Page 182 of Sienna Rossi: Beyond Shattered Trust

“So all this hatred doesn’t stem from daddy issues?” Jayce mocks, but he’s stalling, and before I can ask him what he’s planning, his voice comes through the mind-link.

The sooner we get to the dome, the better… This… changes things. I don’t know what we should do…

As much as hearing that from Jayce is hard, I get it, because his revelation does change everything – or complicates it.

Vincenzo scoffs. “I have no issues, or I’d have already taken everything from him. Let’s end this, Deimos King. Sienna Rossi will accompany me to the dome, and that army waiting within will be mine.”

Keep him distracted. I need three minutes to open a portal. If you can put space between the two of you, we can port, but ask him: how does he know there’s a way for me to control what’s within the dome?

On it… But are you certain you can open a portal when magic here is extremely unstable? Jayce replies via the mind-link before speaking out loud. “What makes you think she can help you with the dome?”

I think I’ll be fine, I reply confidently as Vincenzo smirks coldly. Be careful.

I will, Darling. You, too.

“What makes you think you are the only one with powerful witches on your side? I have my ways, and I know that the Tribrid is the key to controlling that army.”

As predicted, he doesn’t really give anything away.

“And what makes you think she’ll give that control to you?” Jayce asks coldly.

“Do you want to know something, Deimos King?” Vincenzo whispers menacingly. Unease fills me as a cold, dangerous smile crosses his lips. “There are ways to enslave demons.”

My heart stops for a moment before it begins beating violently.

Gods… He knows. Fuck. He knows.

Jayce doesn’t even react, his heart steady as he simply scoffs. “I’ve never really cared much for that face; somehow, yours is ten times fucking worse.” Power explodes from Jayce, and I fly back, keeping my distance. Vincenzo has an idea of where I am, so I need to be extra careful.

Worst case, if I can’t make it to the portal, you go ahead, get to the dome before me, Jayce adds, his voice rough as he counters Vincenzo’s attack.

Ok. I don’t want to think of leaving him, but this is a battle.

I glance back as Jayce is a blur.

I can see it – the change in the way he holds himself, the way he holds his own against him; I can see the vast difference from the last time they fought.

I turn, scanning my surroundings. To open a portal, I’ll need to put some distance between us; that’s the easiest part. The hard part will be for Jayce to make sure he reaches it in time before Vincenzo can get through.

I’ll need to use herbs, especially with the instability in the air, and I’ll call upon my spirit connection. It’s not as prominent as Heaven’s because Mama’s Aunty, Janaina, is the daughter of the Silver line, but I’ve been able to secure a connection to their power, and right now I need it – for this portal.

Whispering a spell, I summon my pouches of the herbs I need, sparing a glance towards the chaos behind me as both Jayce and Vincenzo go head-to-head.

Focus… I tell myself, even though my mind keeps wandering over the revelation, over the fact that he knows demons can be enslaved. My stomach twists at the thought of the others. Ahren… What if– No, I can’t think like that. Gods, please don’t let anything happen to any of them.

Focus! I scold myself as I land in my chosen spot and begin drawing the symbols into the snow, the magic simmering at my fingertips, keeping them intact despite the blizzard.

The dome… We aren’t far; we can get there. I know we can. I can do this-

“If it isn’t the Tribrid.”

I jump back, just as something obliterates the spot I was in, and I raise a shield just as Velasara’s power crashes down in all directions.

Gods! I didn’t notice her.

“I knew leaving you alive was a mistake,” Velasara says coldly, blood immediately gathering around her body as if responding to her irritation. She sucks in a breath, glancing towards Vincenzo, then turns her eyes on me.

Her power rises from the snow, twisting around her in crimson ribbons that pulse with dark magic.