Page 110 of Heiress of Fire

“I guess you could say you aren’t the best warriors in all of Bellatorm.” Ron smiled as he dropped the baton and let it clatter onto the mat, heading over to Amir and extending his hand for the Neptulan Chief Leader.

“Who’s next?” Ron asked as Amir walked off the stage.

All heads turned to Davina.

“Come on love, don’t be shy.”

“Don’t you dare call her that,” Isaiah snapped as he lifted from the ground, eyes burning with rage while he lifted his right arm, readying himself to punch Ron in the face.

Amir flew across the room and pushed himself between Ron and Isaiah, lowering Isaiah’s arm. Ron only held a bewildered grin as if he was expectant of the Mistran Chief Leader’s reaction.

“Isaiah!” Amir hushed. “We are among fellow Soldiers…”

The Island Protectors, along with Abigail, watched as Amir reprimanded his friend about maintaining his composure in front of the Soldiers.

Isaiah huffed, stomping off the stage while Davina avoided looking at him as she walked past him.

With every step that she took closer to the center of the staged mat, she couldn’t hear anything else but the pulse of her beating heart loud in her ears. Davina set herself into position while Ron remained with an insufferable yet alluring grin.

“On my mark. Three… Two… One… Fight!” Abigail shouted.

Ron was the first to strike. Davina used her left forearm to block, twirling in place before landing a blow on his jaw with her right. He slightly stumbled with a smirk. Ron joked, “We’re not wasting time I see.”

His arrogance angered her causing her lips to quiver.

She ducked his right hook. Davina kicked at him; he dodged as he pushed her leg away from him. Davina used the force of his push to spin and land a hit to his chest.

“Good, don’t make it easy on me, love.”

He began to throw punches, all of which she was capable of blocking. Ron aimed for her shoulder, but she was quick to grab his wrist before his knuckles collided with her arm.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she muttered.

“I came to train for the war, Vivi, what else could I be doing?”

The moment she heard the nickname he had given to her come out of his mouth, she faltered and loosened her grip around his wrist. Ron hit a kick to her stomach, causing her to fall onto the mat. Davina regained her footing with a quick kip-up. Ron spun and lifted his leg, Davina leaned back and then aimed for his stomach. He blocked.

Ron then lowered himself for a leg swipe, she made a graceful aerial cartwheel then positioned herself back into a fighting stance. She could hear clapping coming from Cara, Valerie, and Leilani.

Davina punched with her left; he grabbed her arm. She then aimed for his face but he grabbed her wrist before lowering it, bringing their faces only a few inches away.

“Your fiancé seems like he’s going crazy.” Ron smiled. Davina had a clear view of her favorite pair of gray-flecked eyes. “He can’t take his eyes off of us. Is he feeling insecure?”

Small bolts of lightning circled inside of his orbs. It was a glimpse of his power. His grin reappeared, had he acquired the ability to control his lightning abilities?

“What?” she asked lowly.

Davina remembered how Isaiah and the others were right beside them, watching the whole scene. Knowing how Isaiah would react if she didn’t put any distance between them both any time soon, she pushed herself away from him. Davina fought the small frown that wanted to find its way upon her lips.

It was the closest they had been in months. It had been so long since she had felt the warmth of his pale skin, even though they were only touching because of training.

Davina felt Isaiah’s glare puncturing holes in her back. She was about to punch Ron’s face when Abigail’s booming voice stopped her.

“It seems that there has been a tie. Ron and Davina are our best warriors by far,” Abigail said with a pleased look. “You’re all dismissed.”

Ron winked before heading over to the benches for his bag. His back faced her, giving her a chance to spot his marked fingers. She looked away with a heavy heart once she felt Isaiah’s presence beside her. “What the hell was that?”

“What?”