Page 205 of Sienna Rossi: Beyond Shattered Trust

“He’s Uncle Alejandro’s son, or he claims to be… We have a blood sample; we’ll find out,” Jayce says as I help Heaven to her feet. Ahren walks over and pulls her into a tight hug, kissing the top of her head.

They don’t say anything, exchanging a silent look, and both smile slightly. Forgiven and forgotten.

I smile, glad she’s ok. Yes, she lost control, but it was only fleeting. Endora must have been desperate to talk to Vincenzo, which only confirms in my mind the fact that he is Grandpa Al’s son.

“Let’s not mention the lost son then, not until we at least have the blood tested, just in case,” Royce says, his brows creased in concern.

“Sure, let’s get out of here. But before that, what the fuck are you doing with these fucking dickheads?” Ares growls, jerking his head towards the drakaths.

I look across at them; there are so many of them…

“They’ll stay here until I need them,” I murmur. “They will not hunt, they will not attack, they will simply hide and await my call.”

“Maybe you could take a few back as bodyguards?” Ahren suggests. I shake my head.

“No, I want them here. I’ll just need to ask Prince Mikhail if he’s ok with that. After all, this is his land.”

A wave of unease washes through the four of them, and Jayce and I exchange looks.

“What is it?” Jayce asks as he walks towards me, placing a protective hand on my waist.

“Prince Mikhail was killed in battle; the future of the Siberian Wastelands and our alliance is up in the air right now,” Royce says quietly.

My stomach drops at the news, because Royce is right: without the Crown Prince, we don’t know if the next leader would approve, and with his death, I doubt it.

“How?” Jayce asks.

Royce shakes his head. “I don’t know; by the time we got there, it was too late. I don’t think he wanted this barrier brought down, no matter what.”

“There is a connection to the drakath origins and the vampires,” Jayce muses. “But we can only assume.”

“Well, we can discuss that later; let’s try to find the others,” Ahren says. “I felt I sensed Aunty Ri earlier.”

“How do you feel?” Jayce asks quietly.

I nod. “Perfectly fine,” I say, gazing into his eyes, realising he’s asking because of the binding. Turning, I cup his face. “Better than fine.”

He takes hold of my wrists, and I know this conversation isn’t over, but for now, he simply rests his forehead against mine.

For now, we can breathe that we made it out alive.

For now.

The Remnants of War

Jayce

We have barely begun making our way through the drakaths when the ground beneath us trembles.

“What now?” Ahren sighs.

We all turn instinctively, steadying ourselves as another violent tremor ripples through the landscape. My eyes immediately catch on something moving amongst the cocoons.

One long fracture is tearing through the earth itself, creating a large gash. My stomach twists as I realise what it is.

“It’s a tear in the veil,” Heaven voices my thoughts. “Move!”

The ground suddenly rips open, and cocoons topple into the darkness as entire sections of earth collapse inwards. Rock breaks apart beneath our feet, and everyone jumps back as a deafening crack echoes across the area. My arm instantly wraps around Sienna’s waist, pulling her towards me as the land splits open.