Page 231 of The Tribrid Princess and the Taste of Chaos
I’m sorry, Jayce, sorry for taking a false oath on the most precious thing I possess, our love.
I raise my hand and tip the little square of powder down Jayce’s neck, my heart pounding with fear.
Jayce stiffens, and then his heart begins beating rapidly. “Sienna…” he breathes. “What did you…?”
“It’ll just paralyse you for a bit,” I whisper sorrowfully. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to do this.” I step back, feeling worse than ever.
His eyes blaze even as his body begins succumbing to the venom. The look on his face – he never thought I’d trick him like this.
I watch as his body fights the poison. Gods, he’s strong. He shouldn’t be able to move at all.
“You tricked me, but if you think that this can hold me, you’re wrong,” he growls, his voice strained, rage and heartbreakmixing like acid in it.
“I had to,” I whisper, my voice cracking like glass. “I, Sienna Elektra Kendall Rossi, also known as Mordana of House Silver, reject you, Jayce Westwood, as my-”
“Don’t!” he snarls, his aura crackling like lightning around him, his eyes fuelled with fury.
“As my mate and alpha,” I finish.
The bond splits.
A shattering agony rips through my chest, as if a blade has pierced my heart and twisted ruthlessly. I gasp out, staggering backwards.
Jayce falls to his knees, the venom and the rejection working hand-in-hand to defy his will. “Sienna… don’t do this… please.”
I still, my heart pounding as I stare at him, hearing his pride and strength fracture. His voice trembles with soul-crushing desperation.
“Don’t leave me like this. Please, we will figure it out, I am begging you.” He tries to get up, but he can’t, and then, to my horror, he starts to crawl toward me – painstakingly slowly, every move taking a lot from him, and I hate it. Hate how I stripped him of everything and brought him to his knees.
I’d rather see him angry, not broken and begging like this.
I hate myself.
There’s pain, anguish and fear in those beautiful, green eyes as they look at me, so full of a vulnerability I’ve never seen in them before. “We can fix this. Whatever it is, please, think this through. Don’t do this. Don’t leave me in this fucking nightmare.” His eyes glitter, and my vision blurs.
“Jayce…”
“Helios! I’ll kneel if you want me to. Don’t involve her!” he shouts. His power crackles around him weakly, but I chose the strongest venom, one from a god. Even a prophesied ruler wouldn’t be able to defy it.
“Jayce, stop, it’s too late,” I beg, stepping back as he still claws his way towards me, with sheer will alone.
“No, I’ll burn if it means I get to keep you. You’re everything to me,” he chokes out hoarsely. “Sienna, please, I can’t lose you.”
His voice cracks, and so does my heart. He knows I’m leaving, and this isn’t how I wanted to remember him. Broken and on his knees.
Memories flash through my mind: him smirking over his shoulder, him mounting his bike, him kissing me, holding me, making love to me…
I turn away, unable to watch him any longer.
“I love you,” he whispers, barely able to move now. “I love you more than anything I’ve ever known.”
My back is to him, and I press my fist to my chest. I can’t breathe… I can’t turn around. I won’t survive it if I do.
My wolf howls, her grief a mirror of mine as I step toward the shimmering tear. Every step is like walking on blades.
“Sienna!” That sound will haunt me forever; his wolf’s and his voice melded into one. The pain coming from the depths of his soul. “Please, please, I’m begging you.”
I close my eyes as I hear him fall; the venom taking full hold.
