A Revelation
Sienna
The look in his eyes – it makes my stomach flutter.
It’s an expression I haven’t seen in them in a while.
I swallow, my heart pounding as someone cheers loudly, and Jayce turns his head away as if to clear his throat.
He removes his hand, about to move back, when I reach for his face.
He freezes when I cup it and force him to turn back towards me.
He doesn’t fight it, though, and that makes all the difference. I pull him down, placing a soft kiss on his forehead before I let go and give him a small, playful smile as a couple of our spectators go ‘aww’.
Jayce’s heart races, and I can tell he’s struggling to regain control, even as he gets to his feet, combing his hair back, those muscles flexing so sexily as he offers me his free hand.
I don’t know if it’s genuine or because we have an audience, but either way, I take it and stand up, sparks dancing through our touch.
My Jayce…
“That was incredible; the Luna-to-be is definitely incredibly talented,” Anthony says.
“Not to mention the perfect match to stand by Alpha Jayce’s side.”
Other similar comments follow, and I smile, blushing at some, until Jayce finally seems to have gained some control and looks around with that stoic, arrogant expression that used to terrify me long ago, but now only looks so sexy.
“Get back to training; we’ve taken enough time,” he says. A few chuckle; the mood of the group is still lifted as they glance towards us, some discussing things quietly as they turn back to their opponents.
“Nice having a training match with you, Alpha. I’ll let you get back to it,” I say, looking up into the gorgeous green eyes of my mate. It’s such a beautiful colour.
“Yeah, it wasn’t bad. You did pretty good.”
Is it just me, or did his voice sound rougher? A small smile tugs at my lips. “Thanks.” I back away slowly before turning and collecting the empty bottles of shakes.
“Luna, you don’t need to do that!” Anthony says, quickly coming over to assist me.
“I’m alright; I could just use a spell,” I say quietly. I just didn’t want to draw attention.
“Oh?” he asks curiously. “I’ve seen witches in battle, but never really thought about a witch being able to do everyday, mundane things.”
I smile as I whisper a spell, and all the bottles are gathered in a floating ball, and so are the trays. “Now all I need to do is drop these off to be washed.”
“Impressive, that’s a-”
“Anthony?” Jayce’s sharp voice makes us both look over at him, and he looks anything but impressed. Anthony chuckles.
“Understood loud and clear, Alpha.” He grins at me before jogging over to the group.
If I didn’t know better, I would assume you were jealous.
You wish, he scoffs back.
I suppress a laugh, the butterflies in my stomach going crazy.
Gods, do I love you.
Turning, I inhale deeply, enjoying the smell of the fresh air and Jayce before I decide to drop off the bottles at the packhouse and then get back to the Westwood Mansion.
Ten minutes later, I enter the house, and it’s quiet, the door unlocked as always. I walk towards the lounge only to see Grandad Elijah and Grandma Red cuddled on the sofa, kissing passionately.
I’m about to step back and give them some privacy when Grandma Red moves back and smiles at me.
“Sienna, come on in,” she says, motioning for me to come in.
“Sorry for interrupting,” I reply, not daring to look at Grandad Elijah.
Gods, I wasn’t expecting to walk in on Jayce’s grandparents making out!
“Not at all. How did the treats go? I’m sure everyone loved them,” Grandma Red says with a smile.
I nod. “I think they did, or they were just being nice,” I reply.
“Well, you are the future Luna,” Grandad Elijah says, stretching his arms across the back of the sofa. Our eyes meet, and I look away quickly, blushing slightly.
“I’m going to, um, go check on Katara. Is she awake?” I give my weak excuse.
“She is; she just had breakfast,” Grandma Red says with a faint smile. I nod before turning and hurrying towards the stairs, patting my cheeks.
It’s not like I haven’t seen people make out, but Jayce’s grandparents?! Oh gods!
I hurry up the steps and down the hall to Katara’s bedroom, knocking lightly on the door.
“Come in,” she calls. I enter to see her listening to some music as she sits at her desk, applying some makeup.
“Hey… What are you up to?” I ask as I step inside and shut the door. She shrugs.
“Just getting ready. I wanted to go out, but I don’t think I’ll be allowed. Dad said I can’t, and… Jayce is being cruel, too.”
“About what?” I ask gently as I take a seat on her bed.
“My boyfriend. Jayce had an issue with him, and what irks me is that he made me happy… Like Jayce has had girls around; no one questioned him, so why does he think it’s ok to question me?” She shakes her head, frustrated, and I remain emotionless.
Your boyfriend… A man who is posing as a young man to get close to your family.
“Want me to talk to Jayce?” I ask, a sliver of guilt slithering through me.
She turns, pausing with the eyeliner in hand. “You will do that for me?”
I nod. “If it helps. Maybe your brother didn’t like him for other reasons, not just because you’re dating?” I suggest gently. She scoffs, shaking her head.
“Yeah, right. He just can’t handle me dating. I thought he was different from the others, that he would get me, but instead he doesn’t get it,” she says bitterly.
“Would you consider maybe living with Aunty Kiara for a while? Or even Uncle Leo and Azura?” I ask softly.
She shakes her head. “To add stress for them?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yeah, that wouldn’t be fair on them…”
“They all love you, and both your aunties would love to have you with them. Have a think about it,” I say gently.
We need to protect her from her boyfriend, too.
“I just bother everyone,” she mutters, her eyes full of pain before she looks away. “Aunty Kiara will be heading to Puerto Rico since Kataleya will have the twins soon. I don’t want to add more stress for her.”
“Why not go with her?” That might be the perfect distraction.
“No, I’ll just ruin things. Just try to get Jayce to see reason. I mean, I will be safe leaving pack territories. No one knows who I am, and I’ve not shifted. Why can’t he just let me have some fun?”
“I’ll talk to him, I promise,” I say, leaning over and squeezing her knee gently.
“Thanks,” she says quietly.
“So, your brothers are turning twenty-one soon. Have you got their gifts?” I ask, trying to change the mood.
She shrugs. “I don’t know if anyone is celebrating this year. What’s the point? Mama isn’t here… Why celebrate when she’s gone?”
“Maybe because she’d want you to?” I ask gently.
She doesn’t respond, her gaze shifting to the wind outside, and she sighs softly. “Maybe.”
“Well, I think we should plan something.”
“Will you even be here? I mean, you have so much going on, unless you are permanently moving here?” she asks curiously.
I shake my head. “No, I’m not.” Not yet anyway. “But I know for a fact my dad is planning to invite everyone to our pack, which would be fun, but I was thinking it would be nice to do something for the quints, too.”
She nods slowly. “But Theo isn’t even here, and without one, the quints aren’t the quints…” She shakes her head. “He shouldn’t have left.”
“I know it’s hard, but we can still make it good for the other four?” I suggest.
She shrugs. “Why not? Maybe ask Dad and them what they’re planning for the quints’ birthday; it does fall on a weekend.”
I nod. “I will.” I stand up, and she looks at me.
“So, you’ll talk to Jayce?”
“I will.”
“Thanks.” She smiles at me, and I smile back.
We wanted to capture him anyway, and with only Jayce, me and Ahren knowing his truth, we have to make sure we are careful. But I’m worried; once Katara realises we used her as bait, she’ll never forgive us.
I do need to talk to Jayce, even if it isn’t about exactly what Katara is hoping for.
Leaving her room, I decide to go wait in Jayce’s room until he’s back from training. Entering, I inhale deeply, enjoying his scent as I look around the room, humming the song I once wrote about him.
I make his bed before sitting on it, removing my shoes as I lie down, closing my eyes, feeling so at peace with his scent surrounding me. I open them after a moment, pondering over what Katara had said.
Azura might be the best person to push her into going to her pack for a while.
She might need to hear it from someone who cares and is determined to take her with them.
I would offer her to come to the Black Storm Pack, but I don’t think she’d enjoy that as much, since there isn’t anyone her age there, and Heaven is at the Academy.
Sighing, I turn onto my side, resting my head on my arm.
I don’t know if I’m supposed to go back to the Academy or back to Russia.
I yawn, fighting to keep my eyes open as I glance at the glowing digits of the clock. His bed is so comfortable… He won’t be back for a while.
The dome stretches out before me, calling to me. Whispered voices swirl around me. I can’t make out what any of them are saying, or what tongue they’re speaking, but what I do know is they sound haunted, in pain, screaming for reprieve, as if they are trying to relay something to me.
My heart thunders as I spin around, and then it goes quiet, so quiet I cannot even hear my own heartbeat anymore.
I can’t see anything anymore, not the glowing dome that has suddenly disappeared, nor the faint snow that had been falling. I feel suddenly suffocated, as if a blanket of something so vast has rendered all my senses useless.
“Why is it taking so long?” an ethereal voice that holds a cruel yet powerful edge that is not of this world resonates through me and from all around me.
A goddess? I have spoken to gods, witnessed their powers. This voice, it is no doubt the voice of a goddess.
“I have waited centuries. Patience.” This time it’s a male voice, one that sounds coarse and almost… menacing, but it is calmer than the female voice. Another god? It has to be.
Am I in a vision?
“And I have waited an eternity to overthrow him,” the female says, her voice shaking slightly as if she’s struggling to remain calm.
“You know what it is that I desire; you promised me that the time was upon us. Are you wavering? Are you in doubt about what you are capable of? He defeated you once; what if he does it again?”
“Your husband will soon be overthrown. I will end him once and for all. I have not forgotten what you have bestowed upon me.”
Who are they talking about?
“You better not forget; I shared the very essence that was given to me with you. To create them, you needed me for the revenge you have put upon your own creation. Without me, you are nothing.”
Although I feel as if I can’t even breathe, remaining still beneath the nothingness surrounding me, I tense, feeling the energy around me shift. The goddess’s words have angered the god.
“Do you dare insult me?” The god’s voice drops to a sinister, venomous tone. “Remember, you need me to defeat your husband. I am the one who holds the secret to enslaving the demons. I have expanded my army of soldiers, and when they have her, it will be absolute. She is the key to his downfall.”
She… Unease floods me as the goddess scoffs.
“I do not have faith.”
“You always do like to interfere… I know I will succeed; she will be the one to break away from him – the one who will bring Zeus to his knees!”
“And if you fail, if the chosen one is with her?” the goddess hisses.
How can a voice be so beautiful and so poisonous?
“I have sown discord; I will make sure they are never one. He will not be by her side when the time comes. She will break before she manages to control it. Unless he remains with her, he is the control she will need, and if – if they succeed, then he will know I was part of this! If I fail, then-”
“Enough,” the god commands, his aura curling around me, though I am numb to it all. The only thing I can hear is their voices. My own mind is throbbing. I need air; I feel suffocated.
“How dare you interrupt me-”
I can’t breathe.
“Careful, Hera… She’s listening.”
I don’t hear it, but I feel my heart pounding in my chest.
And then I’m being sucked away. I gasp, my eyes flying open as someone shakes me.
I look up, staring into Jayce’s dazzling blue eyes, droplets from his wet hair falling onto my face.
I open my mouth to speak, only for the taste of blood to fill my mouth, and then I turn my head to the side as I begin coughing up blood, my entire body shuddering as if it had been through hell, as I continue to vomit up blood.
My mind spins with what I just heard, my head still pounding, agony still making my entire body convulse. The only thing keeping me steady is the strong grip Jayce has on me as he supports my body.
They knew I was there…
Gods, they knew.