Page 5 of Sienna Rossi: Beyond Shattered Trust

I wonder how many we lost. How many names will be spoken in low voices later, how many beds will remain empty, how many lives were ended here without mercy.

Victory does not erase the cost of battle. It only leaves us standing long enough to face the next one.

“Orders?” I ask Brock through my Schattensicht. “The east side is secured.”

I wait for his response, but there’s nothing.

“Brock?” I repeat, my brows furrowing. The battle is over. “Brock, come in.”

“Sienna!” Artemis’ distraught scream rips through my Schattensicht. “Brock! Brock’s injured!”

“Shahira! Get to Brock now!” I command as I activate Brock’s location on my Schattensicht, watching the red line that illuminates the path leading directly to Brock.

My wings unfurl behind me, and I take flight.

“On my way!” Shahira answers.

Artemis is trained in medicine, but if she needs magic to help, it must be bad. My stomach turns with unease as I fly through the woods, following the glowing line that is guiding me straight to Brock.

The wind whips through my hair, some of which has come loose from the fight. Up ahead, I spot Shahira switch to human form beside Brock just seconds before I reach them. I assess his body, taking in the damage; he’s losing far too much blood, his stomach and chest are ripped open as if someone reached in and tore everything out.

His heartbeat is failing… My stomach twists as I drop to my knees beside him.

“Shahira, the bleeding. Artemis, call in – we need Aunty Kiara!” I say before I begin whispering a spell. Healing isn’t my strongest suit, but I know enough spells.

Artemis stares at me, realising what my words mean. Brock is dying, and unless Aunty Kiara can get here, he may not make it.

She shouts through her Schattensicht, hopefully contacting the right people as I focus on healing the damage to his internal organs. There’s far too much bleeding, even as Shahira, who is on the same wavelength, is doing the same. But there’s just too much damage; his body is shutting down.

“He’ll die if we don’t get help within the next fifteen minutes,” Shahira warns, breaking the news. Artemis stiffens.

“There’s no way she’ll get here fast enough!” she shouts as she crawls over to Brock’s head and cups his face.

“Brock! Brock, baby, get up!”

Fuck, don’t let this happen. “I’ll bring her to him then,” I say, my heart hammering as I break the spell, my heart pounding.

“That’s a long way away,” Shahira whispers, concern in her warm eyes.

“I can do it,” I say as I begin prepping the spell. I have to be able to do it.

“What! No! Don’t stop healing him! What if you don’t make it?! Heal him the best you can; don’t risk his life!” Artemis pleads, grabbing my arm.

I’ve never seen her like this, but when someone you love is dying, I can’t blame her.

“I can do this,” I answer firmly. “Shahira is right; he won’t last if we don’t act, Artemis. I need you to trust me,” I add softly.

She looks at me, hesitating before she nods.

I offer a small smile before I focus on what I’m doing. I have the supplies. I always make sure I’m carrying anything I need, locked away in my collection that I can summon by a simple charm.

I move as fast as possible. “Artemis, ask where Aunty Kiara is, tell her to get outside the pack barriers so I can open a portal.”

Time is running out; I can feel Brock’s life force ebbing away, but even moving as fast as possible, I have to be careful. One careless step and the entire spell will be a waste of time.

Sweat and blood trickle down my neck as I focus, the adrenaline pumping through my veins.

“She’s moving to just outside her territory, so you can open a portal directly to the western scout post. She’s there,” Artemis says, her voice hoarse.