Page 23 of Sienna Rossi: Beyond Shattered Trust

“I think they’re strong,” she begins hesitantly. “But we’ve never truly tested them. I don’t usually use my demon magic for things like this, as it’s harder to channel and shape. I only learned for this trip.”

I nod slowly, my jaw tightening. So there’s a chance no one else who has seen the dome has seen the similarity, because she’s never done it before.

“Then we will test it,” I say. “As soon as we return to the outpost.”

“Well then, let’s move out,” Mikhail says. Boots crunch in the snow as the men begin making their way back to the outpost. I bring up the rear, pausing one final time to look over my shoulder. Through the thick fog, I see the two force fields behind me.

If they are made from the same kind of power, then the question is, what exactly created a dome of that calibre?

A Bolt of Lightning

Sienna

Something is up with Jayce; something crossed his mind just earlier. He wants to test my barrier once we return to the outpost, and considering he wants nothing to do with me, I am absolutely certain something happened or occurred back there.

I’m not sure what it is, but there’s definitely something. And before we set off, he kept looking at the dome, too.

I feel uneasy. What is it?

The dome itself is intriguing in a way I didn’t expect it to be. The urge to go to it and test the barrier crossed my mind; to learn what it’s made of, to see if I can sense anything from it – is it power or magic, elemental or not?

A vicious wind blows and I’m almost lifted off my feet, but I use my power to fuse the soles of my shoes to the ground. From the corner of my eye, I see Jayce’s head whip my way, and I hide a smile.

Is he worried about me?

As much as I wouldn’t mind letting him ‘help’ me, I don’t want him to see me as weak, as someone who always needs saving. He’s saved me a lifetime’s worth already, and I want him to know I don’t need saving.

I push against the wind, wondering if it would be easier for me to simply fly back. Probably...

Another huge blast of wind and snow pushes me back a few feet, and I turn towards Mikhail, who’s walking as if the wind does not affect him.

“May I have permission to fly back, General?” I ask as loudly as possible, my voice barely audible over the howls of the wind.

Mikhail looks at me thoughtfully, his face barely visible in the heavy snow.

“What do you think, Captain? Shall we let our little possession return ahead?” The cold mockery in his voice confirms my thought; he knows what Jayce and I are.

“Fine,” Jayce replies coldly. “I’m sure you can keep up with her, General.”

Mikhail smirks. “Of course. We will go ahead.”

Everyone here could keep up with me if they shifted and travelled in wolf form. Even the few vampires on the team remain moving at the same pace despite their ability to move faster – I wonder why they don’t?

Well, that’s their choice. I look forward to returning faster.

I shrug out of my coat, aware of the attention it draws but refusing to acknowledge it, focusing instead on folding the coat neatly in my arms. Cold bites into me; my custom Schattenblüte uniform leaves my back bare, designed with my wings in mind.

When my wings burst free, unfurling in a wide, powerful sweep, the cold air rushes against my skin as I push off the ground. The first heavy beats carry me upward, the snow and figures below shrinking as I keep flying higher.

Even from up here, the dome is still visible in the distance, disappearing high into the fog in the sky, a dark presence etched against the white surroundings. While ahead, there is nothing but endless snow, though I know the direction of the outpost well enough to set my course.

I fly into the wind and sleet, forcing myself to push harder, my wings straining against the resistance. But I have trained in far worse conditions than this, and they carry me with ease.

I catch sight of Mikhail below, still moving on foot yet covering ground at an impossible pace, his speed incredibly fast. He’s definitely faster than the fastest werewolf or lycan. I leave the others behind as I pick up my own pace, one arm stretched ahead, my hand balled into a fist, the other holding my coat against my stomach, the cold burning my lungs.

When the outpost finally comes into view, I slow my descent, making sure the guards can see who I am before I touch down, landing softly in the snow and drawing my wings back in as I pull my coat on once more, a shiver running through me as the fabric settles against my skin.

A shadow falls over me as Mikhail comes to a halt, and I glance at him. From this close, I can see his unique violet eyes properly.