Page 189 of Sienna Rossi: Beyond Shattered Trust

“So that’s it,” Jayce murmurs quietly.

For a moment, neither of us moves. All those visions, the questions, the uncertainty, and now I’m standing before it, sooner than I had thought I would be.

And somehow I still have absolutely no idea what I’m supposed to do. The realisation would almost be funny if the situation weren’t so serious.

I stare at it; the magic from it is not of this world, that’s as obvious as the sky is blue – well, somewhere in the world.

The pull I’ve been feeling ever since entering the dome grows stronger with every passing second, no longer guiding me towards it but urging me forward.

Touch it.

The thought enters my mind so naturally that I don’t question it.

My feet begin moving, and Jayce reaches for my hand.

“You sure about this?” he asks quietly, concern in his sage green eyes.

“No,” I answer honestly, because I’m not. “But I have to do this, and I am going to be ok.”

Because you’re here with me.

His grip tightens briefly. “I’ll be right here.”

I smile faintly.

“I know.”

For a moment, neither of us moves.

The unease sitting in my stomach must show on my face because Jayce reaches for me again, his remaining artefacts disappearing as one hand settles on my waist and he pulls me against him.

“I know you can do it”, he says quietly, searching my eyes. “Whatever happens, you are not alone; I’m right here.”

I swallow and nod. “I know.” My heart already betrays me, and for a moment, I don’t want to go, wanting to stay in his arms.

His gaze lingers on mine for another moment before he cups my face so gently, with the very same hands that are capable of turning mountains to dust, and despite everything around us, some of the tension leaves my body.

Because it’s Jayce, and somehow, he always manages to make me feel safer. He leans down and kisses me softly, yet deeply, not hurriedly, reminding me he’s here with me.

I kiss him back, melting into him immediately, my arms locking around his neck as he deepens the kiss, pouring every unspoken promise into it. Every fear. Every hope. Every future we still haven’t had the chance to build together.

When he finally pulls back, he rests his forehead against mine.

“You’ve got this, Darling.”

I close my eyes for a moment before taking a steadying breath and nodding.

“I do.”

Then I turn towards the Will. This time, when I walk forward, closing the short distance between us, I don’t hesitate. My chaos magic stirs restlessly beneath my skin whilst the strange pull I’ve felt for so long transforms into something else entirely.

Recognition. As though the Will already knows who I am.

I stop directly in front of it; the membrane shifts, and the veins pulse.

What if this doesn’t work?

What if I lose control?