Page 89 of Heiress of Fire

She sighed. “As much I’ve tried to convince the people to believe in the King’s return, more and more Bellatormans are renouncing their abilities. I’ve tried so hard to make them see that this campaign of theirs is only going to divide the kingdom even more, but because of my surname and my birthplace they refuse to listen to me.”

He remained silent as he pondered. She didn’t think there was much to do after all the ambushes Raven and her Predators had initiated.

“Have you thought of any way that could remove their attention from your supposed incredibility and make them believe you to be credible?” he asked.

“I’ve tried everything. I chose to buy a house with Leilani in Basalt so they could see I’m not attached to my fiery roots, and that I’m not like my ancestors. I’ve given them food that I don’t have. I’ve saved their children, their homes, and their workshops, and they continue to discredit me.” Davina rubbed her eyes.

And she truly had.

She had even paid special visits to the King to converse and talk in strategy, but no one knew about that. Only Master Abigail.

The confidence that she worked so heavily for, diminished the moment they discredited her publicly with pride.

As much as many of them rejected her, she continued to fight for those who remained loyal, which were few. Raven was right, for the most part, there was no reason to fight. But there had been a few who supported her as Captain and who continued to be loyal to the King’s reign.

“Not everything.”

Davina turned to him, raising her brows. “What do you mean?”

“You could begin an alliance with someone important to Bellatorm,” he suggested. “The people won’t discredit you so much if you have someone powerful by your side.”

“Someone important? Like who?”

A small grin crept onto his lips. Isaiah scratched the back of his neck. “Someone like me, the Chief Leader of Mistral.”

Her heart stopped. No, she couldn’t. She’d never thought of Isaiah like that before.

“Oh… Isaiah, I’m flattered. I just—I don’t think I’m ready to start another courtship just yet. I just got out of one a few months ago, besides, I don’t think I’ll be viewed as a better Soldier if I begin to—”

“It would only be of name. We can put on a show for them. Davina Almenara decides to ally herself with Chief Leader Isaiah, one of the best-known Chief Leaders of Castellum and a citizen of Bellatorm. You won’t be allying yourself to some lowly unstable man from Mistral.”

Davina tried not to flinch as she felt like he was referring to Ron.

“I would protect you, your name, and your family. The Soldiers and Apprentices listen to me, I could send them over to guard over your family. I would be able to abolish all those nasty rumors once and for all. The people should not treat you this way because of something your ancestors did ages ago.”

“My parents wouldn’t allow for the Soldiers or Apprentices to be so close to them,” Davina said. “They’ll most likely force their fire to burn everyone away from their house.”

“I’ll assign Neptulans and Mistrans to suffocate their fire,” Isaiah countered.

Davina lowered her gaze to her fingers. Here before her was this man, offering himself over to help her, willing to use his authority as Chief Leader to help her win this war and protect her family.

“I know you haven’t lived the most pleasant life and you’ve had many sour moments recently. You’re an amazing woman and a fierce warrior, that is why I believe I must do whatever I can to facilitate your troubles. You deserve it.”

It made sense. It was a good solution to her problems. The public would no longer reject her. They would accept her because a Chief Leader accepted her for courtship and while she was off fighting, her siblings would be guarded by Soldiers.

His words faded into echoes as she asked herself whether she would be forever tied to him. Of course she would.

Courtship was all about envisioning a future with an indicated person. She would eventually have to marry him, especially if he was to do what he was promising.

She would marry him and have to forget about her sentiments for Ron. Any hope for sharing a life with the youngest Levina would have to be destroyed. Her heart felt crushed just to think about a future without Ron in it.

Maybe she would be able to detach herself from him for the rest of her life. Her mind battled with her heart as it fought to unravel all the threads that bound her to Ron.

“I’ll never force you to do anything. I will take care of you as the jewel that you are,” he said.

Davina turned to look into his brown eyes, finding herself longing for Ron’s perfect, gray-flecked eyes. Whenever she used to look into Ron’s gaze, she could feel the connection they shared. Looking into Isaiah’s felt foreign, but he seemed to be sincere enough.

“Our lips shall never touch, our hands shall never brush, and our souls shall never intertwine if it is not in your desire.”

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