Page 204 of Sienna Rossi: Beyond Shattered Trust

This one is colder, more sinister, the smile of someone accustomed to being obeyed. Then she turns towards Vincenzo. “At least one of my blood possessed the courage to become what he was meant to be.”

The words settle heavily over the battlefield, and then, to my horror, understanding dawns on me, my heart thumping.

Vincenzo pauses and then smiles lazily. “The infamous Endora. I wondered whether the stories were exaggerated.”

“And I have heard of yours.” Heaven – no, Endora answers.

The exchange is so calm it makes my skin crawl.

“Get out of her head!” I snarl as I hear Vincenzo’s laughter fade. They’re getting away, but we have bigger problems. She’s blocking the barrier with everything she has. A wall of fire now spreads across the barrier, blocking Royce and Ares.

“Stand down,” Jayce commands. “Sienna, wait-”

I don’t listen. Whatever is happening, that’s still Heaven, and right now she needs me.

“Aldona!” I shout, my powers surging as I call on my own magic. The instant I call her name, something changes.

The smile falters. One hand rises towards her chest, and her expression tightens.

“No.”

The word is strained.

Her usual orange flashes in her eyes, then a glimmer of green. Power explodes around her as black runes spread across her body.

The wind whips violently, and then she screams; the sound tears straight through me.

She collapses, and I reach her before she hits the ground, dropping beside her and pulling her against me as tremors rack through her body.

For several seconds, she can’t seem to speak, her entire body shuddering as she clings to me desperately.

“I lost control.” The words are barely audible. “I lost control of her.”

My chest tightens hearing the pain in her voice.

“Heaven… It’s ok, you’re here, you’re in control.”

She doesn’t reply, and only the howling of the blizzard can be heard. The drakaths are still lingering, their eyes on us, but none of them moves, still waiting for my command. Even Ahren remains exactly where he is, tension radiating from him as he watches her.

It’s almost as if she’s ashamed. I can see it in the way her shoulders tense, the way she refuses to lift her head.

Her control has always been remarkable, and turning on us shook her more than any of us.

“Hey.” I brush her hair back gently. “Look at me.”

For a moment, I think she’s going to refuse, then slowly she lifts her gaze.

What I find there makes my heart ache.

“You’re in control,” I say with a gentle smile.

For several seconds, she simply stares at me before taking a slow, shaky breath.

“I’m in control,” she repeats in a whisper, closing her eyes and taking another shuddering breath. “Sorry does not excuse it, but I will take what punishment-”

“No one’s getting punished; let’s just… get out of here,” Royce says as his sword disappears.

“Are we all just going to pretend we didn’t see Uncle Al’s fucking double? And why the fuck were you calling him Uncle?” Ares says scornfully.