Page 37 of The Tribrid Princess and the Taste of Chaos (The Rossi Legacies #7)

Sienna

T here’s a shout from outside, and we both look towards the door, Jayce swiftly putting distance between us.

I wish he hadn’t; I like it when he’s close.

“I think if you make a focal point to channel your mind to, a place to draw your power to, that might help when things get intense,” he continues.

It makes sense somewhat, but I’m doubtful. I’ve tried to control it countless times. And sitting in, I don’t think I’ll last too long, just like last time. “Ok, but when I say it’s getting too much, can I leave?”

He looks at me, and that pause makes me doubt he’ll agree. “Sure,” he says, surprising me.

I narrow my eyes. “Really?” I push.

“Sure. If it gets too much.”

“It will, it always does.” I sigh.

“One way to find out,” he says as he walks to the door.

Not even a kiss… I purse my lips, hating the fact that he’s back in control of his emotions.

Is he having doubts? I follow him to the door, and he pulls it open.

I brush past him, making sure I make contact as I do, but I don’t spare him a glance.

I lead the way to the training hall, feeling his eyes on me, but if he wants to play it cool, so can I.

Wait, can he sense that I’m annoyed?

When we reach the door to the training hall, I watch him suspiciously. If he can sense it, he doesn’t let on. What if I act too annoyed and he decides this is a bad idea? My heart sinks at the thought, and any annoyance I felt vanishes.

“Your emotions are more confusing than the British weather…” he murmurs as he now leads the way across the training hall.

I can feel people watching us, but I keep my eyes ahead, and the view is actually very hot.

Jayce walks with an effortless confidence, which oozes sexiness and arrogance, and gods, could I watch him all day.

His broad back and his ass, like the rest of him, are perfect.

He stops behind the wall that leads to the medical room, and he drops onto the floor, leaning against the wall.

“Here?” I ask.

He reaches for my wrist and tugs me down beside him; my heart skips a beat as he looks me in the eye before leaning in and whispering, “Yeah, it’s perfect, out of sight, but close enough. Can you cast a spell so no one can hear us?”

I nod, my cheeks heating a little at what that could insinuate, too. I whisper the spell, my attention fixed on my wrist, which he hasn’t let go of. Once it’s done, I sit down beside him.

“Face the open side,” he commands.

“Ok.” I turn, so my left knee is touching the wall and cross my legs. From where I’m sitting, I can see the corners of a few sparring mats spread several meters apart.

“Alright, let it all in, and try to find your calm space.” His voice is low as I take a deep breath, already feeling the emotions of all those out there.

I close my eyes, feeling the anger, frustration, and irritation of the students as they fight against one another. The surge of rage when they lose, the determination and desire to win no matter what. Feeling the hatred that anger builds towards their peers…

Minutes pass, and I focus on remaining in control, remaining in charge.

Destroy them all.

Only then will I find peace when all of them are silenced.

I frown as I try to calm my emotions that are already surging around me. I hate it. This is where-

“Relax,” Jayce murmurs, his voice bringing me back to reality, and I gasp, realising I had drifted into my own mind.

I take a deep, shaky breath, nodding when I feel him shift position so he’s sitting with his legs pressed gently against my ass as he scoots forward until he is sitting cross-legged right behind me.

“I am,” I say as I close my eyes again.

“Don’t fight it, welcome it. Picture somewhere you like going, a favourite spot maybe? Imagine you’re there.”

I frown as I try to think and picture something. The first thing that comes to mind is me in Jayce’s arms in the rain as he kisses me.

“Got it?” he asks, his breath caressing my cheek, making my stomach flutter despite the chaos hammering against me, wanting to be let in.

I nod. “Alright… now create something, a jar, a ball, something where this power will run into, but it’s not suppressed, it’s simply there. Ready for you to use.”

Where? There’s no place here. It’s just the two of us.

“Relax… take your time, focus on me,” he whispers, and I feel his hands settle on my waist as he gently strokes up and down my waist, teasing, soothing, and incredibly hot.

I would keep trying just to have his hands on me. When I think of him, the chaos is easier to block out… but he doesn’t want me to block it out.

The bucket! The bucket that was filled with balls! I try to imagine calling the chaotic storm to me, wanting it to settle in the bucket, no lid to suppress it, just there…

I see the shadowy shimmer as I guide it towards the bucket, but suddenly it pulls free, and I try to grasp onto it. Jayce vanishes, and I’m suddenly surrounded by a storm of power that is far bigger than me.

“Sienna, listen to me.” Jayce’s voice is stronger this time, and I blink, my eyes flying open, and I jump to my feet, feeling overwhelmed by the storm.

“I- I can’t,” I whisper, but he blocks my path and shakes his head.

“You can.” The confidence in his words is something I wish I had. “Focus on me…”

I frown, trying, but as the sparring matches continue to grow more competitive, emotions run high.

It’s only two people fighting now, as everyone cheers them on.

But their emotions are so intense that my head hurts, and my powers are becoming far too intense to cope with.

I feel as if I’m teetering on the edge of a cliff, trying to keep my balance despite the battering wind that wants me to drown.

It’s overwhelming.

I shake my head, unable to do this. He takes my hands, rubbing his thumbs over my knuckles.

“Let’s try it together. Picture that place again, alright?”

I try, even though everything feels too much. I focus on his touch. Imagining us by a river… the moon is up. He’s holding me, and I divert the chaotic energy towards the river. Letting it flow freely but orderly-

“Fuck off!” someone snarls, and I feel the surge of rage from them and then my control snaps. I feel the surge of power swirling around me. A few shouts of surprise from the students tell me my power is disturbing them, too.

Jayce nods. “Take a break. Come back when you feel up to it.”

I nod before turning and jogging out of the training hall.

I suck in a breath when I manage to put enough distance between the hall and myself. Sighing, I massage my temples. I failed. Again.

Taking a seat on one of the benches that are scattered across the school, I lean my head against the wall behind me and take a deep, steadying breath. How long did I last in there?

I glance at my Schattensicht, surprised when I see the time. Just over thirty minutes. That’s pretty good. A shadow falls over me, and I look up. It takes me a moment to process the tall young man with sandy blond hair with natural highlights and brilliant blue eyes.

“Sienna?”

“Seth?” I stand up in surprise, not expecting to see him here and remembering how we left things the last time we were together. I suddenly wish I could hide away.

He smiles slightly, if you can call it that. “It’s been a while. How have you been, Si?”

It has, he has a light shadow across his jaw that is more angular than I remember. I can see tattoos peeking out from the top of his uniform, similar to mine, but the deepest shade of blue, rather than black. An earring flashes at the top of his ear, another thing that’s new.

“I’ve been good,” I reply. “You?”

“Been better.” He flashes me that small smirk that I once fell for. An awkward silence falls between us, and I look around the hall, searching for something to say.

“How come you’re here?” I ask, trying to break the tension that has settled between us.

“Some reports from Scotland. You know I’m a tracker, right? Or have you forgotten that, too, since you shut me out?”

Are we doing this now?

He’s smiling, but I can tell he’s still hurting, and guilt rushes through me.

“No, of course not.”

Seth is the younger son of Lola and Rose. Lola was my father’s beta; their older son, Shane, is 22, and they adopted Seth when he was four years old. He’s 19.

I had been dating Seth when Dad passed away, and just like everything else, I shut him out.

I refused to let him near me for fear I’d hurt him, and then he had to leave for his training; he attends Mystic Academy.

After that, if he visited, I avoided him as much as possible.

Only I can’t do that right now, not when he’s standing before me.

“You look great, by the way. Did you dye your hair or is it still getting redder?”

“Yeah, it’s gotten lighter,” I answer, feeling suddenly self-conscious.

“Hey, you ok? You look like a deer caught in headlights, especially with those gorgeous doe eyes.” He reaches over, and I freeze when he places two fingers beneath my chin and tilts it up, just the way Jayce does, but only there’s no intense spark, and my heart isn’t beating out of excitement but panic.

What if Jayce appears?

I step back, my heart thumping with nerves.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Don’t let me keep you, I’ll… see you around.”

“Yeah, I’m here for a couple of days. Exchange of information and battle reports, you know how it is.”

Oh no…

“Awesome,” I say.

I was considering going back to try again, but now I feel even more jittery and out of control. All I want is to get away from Seth. When he looks at me, it feels like he’s peering right into my soul, or is it because he has seen inside?

He knew me better than anyone else. After all, he was my first love, my first kiss, my first time until I shut it down without even an explanation, in fear I’d hurt him.

“Sienna.”

I freeze at that voice, my heart dropping into the pit of my stomach, and I swallow as I turn to see Jayce walking towards us.

I look between the two men. Jayce might have an inch or two on him; he’s more muscular, but Seth has filled out a lot, too.

A reminder that he’s no longer the boy he once was.

Gods, this is not happening.

Jayce’s eyes flick to Seth, whilst Seth looks him over.

“Jayce Westwood, isn’t it? It’s been a while,” Seth says, holding out his hand.

Jayce’s face is emotionless as he accepts his hand. “Seth, yeah, it has,” he replies, clearly having recognised him. “Are you here for Tatum or…?”

“No, just some reports and stuff. I’ll be here for a couple of days.” Seth nods before he turns his attention back to me.

Please, gods no.

I can sense Jayce’s piercing eyes burning into me as well, as if he, too, can read me like an open book. Oh, wait, he can, because he can bloody well sense my emotions!

“Si?”

I look at Seth. “Yeah?” I reply as nonchalantly as I can.

“Would you have time later to meet up? I think we should have a catch-up.”

“Sorry, not today. I have things planned,” I reply quickly – maybe too quickly.

But I do have a date with Jayce!

“I can do it any time. You’re busy for the full day?” He glances at Jayce before stepping closer to me and leaning in. “I think you owe me that much.”

My eyes instantly flick to Jayce over his shoulder, knowing he heard that, and my heart sinks when I see the way his brows knit together, an expression of icy displeasure crossing his face.

“I’ll see you later, Princess,” Seth says. If he didn’t know before, Seth touching my cheek before he walks away is proof enough.

Oh, gods…

I open my mouth to speak when Jayce’s cold eyes settle on me. “Well, if you’re done wasting time, how about you return to training? Try not giving up so damn easily.”

I flinch, hurt flashing through me. “And maybe you could try not being so mean all the time,” I retort, not caring that I sound childish. Turning in the opposite direction, I do what I do best.

I run from my problems.