Page 51 of The Tribrid Princess and the Taste of Chaos (The Rossi Legacies #7)

Sienna

“ D o you think Dante foresaw Ahren’s death?” Allie asks as she stands beside me, staring at my outfit. “I mean… he’s going to be sent to his grave because of what you’re wearing.”

“Ok, ok, I get what you’re implying,” I say, smiling at her explanation.

“Ahuh,” she replies grimly. She doesn’t really like parties, but she wouldn’t miss out on my birthday either. I love her.

“So, is this for Jayce? I mean, are you even going to be at the party for long at that? I’m all for you leaving early so I can leave early too.” Allie raises an eyebrow as she crosses her arms.

“Yes, I will be and no, my outfit was decided before Jayce and I became a thing.” I blush as I do a slow turn in the mirror.

I’m wearing a nude strapless skin-coloured bra beneath my gold metal mesh top, paired with a red leather miniskirt with a tiny slit on my left thigh.

I have thigh-high gold net boots that sparkle just like my top.

Heaven did my nails, and they look gorgeous – long and glittery. I’m wearing gold jewellery, including large earrings set with red rubies. My hair is pinned back, with curls framing my face.

I kept my makeup base dewy with winged liner and red matt lipstick. My stomach knots at the thought of Jayce.

“So, what did Azura get you?” Heaven asks while she’s styling her own hair. Her makeup is soft, her hair is down, and she’s wearing a lilac cropped top with crystal embellishments and a dark purple skirt similar to mine, but without the slit.

I smile. “She got me some nice nightwear. She knows I love my nightwear and they’re all my kinda things, as well as some sexier ones.” I blush at the thought of Jayce seeing them.

“So, nothing naughty?” Allie asks suspiciously.

She looks gorgeous in a dark jade jumpsuit, which is fitted on the legs with long sleeves, paired with a gold belt that Heaven persuaded her to wear – even though she found it a bit too much.

But when I asked, she agreed, saying since it’s my birthday, she’d oblige.

“Do cuffs and a blindfold count?” I ask, making Allie wrinkle her nose. “Plus, she threw in some birth control pills. She said, since I’m not exactly just a wolf, to be careful, and she’s not ready for Jayce to get me pregnant at eighteen.”

Heaven starts laughing. “Zu is damn cool.”

“She is, and it’s nice of her to find time to send me a gift when I know she’s visiting every pack right now with her queen duties,” I agree. She’s assessing pack security as well as making a note of what each pack has requested and needs in terms of protection and security.

“Yeah, she’s a cool queen. She brings humour too. And don’t tell her I said this, but she always finds a way to lift people up,” Allie says as she puts on her earrings.

We’re all in Heaven’s room getting ready. Her roommate isn’t here, giving us the full space to ourselves.

“That’s Azura for you. I think she becomes a friend to people, and she’s really liked,” Heaven agrees.

“Not to mention she gives us fun gifts,” I add. “Allie, maybe you’ll get the same when you turn eighteen.”

“Oh please, Mama asked Sky and Kat to give me the ‘talk’ last year, but I think they all realised that I’m not interested in dating, rubbing dead skin cells or exchanging bodily fluids with anyone.” She shudders.

Heaven tilts her head. “We’ll see, I’m sure in time you’ll change your opinion,” she hums in a singsong voice.

Allie doesn’t reply, simply pausing for a moment, lost in thought, before she shakes her head.

“Oh, I won’t.” She stands and looks at us. “Ok, are we good to go?”

“Yes,” I say, grabbing a knee-length black leather jacket and putting it on over my outfit and tying the belt.

“When the girl knows her outfit is inappropriate…” Allie snickers.

I simply smile, taking a deep breath, ready for this. As the hours of the day had passed by, I could feel something changing within me, and it excites me.

I think I’m getting ready for my wolf. I wonder what colour eyes it will have, wait – maybe red, as Ahren’s wolf has red eyes like his demon.

Ahren’s eyes are creepy, though, his entire eyes glow red, not just the iris, but all of it.

The kind of eyes you don’t want to see in the dark, well, until you notice he’s just eating a cookie and being cheeky.

I know he won’t be happy with my or Heaven’s outfits, but hey, he needs to stop being so controlling.

My eyes widen at my own thoughts, and I instantly feel guilty. Ahren hasn’t been controlling! What on earth made me think that?

Rude much?

We get into our car, and I recognise the driver is one of Uncle Leo’s best friends, Ace. He wasn’t kidding when he said he’d make sure we’ll have top-notch security.

There’s magic in the air, too.

As we travel towards the venue, I’m unable to stop thinking about Jayce. I haven’t seen him all day. He didn’t even reply to or open my last two messages.

I take my phone out and skim my last three messages. Hmm, I was so busy I didn’t even realise that he hadn’t really replied. Not even to the questions I asked. I did absent-mindedly ask Renji about it, but he said he hadn’t seen him either.

SIENNA: Hey, how did the replay of the other night go? Are you ok?

That one, he had replied with a small 100 percent reaction emoji. But nothing was said. And then he didn’t even read the ones I sent after that.

SIENNA: What have you been up to today? I’m about to get ready for the party.

SIENNA: Missing you ?

Maybe he was just busy... I hope so, because not properly replying to even one message feels… off.

Fuck, what if he wasn’t ok about replaying that event, and I was so insensitive and didn’t even go find him?

Feeling worried, I look out of the window at the passing streetlamps and cars. Gods, please say I’m reading too much into it. Heaven asks a question, and I squash the thoughts as I answer her.

A short while later, we reach the venue, my stomach twisting with nerves as I spot several students from school.

Gods, did Ahren invite the entire school?

“Happy Birthday, Sienna!” one of the boys says as he raises his glass to me.

Fourth year, Tenth Division.

Oh my gods, Ahren invited everyone. I suddenly want to hide, and, noticing my step falter, both Heaven and Allie look at me.

“What is it?” Allie asks.

“How many people did Ahren invite?” I whisper, scanning the crowd for the one man I really, really want to see right now, but instead I’m seeing a billion other people here. Did he get to speak to Ahren?

“Pretty much everyone,” Heaven replies with a nod. “Tatum was saying he was handing out verbal invitations like he was Santa.”

I giggle at that.

“That’s why I said he’ll be dying of a heart attack. Also, Seth is here. You never had that talk, did you?” Allie reminds me, arching a brow.

I look at her. “Urgh, I forgot… I do need to… don’t I?”

“Yes,” they both say in unison without batting an eye.

“Well, let’s tackle this entrance first and maybe tomorrow or something, I’ll talk to him,” I say, as Heaven holds out her hand for my coat. I take it off and look at her. “You can see my bra, right?”

She narrows her eyes. “Not really. I mean, it takes me a few looks to realise you’re wearing one.”

“Heaven!”

“It’s the truth!” she protests. “You look gorgeous! Come on, let’s go show the school that the most gorgeous, badass queen has entered the room to celebrate her day.”

“I am not the most gorgeous, everyone is-”

“Shut up.” Allie sighs as both girls drag me toward the door. “But really, you look a bit different… your nose looks smaller.”

“Contour.” I smile as the doors open and a shower of gold confetti falls over us as the room falls silent, before everyone bursts into a unified, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIENNA!”

“Fake cunts,” Allie murmurs ever so quietly. I wonder if she even meant for us to hear it.

I don’t have time to delve into whether my hearing has improved or not as I look around the room full of people, not to mention the gorgeous décor.

The colour palette is gold, rose gold and a deep red.

There’s a huge dance floor area, a seating area with booths to one side, an open buffet, a dessert table and a lavish, stunning cake.

“Whoa… is that Sienna Rossi? Damn…”

“Holy fuck.”

“She looks gorgeous.”

Someone whistles, and I blink as I pick up on the compliments.

“And incoming… Ahren.” Heaven nudges me.

I look up to see Ahren walking towards me. He’s not wearing a smile, and he looks a bit… Annoyed? Perplexed? I’m not sure.

“Happy Birthday, Si, but really?” he asks, frowning as he pulls me into a hug.

“Hey, it’s my birthday. Please don’t say anything today. Besides, it was Aunty Ri who told me where to buy the bra that I AM wearing,” I point out.

He sighs heavily. “ Just because it’s your birthday,” he says, moving back and narrowing his eyes. “But I’ll be watching you and every other fucking man in this place.” His annoyance is clear as he looks at Allie. “You couldn’t advise her?”

“No. I was thinking you might drop dead after seeing her. Shame.” She stares at him, unblinkingly.

Ahren smiles slyly. “Going to take a lot more than that to kill me,” he says as he reaches over and pinches her cheek, earning himself the dirtiest glare.

“Eww.”

“Payback,” he says smugly before giving Heaven a hug. He sighs at her outfit, too.

“Regretting the huge invite right about now?” I ask slyly before the three of us laugh. Hmm, he seems normal. Has Jayce talked to him yet? Maybe he hasn’t had the chance. I really hoped he did before the night began.

We leave him standing there, walking into the crowd as Tatum comes over to wish me a happy birthday once again. Similar to Ahren, he isn’t happy with both my and Heaven’s clothes. As we make our way through the crowd, people say ‘happy birthday’ or compliment me on my outfit as I pass them by.

“Sienna. Wow, you clean up nice,” Maralai says as she sips her drink.

“Thanks, you look gorgeous yourself,” I answer. She really does. Everyone looks amazing.

I turn as I spot Shahira. She’s wearing a long, champagne-coloured dress, with her matching hijab wrapped around her head stylishly. Her earrings are peeking out, adding a touch of dazzling blue to her outfit. Her eyeliner is also a vibrant blue.

“Wow, you look amazing!” I say to her as she hugs me.

“Thanks, look at you! You all look beautiful.” She smiles at Allie and Heaven, who both thank her, and Heaven compliments her.

“If you beautiful ladies are done?” I turn to see Renji. “Hey, hey, Happy Birthday once again, and I have to say you all look great. Blue is my favourite colour,” he adds, winking at Shahira, whose eyes go as wide as mine.

Did Renji just flirt with Shahira?

She simply smiles, her cheeks tinting pink.

“Whoa, ease up on the flirting, Renji,” Allie warns. “This is why I don’t like parties. Too many hormones and flirting and sex.”

Renji laughs as Shahira smiles, fiddling with the cuff of her long, fitted sleeves. “Excuse me, I’m going to get a drink,” she says softly.

“Me too,” Allie says, reminding me of Grandpa Al.

I giggle as they walk off.

“So, where’s Jayce?” Renji asks, shoving his hands into his pockets.

My smile disappears. “What? Isn’t he here?”

“No…” Renji says, his expression now serious, before he grins once again. “You know what? You enjoy the party. I’ll find out where he is, alright?” But the way his expression dropped seconds earlier has left me feeling worried and uneasy.

Why isn’t Jayce here?

“Sienna, hey, Happy Birthday.” I look up to see Seth smiling at me.

Gods, not now.

“Thank you,” I say, forcing a small smile.

He looks between Heaven and Renji. “Mind if I steal you for a dance?” he asks.

“Umm, I don’t really want to dance, but I’d like to talk?” I say, might as well get this over with.

“Ok…” Renji says. “Come on, Heaven, let’s go find someone else to annoy.”

Heaven glances at me, her eyes asking if I’ll be ok. I give her the smallest nod before she whispers a spell, and I feel it skim around us. She’s given us privacy, so I don’t need to go anywhere alone with him.

Gods, I love this girl.

“Sienna, look-”

“No, Seth. Let me speak,” I say, taking a deep breath as the song changes to a slow romantic one. “I know you still have feelings for me, but I have moved on. I’m in love with someone else. I’m sorry.”

He frowns slightly. “No, I mean you never gave me a reason, you just ended-”

“I was going through a lot, Seth. I was young, emotional, confused, upset, scared, angry. I couldn’t control my powers; I was scared I’d hurt someone.”

“And what if you hurt him- Jayce Westwood, it’s him, right? What if you hurt him? Doesn’t that count? I know you’re still struggling with your powers.”

That stings.

I sigh. “Yes. I am. But he pushed his way through the barriers I built. He’s helping me control them.

He’s strong enough to handle me. He’s the one for me,” I whisper.

I feel panic rising. My emotions are going to spiral.

Where is Jayce? Something is wrong. That’s why he didn’t reply to my messages.

Heaven has our phones in her bag; I need to find her-

“Wow, you can say that without even waiting for your first Blood Moon. It’s less than two months away.”

“I don’t think a Blood Moon can change my feelings. Heck, even the gods can’t make me feel any different,” I whisper. “I’m sorry, Seth, but your mate is out there, and I am certain that we aren’t mates.”

I see the hurt flash in his eyes before he steps back, cracking his knuckles as he always did when nervous or upset. “Harsh, but I’m not giving up. If you are my mate, I will challenge him.”

“Seth-”

“Have a good evening, Sienna. You look beautiful tonight.” Before I can reply, he turns and disappears into the crowd, leaving me feeling all over the place.

The sound of the music is suddenly too loud, the emotions of those around me and the sudden intense hunger for pleasure courses through me.

My heart hammers as I scan the crowd, my eyes raking over the couples dancing intimately.

What the fuck?

I touch my head, my body humming with power. I need to channel it all into one of my sigils. I need to find somewhere private. Now!

The song comes to an end, and then I hear Dad’s voice on the speaker, and I still. Dad sang this to Mama on their last anniversary.

My eyes sting, Dad…

Too many emotions all at once. Gods…

I can hear the pumping of everyone’s blood in my head, their thumping hearts, their whispers, their sighs, my vision blurring as I focus on getting out of here – fast.

Jayce, where are you?

I need you.