility, and call me selfish, but I like to spend time with my woman and my daughter.” He wraps his arm around Grandma’s shoulders and looks over at Mom, giving her a small smile.

“The house would be quiet if Grandad left. It would mean Grandma would leave, too, and with Dad gone, Mom would be all alone,” Renji adds.

“Do you think that’s why Mom was given two mates?” Theo whispers loudly, making Renji choke on his drink, causing Carter to slap his back and Dad to frown.

“That was a test for me. Nothing to do with your mother,” he growls. Dad’s chill, until it comes to Mom anyway.

“Do you have someone in mind? The way you said that makes me wonder?” Grandma asks me now.

I shake my head. “No, I mean there are a few people, including both you and Grandad that would fit the role, but I know it’s a job that’s going to take its toll. It won’t be easy,” I answer truthfully.

“That’s a job Leo can deal with, you know? Finding a replacement. Who put you in charge?” Ares remarks, downing his glass and pouring himself another from the jug.

Your small dick energy is really getting fucking annoying. What the fuck is your problem?

He looks at me, about to answer, when Dad speaks first. “Ares,” he warns.

“Jayce isn’t wrong, though. We need a headmaster who sticks around, one who can deal with everything,” Renji muses.

“You know who’d make a good headmistress?” Theo asks, sitting forward as he picks up his glass.

“I worry about what you’re about to come out with,” Mom says with a small, amused smile.

“My Mama,” Theo says, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “Small but feisty, smart and level-headed. Strong and sassy.”

“Agreed,” Grandma says. “Raven has always been strong.”

“And if Mom was in charge, you’d be breaking all the rules,” Ares says.

“Exactly my thought, and look at you boys putting forward your own family!” Mom says suspiciously.

“So what? The Rossis are ok to put themselves forward, can’t we?” Carter remarks, but it’s spoken lightly as he smiles slightly. “Honestly, it’s not a job I’d love for anyone.”

“Yeah…” Dad sighs. Just then, food arrives, and we all dig in. The other four bicker and muck around whilst we talk and discuss the latest, and soon the evening passes by quickly. Eating, laughing, joking.

Times like this are those moments where I miss home, but for the first time, I’m also looking forward to heading back and training with her.

“You were more distracted today,” Grandad remarks, his cerulean eyes observing me as we all troop out of the restaurant. Only Dad’s inside as he’s settling the bill, and Grandma, who went to the bathroom.

I raise an eyebrow. “Am I?”

“I’ve seen that look before.”

I’m not about to ask him what “look”. I’ve learned with Grandad, don’t test him.

“Sure,” I say, simply making him chuckle. “Really, though, I’m proud of you. You’ll be a good alpha when the time comes.”

“I’ll be happy if I’m half as good as you, Grandma or Dad,” I reply quietly.

“You will be.” Grandad pats my shoulder when I see Carter stumble back. We turn to see Theo standing there, glaring at him.

“What’s going on, boys?!” Mom exclaims.

“Can you not fucking butt in every single time? It’s between us!” Carter snarls, turning his glare on her, making anger flare through me.

Mom frowns. “Carter, I’m your mother-”

“Yeah, you never let us forget-”

“Don’t talk to her like that, Carter,” Renji says quietly, as Grandad and I stride over.

“Boys,” Grandad says warningly.

“You’re hurt,” Mom exclaims with concern as she reaches for Carter, who now sports a bloody nose thanks to Theo.

“I said stop it!” Carter shouts, shaking her hand off, the force sending Mom stumbling.

I see fucking red.

“Carter,” I snarl menacingly, closing the gap between us, the urge to snap his fucking neck almost taking over. I grab the front of his shirt, shaking him roughly as I glare at him. Don’t you ever fucking lay a finger on her!

“She was butting in. Get the fuck off me!”

“I’m fine, Jayce. Come on, let’s not ruin the evening,” Mom says cheerfully. She’s hurt, no matter how cheerful she tries to sound, she’s not ok. I can sense her emotions, and that fucking pisses me off.

She can say whatever the fuck she wants. Remember, she’s the reason you’re even on this fucking planet! I snarl through the mind-link. Apologise.

Like fuck I’m going to! You bastard, let me go. You already ruined my fucking day, and now you’re trying to play the fucking knight?

Apologise. This time, I tighten my hold, promising murder if he dares defy me. My aura swirls around me as we both glare at one another before he grits his teeth.

“Fine,” he says, and I let go of him. If only the bastard knew the only reason I’m not beating the shit out of him is because she’s standing right here. “Sorry, Mom.” Sarcasm drips from his voice before he turns and, shaking his head, walks off.

“Carter…” Mom calls softly, her eyes glittering with worry.

“He’ll be fine. What happened?” Dad asks as he and Grandma come towards us.

“It doesn’t matter,” Mom says, looking up at Dad before turning to me. “Don’t be too hard on him.”

“I won’t. But he doesn’t get a pass to disrespect you.”

“Agreed,” Dad says, irritation clear in his voice. If he had seen what happened, he would have been equally pissed.

“Ok, ok, enough. Congratulations once again, Jayce,” Mom says, smiling brightly as she holds out a small gift box. “A little gift from the four of us.”

“That wasn’t necessary, but thanks,” I say, accepting it. I open it to see a chain inside. “I like it, thanks.” I look at the four of them before slipping the box into my pocket and wrapping my arms around Mom.

“I’ll miss you,” she says. “All of you.”

“Me too,” I reply, giving her a small smile as I step back and meet Grandma next as Mom meets Theo, scolding him for hitting Carter.

“He deserved it, just like Jaycey said.”

Mom snorts, knowing Theo isn’t the most innocent, before she hugs Ares and Renji.

Once we’ve bid farewell, I head back, ready to get back to the Academy.

After checking in and notifying the office of my return, I go straight to the training grounds, not wasting any time. I’m about to text Sienna that I’m headed there when I catch her scent. Reaching the open training ground, I see her jogging around the length of the area.

I watch her for a moment. Her hair is up in a bun, and she’s wearing her suit. The fabric clings to every curve of her perfect body, and even with the compression of the fabric, her breasts still bounce slightly as she runs. She has earpods in and clearly hasn’t noticed I’m here.

I cross my arms, leaning against the wall, watching as she does a few cartwheels before continuing running.

I suppress a smile. I do wish she were herself more often.

I remember her as a kid. She always stood out.

Not that I’m about to admit that. When she turns at the far corner, she notices me and comes to an abrupt stop, breathless.

Her cheeks flush as she raises one hand to her breasts, that tantalising move she always does when she’s shy or nervous.

She walks towards me, removing her earpods and tucking one of the few curls that frame her face behind her ear. “Hey…”

“Hey,” I find myself replying. Yeah, I’m settling for that when what I want to do is pull her close and kiss her.

She blushes again, looking away, and once again, I’m flooded with what happened last night.

“Ready for training?” I ask, trying not to think about how much I want to yank her against me.

She nods. “Yes. It looks like it might rain.”

“Well then, let’s hope we’re done by then, although I don’t mind the rain.”

She tilts her head up, looking at the sky. “Same…”

“Alright, so, we’re doing something a little different tonight. See those?” I point to swaying metal beams that are suspended twenty–thirty metres above us.

“Yeah,” she says, planting her hands on her hips.

“You’re going to be running along those whilst I shoot balls into the sky, and your goal is to destroy them before they hit the ground. And the beams will be moving.”

She looks at me before looking up at them. “I’ve used the beams, but I don’t know how good I’ll be at shooting targets…”

“Only one way to find out, then.”

“What if I lose my balance?” she asks.

“Then I’ll be here to catch you if you fall.”

She tilts her head to look at me, and I try to ignore the way her heart rate picks up.

“You have a lot of faith in yourself. I might just have to let myself fall to see if you really will,” she says with a glint of mischief in her eyes.

“Go ahead, I wouldn’t mind having you in my arms again.”

Shit.

Our eyes lock.

Are we really flirting?

I look away and focus on the swaying beams that are at a slight angle so they’re never really steady, feeling her gaze burn into me.

“So, let’s start,” I say quietly, massaging my jaw.

“Wish me luck,” she murmurs as she looks up at the beams and heads to the end of the training field to climb one of the several posts to get to the beams.

We’ve used these beams in wolf and human forms, but I want to see if she’d be able to focus on the target without her power spiralling when half her mind has to focus on the swinging beams.

“And a warning! Even the smallest winds make those beams swing.”