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“I guess,” Sienna says, her gaze flickering away before returning to mine, a hesitant smile playing on her lips. “You know I’m not as weak as I look, right? I grew up in a place like this, with bullies like that hanging around making life difficult. I know how to avoid provoking those kind of idiots into targeting me. In case you didn’t notice, I’m plus-size, which puts a target on my back for bullies.”
“People are shit,” I tell her, irritation crawling over my skin. “Your size ain’t got nothing to do with your worth as a person. It’s bull crap that other people don’t get that shit.”
“Yeah, well. What are you going to do? Fight every person who calls me fat?”
“Maybe!” I shoot back, making her eyes widen. “I’m no pussy, and the Blades stand up for what’s right,” I add. “If it means getting my hands dirty, then so be it.”
“What if you get hurt though?” Sienna asks, staring at me with a mixture of concern, and frustration.
“I’m tough,” I tell her. “I can handle myself. But if I get hurt, it’s not the end of the world. Ain’t the first time.”
“You’ve fought before?”
“Yeah. We went up against some of the Serpents about a year ago. Gave them a clear warning to stay out of town. Got my ribs busted in for my trouble.”
Sienna’s hand reaches out, almost instinctively, before dropping back down. “Oh God.”
“I’m fine now,” I reassure her. “It took me a while to heal but I’m all better.” It’s cute that she’s concerned about me; I find myself smirking at that.
“I’m sorry I got you all wrong,” Sienna apologizes. “I just assumed you were the same as the people I grew up around. That you were just thugs and bullies looking to cause trouble.”
“I mean, we’re not that different from them,” I say, a bitter edge to my voice. “We’re still bullies and thugs, just ones that also try to help the good guys once in a while.”
Sienna shakes her head. “I think you’re too hard on yourself. You never dealt with losing … that person,” she says, sidestepping the name. “And then you took the weight of keeping the peace in Caspian Springs too. It makes sense why you guys have hardened over the years.”
“Maybe you’re right,” I say, taking a deep breath. “I should apologize. I was completely out of line with yelling at you for bringing up Emily. I’ve been keeping you on a tight leash the entire time and even though you agreed to it, I could have been nicer to you.”
“Thank you,” Sienna says, her voice hoarse. “You don’t know what that means to hear.”
“I’m sorry that you had to go through all that growing up too,” I add. “You should have had someone to look out for you.”
Sienna offers a small smile, but her eyes betray a hint of unease. “Yeah, but I made it through,” she says, her voice carrying a hint of vulnerability. It makes my heart clench.
One quick glance around tells me that there’s no one lingering nearby, but I still don’t want to stand around in the open like this all afternoon. Some Serpents might come back to finish what they started.
“Hey, we shouldn’t hang around here all day. Do you want a ride back to the house?” I ask. “We can get your car later.”
“A ride?” she quirks her eyebrow.
“Yeah. I’m assuming you were looking for us so you could come home.”
Sienna looks confused. “I don’t know what you thought, but I came back to Caspian Springs to do my research. Not to come home.”
“What?” I feel my heart jump into my throat. “I thought we were past all this bullshit now.”
“I came here for a job,” Sienna explains. “And I’ve let myself get distracted. I have work to do and I need to focus on that. If I go back with you, we’ll end up in another fight within a few days.”
“It won’t be like that,” I assure her. “I won’t throw you out again.”
Sienna scoffs. “Trust isn’t something you earn back with a half-assed apology, Bastian. And right now, I’m not sure I can trust you.” Her words are laced with disappointment as she steps away from me.
“Sienna, don't act like you didn't know what you were getting into. You agreed to our terms, remember?” My voice is edged with frustration.
Sienna’s shoulders tense up as she turns to face me again. “I know what I agreed to, Bastian. But I never signed up to be treated like some pawn in your game.” She meets my gaze with defiance, her tone sharp and unwavering.
“You gotta be kidding me. I apologized, Sienna. You knew what you signed up for, and now you’re just bailing?” My voice cracks, frustration mounting.
I’m not backing down, Bastian. I won’t let you force my submission like this anymore.”
