Page 243 of The Tribrid Princess and the Taste of Chaos
So now, here, all alone, I answer him, even though he’ll never hear it.
“I love you, too,” I whisper into the wind, broken and quiet. “With everything I am.”
I just… I couldn’t say it then. Because if I had, I would’ve never had the strength to leave. I couldn’t risk your life, not after what I saw Helios was capable of. I had to sacrifice everything to save you.
A breath catches in my throat. I press a hand to my chest, trying to contain the sob that threatens to escape me. The pain is constant, a hollow echo of what I lost. But I welcome the pain. It’s what I deserve.
“So live, Jayce, please. Find someone who can give you everything I stole. Someone worthy of you. Because I was never strong enough to be what you deserved. All I did was hurt you. I’m sorry.”
I close my eyes. Silent tears burn hot down my cheeks.
I will never forgive myself. Not for the oath I made by accident. Not for the betrayal. Not for loving him enough to leave him behind. What I did was unforgivable. I know that.
“Come, My Queen…” a voice whispers gently beside me.
I turn to them, they are some kind of faerie-like women, impossibly delicate, half my size, with wings that shimmer like starlight. And then the sun hits their skin, and it sparkles dazzlingly. They hover in the air, waiting, their expressions unreadable.
I wipe my face with the back of my hand, square my shoulders, and take one last look at the sky. The sun is still shining down, and the clouds have stunning hues of pink, gold and orange.
“Does it ever go dark here?” I ask.
“No, My Lady, this is the Kingdom of the Sun God; it is always day.
And I prefer the night...
Then, I turn away and walk into the palace that will never be my home, following the creatures that lead me deeper into the gilded cage made of gold and marble.
But I will not make this easy for him. There’s a storm brewing inside of me.
He thinks he’s won, but he hasn’t.
And he is about to get a taste of chaos.
Jayce
Three months havepassed since that night.
I returned to the Academy three days after the Blood Moon. Dad told me to take some time off to clear my head, but I didn’t listen. I couldn’t just sit around and mope. I showed up to every training session, every lesson, every game. I threw myself into my responsibilities like they were the only thing keeping me upright. And maybe they were.
I had things to do, and I got them done.
Shahira’s awake now, and they say she’s going to be fine. Sometimes I wonder if Sienna had anything to do with that. Maybe she did. Maybe not. Either way, I no longer care.
It’s been two months and three days since the numbness settled in for good. It’s exactly what I needed. I haven’t felt anything real since then.
Since her betrayal.
Since her lies.
Since her rejection.
So I focused on what I had left. My family. My duty. My division. The war ahead. The future. Not the past. Not her.
Heaven tried to apologise on Sienna’s behalf. She looked sorry, even sounded like she meant it. But it fell flat. Words like that don’t touch me anymore. Whatever meaning they once held died with the last pieces of our bond. I don’t need her ‘sorry’. What Sienna did will never be justifiable.
There’s been tension between my family and the Rossis ever since. Despite an apology from Uncle Alejandro, it’s too late. I don’t want it, and deep down, I know Dad didn’t accept it either. For the sake of the family, they’re trying to be civil, but I keep my distance.
I’ve got no time for petty politics, and even less for unresolved guilt that doesn’t belong to me. Rayhan asked to speak with me. I didn’t respond. I won’t. That chapter of my life is over. There’s nothing left to say.
