Page 131 of Heiress of Fire

He sighed, letting go of her chin. “I think I would’ve reacted the same if I thought someone so close to me betrayed me as well.”

She knew that he wouldn’t, he was just trying to make her feel better.

“I’m sorry,” she said, not being able to meet his gaze.

“I have already forgiven you. Now, forget about it because we need to put all our focus into tomorrow’s discussion for strategy,” Ron said.

“Are you going to be there?”

“Of course I will. Until the end.” He smiled as he caressed her cheek.

She smiled slightly. He then leaned for her forehead. Davina thought her heart would beat out of her chest as he landed a soft kiss on her temple.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, love,” he whispered.

The next day, Davina looked at her purple uniform that hung from her wardrobe. Leilani must’ve washed it by the river for her, Davina smiled. She sighed and got herself ready before heading out to Castellum.

Davina could feel the stares from those in Basalt as she passed by them but she continued her stroll to Castellum with an impassive expression. No matter the war that was going on in her mind, she kept calm. She remained with her poise, her hand over her Soldier sword which felt smaller than the swords that appeared behind her back whenever her armor manifested.

As Davina entered the sandy island of Castellum, she spotted a bright figure at the top window of the castle. The King had his gaze on the throng of people that huddled together in the courtyard.

Shouts and cries pierced her ears. Davina felt a pang of fear as she heard the voice of a woman weeping. She knew that cry.

Davina pushed through the crowd, her eyes fixated on the dark-haired woman who clung to her husband as she wailed. The woman wept before Master Abigail, who seemed to be conflicted by the woman’s words. What could ever afflict the Master like that?

“Mother?” Davina asked.

Mae turned and flew into Davina’s arms. Davina, in shock, hesitantly wrapped her arms around her mother.

“I tried to stop them. I did, I really did.”

“Mother, please, calm down. What happened?” Davina’s eyes widened.

Nico held a solemn look, his face had reddened. His eyes filled with tears. Davina noticed his slouched posture and the hands he held in his pocket.

Davina’s eyes frantically searched for her siblings among the crowd that surrounded them. She saw distinct faces, none of which she could identify. The only faces she was able to recognize instantly belonged to Ron, Leilani, Beacon, Valerie, Snow, Cara, Caleb, and Amir.

“Mother where are the children?” Her heart pummeled in her chest.

“She took them,” Mae sobbed.

Davina felt every inch of her body paralyzed. Her eyes found Ron’s who had a bewildered look marking his expression.

She slowly shook her head while she imagined her siblings at the mercy of Raven, the torture that the Dark Mistress would be putting them through. Raven was capable of doing much worse than what Davina had done to Isaiah. Slowly, Davina pushed her mother away as all the oxygen left her lungs.

Ron pushed through the crowd to near her, but she held out her hand for him to stop.

Davina had already told them what the risks would be. She had warned them about Raven. She had told them that the Dark Mistress was a threat, that Davina was being targeted so they would be targeted too. She had even volunteered to show the children certain self-defense tactics, but they always refused, claiming the children didn’t need to be traumatized like that as if they hadn’t been already.

“You kick me out of your house. You forbid me from seeing my siblings. You curse me. You abuse me. And you come here crying for my help,” Davina uttered. “I told you this could happen, didn’t I?”

Mae stuttered.

“Didn’t I?” she yelled. Mae flinched.

Davina turned to Nico who had his eyes glued to the stones below him.

“And you.” Davina neared him. “You pathetic excuse of a father. You said you’d protect them, that you didn’t need me. You got what you wanted and look what happened!”

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