Page 229 of Sienna Rossi: Beyond Shattered Trust

I glance at the clock.

Fifteen minutes.

Allie notices and sits up without saying anything. Together, we move the cupcakes in front of Heaven, and I light the candles with a small flick of magic.

Heaven looks down at them, her expression softening.

“You didn’t need to do this.”

“We know,” I say. “We wanted to.”

Allie passes her one of the cupcakes. “I chose the black and silver sprinkles to tone down the lilac icing.”

“I could have guessed,” Heaven says, amused.

We remain there as the final minutes pass, talking about the Academy, training and my upcoming ceremony with Jayce.

We don’t mention Theo.

Not directly.

But when the clock draws closer to midnight, Heaven’s gaze drifts towards the window.

At eleven fifty-nine, Allie turns off the television.

Heaven looks at her. “It wasn’t finished.”

“It was getting predictable.”

I take Heaven’s hand as the seconds begin to change.

Ten.

Nine.

Heaven looks between us, her composure slipping slightly.

Seven.

Her fingers tighten around ours.

Three.

Two.

One.

Then the clock strikes twelve, and I fling my arms around Heaven. “Happy Birthday!”

“Eighteen. You survived,” Allie adds.

Heaven laughs softly, tears gathering in her eyes.

I pull back enough to look at her. “Make a wish.”

For a moment, sadness flickers across her face.

Then she closes her eyes and blows out the candles.