Page 59 of Sienna Rossi: Beyond Shattered Trust

I nod as Aunty Kiara turns to me. “The plates are in those drawers, and the cutlery is over there, and the glasses are in that top one there.” She points to each as she guides me.

“Thanks,” I say with a small smile.

“Give me that,” Uncle Liam says to her, reaching for the large pot she’s about to pick up.

“I still have my strength, Liam,” Aunty Kiara says with a small smile. I pause, hesitating to ask the questions burning in my mind.

“Do you mean you still have your full strength?” I ask, hoping I understood that correctly. She still has an aura… “The wolves in Italy became human in all aspects.”

She smiles at me. “Yes, I can still mind-link, too. I have my speed, sense of smell, and strength. I think that because I had additional abilities, I wasn’t affected as severely as those in Italy. That’s the consensus, anyway. They lost their wolves, but I can still sense mine.”

I nod. “Thank the gods,” I murmur. So, her wolf is still there, just… dormant in a way. That’s good; it means there’s hope that one day she can shift again.

“I don’t really like them right now,” Azura remarks, sighing heavily. “Really. I mean the gods.”

I agree; at times some of them are questionable, but we have to keep faith. But still, that sickness in Italy had been mysterious; it was first discovered before Allie was even born.

Azura puts on some music, and I’m grateful; something to liven the gloomy atmosphere is needed! I take the plates out, asking Grandma Red how many we need before I get the rest of the cutlery, and then begin carrying the dishes to the dining room.

I’m shimmying to the music – the beat is catchy – stopping when I sense someone watching me, and I know exactly whose gaze it is. I turn and spot Jayce walking down the stairs slowly, his hand gripping the rail firmly.

Our eyes meet, but he says nothing, and I hurry back into the kitchen for more dishes, my stomach feeling a little fluttery. Soon, the table is set, and Uncle Liam brings in the two bowls of salad, placing them on opposite ends of the table.

Once the pasta, garlic bread and chips are on the table, everyone enters, and there’s a bustle as we all take seats. I find myself being pushed by Azura into a seat, and I notice too late that I’m right between her and Jayce, who gives her a death glare.

She simply smirks at him as she spreads her arms, pushing me away and towards Jayce, who looks gorgeous with his dark, wet locks falling in his eyes. He pushes them back as we all begin helping ourselves to food.

“How are you feeling, Jayce?” Grandad Elijah asks him.

“Fine, they’re still around,” he says, and I notice his heart rate is still high.

“Well, you know the fucking option,” Leo mutters.

He’s becoming more and more like Grandpa Al. I suppress a giggle.

“Who are the children with?” Ahren asks Leo and Azura.

“Winona.” Azura smiles. “It’s a full house over at Gramps.”

Grandad Elijah chuckles. “I’m sure he’s enjoying it. Corrado is always a big help.”

“He’s at that age where he does get fed up,” Leo says, with a ghost of a smile that is reserved for his kids.

Both Jayce and I reach for a garlic bread, stopping when our hands knock; sparks dance through my arm, and I move my hand away, allowing him to take a piece first.

Dinner continues, and I try to keep my thighs together so I don’t accidentally brush his leg, but a few times we still manage to touch. I missed this, missed his closeness.

When he tenses, his heart rate spiking, I reach over, placing my hand on his thigh, knowing he’s still seeing those illusions.

“If those hallucinations don’t go away, they might just drive you mad,” Ahren remarks from across the table.

Jayce just gives him a ‘fuck you’ expression before turning those gorgeous green eyes back on his plate.

It’s later on, and I was told to get some rest, although I offered to help clean up.

“Is Katara not coming home?” I hear Jayce say.

“She’s staying at Damon and Robyn’s pretty often,” Uncle Liam replies quietly.