All eyes now turn to her, and Raihana hugs her. Theyknew about it; she probably told them, so they were over the initial shock.
“We’ll find a way,” Raihana says. “I’m so proud of you. I’m going to continue to train you myself. You’re my priority.”
Blondie tosses her hair and nods.I’d like that,she writes.
Uncle Rayhan gets up and sits on her other side, wraps his arms around her and kisses her forehead.
“Thank you,” he says before looking at us. “And thank you,all of you, for bringing her back. Alessandra, Ahren, you, too. I think we can all agree that our children have grown to become strong warriors and leaders.”
“I agree,” Gramps says.
“Yes, and you’re all back safe,” Grandma says.
“Are any of you hurt or need anything tended to?” Delsanra asks.
We shake our heads as Maria stands. “For breaking Academy rules, there will be some punishment, but we can deal with that in a few days. Take a few days to rest.”
“You’re marked,” Dad says suddenly, making silence fall through the room. He’s looking at Sienna, who is standing by her mother. Her hand instantly goes to her neck.
“Don’t sweat it. Her mate marked her,” I say. The room falls silent as Delsanra moves her hair, and everyone can see the clear Deimos symbol that covers her neck.
Pin-fucking-drop silence.
Uncle Al sits forward. “Mate?” he growls.
“Yeah, in case you all didn’t know when you fucking insulted him, Jayce and Sienna are mates,” Ares adds.
“Yeah, so imagine how he felt when his mate left him, and you all gave him shit while some were too far up their own arses about their own hurt,” I finish. Although Jayce is trying to mind-link us, we ain’t backing down.
For once, no one tells me to shut it, although Jayce gives me a warning look.
“You blamed Jayce?” Sienna’s voice trembles as she looks at her family, her chest heaving as she tries to control her emotions.
“No,” Uncle Rayhan says softly. He probably blamed himself, and Uncle Al looks down.
But the best fucking part about this? Those who did give him shit, just knowing that they are mates, has changed their entire attitude towards the situation.
“That’s unfair,” Sienna says quietly.
“It doesn’t matter. You’re back, my job is done. You lot can carry on with what went down; I’m heading to bed.”
“Jayce-” Dad tries.
“Goodnight,” Jayce says, before he makes his way to the door, stopping only to kiss Ma on the forehead, leaving behind a fucking intense silence. And for once, even I don’t know what to say.
Consequences
Heaven
“Al?” Aunty Kiara says, looking at Grandpa Alejandro, who nods and stands up and heads to the door, pausing to cup the back of Sienna’s head and kiss her forehead.
“You fuckers know I don’t mean half the shit I say, right?” he says, pausing at the door as he looks at us all, his eyes lingering on Grandad Elijah and Uncle Liam.
“Yeah, we know,” Grandad Elijah says. “But sometimes it’s good to show that, too.”
Grandpa Alejandro nods before he exits the room, closing the door behind himself.
I don’t know if Jayce is ready to speak or accept his apology, but Grandpa Alejandro can try. He’s struggling around Sienna; they both are. There’s this intense connection between them, obviously, but at the same time, their hurt is as powerful as that connection, if not stronger.
