Page 44 of The Tribrid Princess and the Taste of Chaos (The Rossi Legacies #7)

Sienna

“ H e’s going to be ok, Kiara is on her way,” Uncle Leo says as he walks into the hospital room. I nod. I feel numb as I stare down at Jayce, my mind flitting to the moment after the monster had left. I sit on the bed, one hand resting on his arm, tracing the curve of his biceps with my fingertips.

I nod, looking down at him. I had tried to heal him, but it wasn’t enough.

A bandage now covers his nose, but it’s already turning a dark red.

The cut on it is brutal and terrifying; it’s a deep gash that refused to clot at all.

Blood was spilling from it like a fountain; it flooded his face and drowned his eyes.

It was a terrifying sight, and I was so scared, not realising where it was coming from at first, and then trying to figure out if he was ok.

I shiver as the memory returns.

Blood.

Blood is everywhere, surrounding him. My heart is in my mouth, terror clinging to me.

The power still ripples in the air as I drop to my knees and hold his head in my hands, gasping at the horrifying scene in front of me.

“Jayce… oh baby…” I whimper as blood covers his entire face. There’s so much I don’t know where it’s coming from. Whispering a healing spell, my lips tremble as I try to focus on healing. I wish I had some herbs, but I don’t. I’ve never been strong in my healing spells.

“Please be ok.”

My vision blurs with tears as I wipe the blood from his face, now realising it’s his nose.

Jayce…

He parts his lips, but he’s unable to speak a word. He’s too exhausted.

He almost died.

I keep chanting the spell, running my hand over his injuries.

My mind’s still reeling from what happened. I had seen the royal mark blaze through his suit on his upper back, and I had known before the man even spoke that Jayce was one of the four rulers.

I thought he’d win, but he didn’t, despite how powerful he is. All around us, the earth is upturned and destroyed. Jayce did all that, and that man – no monster – wasn’t even fazed.

But despite that, we are alive. Are we really just cheating death, or are they just toying with us? First Velasara, now this man?

I gently lift his head to my chest as I rock him slowly as I finish with the spell.

I need to call for help. Looking around, it takes me a moment to focus. I push up his jacket sleeve that I’m still wearing, using my Schattensicht to call the first person who comes to mind.

“Sienna?” Uncle Leo’s voice is sharp and cold as usual, but even I don’t miss the underlying tension in it.

“We need help. Jayce is badly hurt. There was a man here, and he was too strong. Jayce is losing too much blood, and I can’t stop it! This place is wrecked; there were three manananggals, and we need help. I can share my location-”

“I have your location. Someone will be there soon. Don’t worry, he’s going to be fine. I’m checking his vitals through his Schattensicht. Stay on call with me, and try to calm down. You’re going to be ok. Are you hurt?”

“No, I’m fine, just exhausted. Jayce- he… Jayce… help him.” I break into sobs as I hug him close to me. My body screams in pain, but it’s nothing in comparison to how worried I am for him.

Jayce, please be ok!

Shortly after that call, although it felt like ages, Carter, Renji and Theo had arrived on scene with a witch from Carter’s division with them.

She began healing Jayce instantly while Renji made sure I was ok, but I refused to move, not wanting to let go of Jayce.

And then shortly after that, as she was working on Jayce, a few warriors of the Sangue Pack, accompanied by another witch, arrived.

After checking and healing Jayce and me the best they could, a portal was created right outside the Sangue Pack, and we came here.

However, even with both those witches trying to heal him completely, the gash on his nose didn’t get any smaller, nor did it stop dripping blood.

“Does my mama know? Or Aunty Ri?” I ask quietly. He looks at me for a second before he speaks, as if choosing his words carefully.

“No, not yet. Your injuries were not fatal, and you’re fine, but if you’re asking if they will find out, the answer is yes. I know they’ll want to know, and you’re not yet 18, so-”

“I’m literally 18 in two days. They will just worry!” I say, removing my hand from Jayce’s arm and look over at the King.

“It’s not up for fucking debate. Your mother has a right to know.”

I don’t bother arguing; I’m more worried about Jayce. “And his parents, do they know?”

“Not yet, we’ll figure that out after Kiara gets here,” he replies as he checks Jayce’s vitals. “Can you explain the man you both fought?”

“He wore a mask, and had black hair, that’s all I remember,” I admit, disappointed in myself.

“It doesn’t matter. We’ll figure it out.”

The door opens, and Azura and Aunty Kiara enter. Worry is plastered on Aunty Kiara’s face as she rushes to the bedside, her aura glowing purple as she places one hand on Jayce’s forehead, the other on his abdomen. Uncle Leo moves away, giving her space as Azura comes around the bed to my side.

My heart is thumping as I watch him. Please be ok.

Please…

“You ok, Si?” Azura asks me, placing a hand on my arm.

I nod, trying not to cry as I stare at Jayce.

“He’s going to be fine. He can handle a lot.

Don’t be upset, or I might think something is going on between the two of you.

” She chuckles, trying to lighten the atmosphere, but her words simply make me burst into tears.

Aunty Kiara looks up at me with concern as Azura wraps her arms around me. “Hey…”

“Si, my angel, he’s going to be ok, I promise. He’s just drained,” Aunty Kiara says softly.

I cover my face as I sob quietly and nod. “I should have done better.”

“You did great.”

My heart skips a beat as I pull free from Azura’s hold and turn to look at Jayce, who has his eyes open slightly, those beautiful, green eyes illuminated by the purple glow of Aunty Kiara’s healing power.

“Jayce…” I reach for him when the door opens, and I freeze as Theo, Carter and Renji saunter in.

“You’re awake!” Renji says, relief on his face as he walks over to his brother. Carter and Theo do the same, and I get up and back away from the bed, allowing them to hug him, or in Theo’s case, prod his joints, saying he’s checking if he’s ok.

“Aunty Kiara, you look beautiful as ever. Look at us having a family reunion. I hope there’s food,” Theo says as he hugs her. She smiles up at him, shaking her head in amusement, before turning her attention back to Jayce.

After a couple more minutes, she moves back, wiping her sweating forehead. “I’m afraid the scar on your nose will remain… Was there poison involved?”

Jayce nods slowly, about to touch it, but then decides against it.

“He used a strange blade; it had an odd energy to it. I still remember the way it hummed, and it glowed slightly.” I look at Jayce, trying to keep myself together.

“Pretty much, yeah. He had a message.” Jayce frowns now, looking at Uncle Leo. “Tell the Adonai, I have arrived… Let it begin.”

The room is silent as everyone allows the words to sink in.

“Then we’d better pass that message on to Dante,” Uncle Leo says quietly. “We might need a witch to replay that scene just so we can see what exactly happened. You’re not fucking weak, so how strong was he?”

“Strong enough to make me feel pretty fucking useless,” Jayce murmurs.

“A little failure is sometimes important to not let it get to your head,” Carter says with a raised eyebrow.

“You’re alive, and that’s the main thing,” Renji says, squeezing his shoulder slightly. Carter nods, but his eyes are on me before he looks at Jayce.

“And where were you headed to anyway?” he asks.

Jayce doesn’t reply, but from the way the boys are looking at one another, I know they’re mind-linking. Renji chuckles and winks at me, making me look away, and I hear Theo whistle, but I don’t look up, feeling suddenly very self-conscious.

“Alright, the rest of you get back to school. Jayce and Sienna will return in the morning,” Uncle Leo says as he looks over at Aunty Kiara. “Can I get a report on exactly how deep his injuries were?”

“Of course.” She nods as she pats Jayce’s cheek gently and kisses his forehead before she comes over to me. She cups my cheeks, and I feel her healing pour into me.

“I’m fine…” I murmur, but she only steps back after she’s satisfied.

“You going to be ok?” Azura asks. I nod, giving her a smile as Uncle Leo lights a cigarette.

“Kiara?” he says, leading the way out. Aunty Kiara follows, leaving us with the quints and Azura. Ares isn’t here. I wonder why.

“So…” Azura says the moment the doors shut. “What are you two up to, aiy?” She plants her hands on her hips, looking between us suspiciously.

“None of your business,” Jayce retorts as he sits up, and the blanket falls onto his lap. My eyes widen as I stare at his endless abs and his delicious V.

Oh gods…

“Oh, I’m not dumb,” Azura says slyly, and I know she’s watching me as I look away quickly.

Renji and Theo laugh, and even Carter has a tiny smile on his face.

“I’d like to book a front-row seat when you break the news to Ahren,” Carter says cockily.

“Shut it… Give us some space,” Jayce says, touching his nose, his brows furrowing slightly.

“You and Dad are both now rocking facial scars. You look good, man,” Theo says as Renji nods.

“I do agree, but the fact it’s left a mark… I’m sorry we weren’t there,” he says quietly.

“Yeah… What did I just say?” Jayce repeats, making Azura laugh – no, cackle is the right word.

“Sure, we’ll give you both a few minutes,” she says slyly. “There are some pants over there.”

“Yeah! Keep it PG, kids!” Theo calls, and I look down shyly, my cheeks burning. Once the door shuts, I let out a breath I didn’t even realise I was holding.

“Ignore them,” Jayce says as he gets up, wrapping the bed sheet around his waist. Relief floods me as he stands, and I run over to him, wrapping my arms around him from behind.

He tenses, placing his free hand over my hands, caressing them gently. Tears stream down my cheeks as I inhale his scent, my face buried in his back.

“You could have died,” I whisper, my heart squeezing.

His hand stills, and he sighs. “And you could have, too. I keep putting you in harm’s way.”

I look up as I let go, walking around him to look up at him. “You don’t. I’m the one who puts you in danger.”

“Really, Sienna? I’m the one who took you to Oxford because I fucking believed I could keep you safe. Imagine if something happened to you.”

“It didn’t, though.”

“It could have. Your family has lost far more than they should have; they can’t lose you.”

I feel as if I’ve been slapped. He turns away as he picks up the pants and then turns back to me. He walks towards me, but instead of stopping, he brushes past me before removing his bedsheet and placing it on the bed.

I don’t turn as I hear the rustling as he puts them on, and then he’s walking back around to stand in front of me, tying the drawstrings of his white sweatpants.

“And they won’t lose me, we’ll just be more careful,” I say, fear settling into my stomach. He’s not pulling away from me, is he?

He nods. “Yeah…” He cups my face, wiping away my tears. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t… enough.”

I shake my head. “You were, don’t talk like that, Jayce, please. I’m just glad you’re ok. You were incredible. It reminded me of last year when Leo and Royce were sparring against Dante, just a much more violent version. Whoever he is, he’s not normal.”

“Hmm… and I’m supposedly the Deimos King… and I was beaten. Easily.”

I look up at the man I love, and this time I cup his face, my eyes blazing. “That fight was unfair, you tore up the entire road. You were incredible. I’m alive, Jayce, and so are you, and that’s all that should matter,” I whisper, my eyes stinging.

He nods, and I can’t read him, but the way he looks away, the glimmer of guilt remains.

“I wish I were able to help, too.”

“You did your best, too. The attack was too fast to even coordinate or work together. He was too fast, too strong…” He frowns before pressing his lips to my forehead. “We stick to the plan. I’ll talk to Ahren when I get the chance. This – us, stays between us here.”

“Your brothers know?”

“Yeah, but they won’t tell anyone. I’ll make sure Azura and Leo don’t bother you either.”

“I don’t want to hide, it’s my birthday in two days-”

“Everything about this is fucked up. I don’t think your family is going to appreciate that I put you in fucking danger-”

“You took me on a date! Does it matter what they think? Why do you care about their feelings and not mine?” I exclaim, my heart pounding. I’m so worried about him. I just want him to kiss me, and instead he’s worried about what my family will think!

“I promised to be yours… I’m not about to step out. I fucking care for you, Darling, but I also know how much your family means to you and what they’ve gone through. I love you, and I just want to do this right…” His eyes widen, my own heart thudding as his words echo in my mind.

I love you.

He said I love you.