Page 108 of Heiress of Fire

He hadn’t been in an emotionally stable state when he had left. Maybe he found someone that interested him enough. Or maybe he was dead in a ditch somewhere. She hadn’t asked anyone about Ron’s whereabouts, she’d been too afraid of seeming like she held any interest in him when she was engaged to Isaiah. But it turns out that her feelings for the Mistran are clear and visible.

This moment alone with her thoughts was dangerous, she knew it. Yet she couldn’t stop the whirlwind of desperation that came crashing down on her.

She burned him. His hand would forever bear the scars that she gave him. She was no better than her parents, she reminded herself. Ron, out of all people, was always gentle with her. Then she remembered how she’d been losing too much since she’d activated her powers. She had lost the privilege of being in the same company as her siblings, she’d lost Ron, she’d lost any piece of trust she had in her parents, and then there were all of those people caught in the crossfire of the war.

She channeled her frustration into her last punch on the bag. A large hole ripped through the bag before it went flying across the room and into the wall. Davina’s lips gaped as the sand spilled chaotically over the floor.

Davina looked around the training ground. The room was empty. She ran for her duffle bag and wedding invitation before dashing out of the training room.

Fear rose in her chest as she neared the training room.

With Leilani and Cara by Davina’s side, she checked for the sandbag that had been ripped open with her punch. Fortunately, the sand and the leather bag had been cleaned up. Davina let go of a breath she’d been holding since the bad ripped open.

“Won’t it be weird to have two of the Island Protectors married?” Leilani asked. “You know, at first, we had to third wheel these two when they first started their courtship. I think it’s going to be so much worse when they get married.”

“Well, I believe you won’t be complaining once you wed Sadoc.” Cara winked at Leilani.

Davina’s gaze grew dark when she heard his name. Davina turned to Leilani who was playing with the hem of her sleeve.

At times, it was quite awkward at home whenever Sadoc came by to visit Leilani. Davina would search stubbornly for an excuse to leave the house, despite Leilani’s best efforts for Davina to stick around and speak to Sadoc.

“I remember you guys were saying that he was going to propose but has Sadoc mentioned any plans for you two to wed anytime soon?” Davina asked.

Leilani remained silent as she softly shook her head. Davina felt like punching Sadoc in the face, hard enough to leave a dent, just like the punchbag.

“I say this because I care about you, Lani, if he has not presented any plans or a wedding date, then you need to reconsider your relationship with him,” Davina advised.

Although, that wasn’t Davina’s concern. She had to figure out a way to keep Leilani away from Sadoc.

“She’s right,” Cara said.

“Yeah, I know,” Leilani whispered.

“Do you, though?” Davina questioned as they set their purses on the benches. She was able to glimpse a few bits of sand under the bench, she gulped.

Davina glanced around the room to see how many of the Island Protectors were about to arrive, but then she saw a dark figure enter after Valerie and Snow.

Her heart skipped a beat.

“He’s here. What is he doing here?” Davina whispered to herself.

Cara stood beside her. “Who’s here?”

She didn’t want Ron there. It would only make things more confusing and difficult for her. But at least she was granted the relief that he was okay, that he hadn’t been dead in a ditch.

“I asked, what is he doing here?” Davina asked louder, enough for all the other Island Protectors to hear. Yet, all of them remained quiet. Davina observed each of them as she waited for a response.

None were given.

“I came to train,” Ron answered.

“Since when are you interested in training again?” Davina asked.

A small smirk curled over his lips. It was then that she knew that he would test her patience, which had already begun to thin.

Abigail, Isaiah, and Amir walked through the entrance, only to remain with questioning looks as they observed the tension between the Protectors.

Davina could feel Isaiah’s stare from across the room.

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