Page 238 of The Tribrid Princess and the Taste of Chaos
But now he’s standing there.
Alive.
And now it all makes sense.
Someone behind me gasps, their voice shaking with disbelief as they whisper the words, “Ya Hayati?”
Trying to Understand
Heaven
Ilook over Jaddati’s shoulder, my eyes widening at the person standing in the doorway.
Dark hair, light eyes, that same face, that same build… he looks just like the last time I saw him. The day he kissed me and Sienna goodbye and told us to be good…
How is this possible?
How is he here?
My heart is pounding as he looks around.
“What happened? The last thing I remember is we were in Puerto Rico…” He sounds confused.
What?
What is going on? First Si, now this?
Jaddati isn’t moving, but her heart is pounding.
“R-Ray?” Aunty Del whispers from the top of the stairs before she rushes down them, flying past Ahren as she runs toUncle and places a hand on his chest, her other hand flying to his face as if to check if he’s real.
She gasps, flinging her arms around his waist, and Uncle Rayhan hugs her tightly, kissing her head and shoulder.
“Hey… It’s ok,” he murmurs.
How is it ok? Doesn’t he remember anything? How is he here?
“Fucking hell, this shit is confusing the fuck out of me,” Grandpa Alejandro mutters.
“Sienna… she did this,” I hear Jayce whisper, and I stare at him.
It makes sense. She gave up her own life to bring Uncle back. Why? Why, Si? I thought you were happy.
My heart hurts. The loss of Sienna, her not even saying goodbye, her not sharing anything with us, is all eating up at me with painful agony, and although I want to cry, I am keeping it inside.
Uncle’s eyes flit from Ahren to me and Allie, a frown furrowing his forehead before glancing at Tatum and Jayce. The five of us have probably changed the most since the last time he saw us.
Aunty Del is crying as she kisses him, unable to say anything, and I see how Uncle’s eyes roam over her, noticing the changes. His frown deepens, and worry fills him as he holds her tenderly, pressing his forehead to hers.
After a few moments, Aunty reluctantly moves back, her hand still lingering on his arm as if he might disappear if she lets go.
She looks at me and Jaddati before motioning us over.Jaddati doesn’t move, but I do. I walk towards him, breaking into a run a few feet away and hug him tightly.
My heart hammers in my ears. He smells like him.
Sienna…
Uncle strokes my hair. “What am I missing?” he asks. I know we all look like we’ve seen a ghost, but really, it is that.
