Page 147 of Heiress of Fire

Davina closed her eyes and pulled forth the armor that had been embedded into her skin. The metal screeched as it began to take form around her body, she held out her hands while the stones surrounded her fingers. She smiled at finding her suit shining a bright violet. Her precious twin swords took form crisscrossed behind her back. Davina turned to look over her shoulder to find new improvements around the shoulder plates.

While they neared her house, she felt cold steel pressed against her forehead. Her fingers grazed around the new diadem that had formed. Removing it, she examined the new piece of her armor to have a blue sharp lapis lazuli embedded at the center. Her fingertips outlined the sharp tip of it.

She grinned and turned to Ron who also seemed to have more upgrades to his armor, he had his arms extended, observing the designs of lightning that ran down his arms.

He had a dark blue helmet over his head, expanding over his cheeks and below his jaw. Seconds later, his staff and sword screeched to life and were neatly set in their holsters. His staff by his back and his sword at his side. He sent her a grin as they continued to walk through the forest.

“The King wasn’t lying. He did give us more improvements,” Ron said.

“It’s crazy to think that we’re finally fulfilling our purpose as Soldiers and ending this war tonight,” Davina noted.

He nodded in agreement. “It is. I didn’t think I was worthy of such a calling.”

“We might not be. But the King doesn’t consider that about us,” Davina replied.

“You’re right, he doesn’t,” Ron agreed softly.

Leilani and Davina’s house came into view.

Something was different about the house, and she noticed it immediately. The flowers that surrounded their building had wilted, and the ivy that surrounded the windows had grown dark with poison. They walked closer to the house, carefully examining their surroundings.

“Everything seems eerily quiet.” Davina observed.

“You’re right.”

“Stand guard out here, I’ll check inside. “She headed for the front door.

“You’re not going in there alone.” He stopped her, his hand gripping her arm.

“I’ll be fine. If I find any trouble, send a signal to the others, and then you can come in and help me,” she said.

“No, we’re going in together,” Ron argued.

“What if Predators arrive while we’re in there? You need to be out here to stop them from ambushing us. We have the upper hand if we fight outside and not inside a small cottage house,” Davina explained.

Ron sighed loudly, his jaw clenching before he landed a soft kiss on her forehead. “Be careful in there.”

“I always am.” She smiled sweetly, walking toward the wooden door. She could hear the slice of his sword as he removed it from its holster.

She sent him a nod then lifted the latch of the front door only to find that it was unlocked. She cursed the loud hinges as she pushed the heavy door open.

Davina stepped in, examining each dark corner of the house. It was the usual earthy living room with its beautiful vines and branches painted across each object, except it seemed gloomy and sad. All she noticed was the way her perception of Basalt’s beauty had been tainted because of Leilani. But she couldn’t help but hope that Sadoc was lying. That she wouldn’t find Leilani here with Raven.

Basalt, the most beautiful of all. Leilani, the prettiest of all. The most competent. The most kind. She wouldn’t.

As she stepped deeper into her unfamiliar home, she ripped out a sword from its holster before flipping it once. Her eyes scanned the light green kitchen.

A loud growl rumbled into her bones.

Davina froze before slowly turning her head toward the living room, finding a dark figure with three dogs held back by a leash.

No, it was one dog. With three heads. All three heads with their teeth bared. Davina lifted her gaze to the woman wearing a mask, holding a long-chained leash.

“Hello, sister,” she rasped.

“What the hell are you doing in my house?” Davina snapped.

“I’m only here for a friendly visit,” Raven said.

---