Page 161 of Heiress of Fire

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay.”

“The truth, Davina.”

Davina huffed.

“I’m okay. My siblings are safe. They’re here with me, where I can take care of them, and I can be their Protector,” Davina confessed as she recalled all those times when Emmy would run to hide behind Davina whenever their parents started to fight.

She didn’t know whether she could keep talking about it with a straight face, so she remained silent and looked down at her fidgeting fingers. Ron moved a strand of her hair behind her ear. Then, his index finger caressed her cheek.

“You are the strongest woman I’ve ever known.”

“I don’t feel like I’m strong,” she whispered, avoiding his gaze. Ron then reached for her hand and engulfed it into his own.

“How can you believe that? Your whole life, all you’ve done is help everyone out. You helped your parents raise your siblings. You’ve protected them. Hell, you fought a whole war in favor of them.”

“Then why do I feel like I’m falling apart?”

“I’ve come to learn that strength is not defined by what you feel but by your choice to persevere in goodness despite our afflictions. What you’re feeling doesn’t determine who you are, your actions do. You have helped Bellatorm while simultaneously saving your siblings from Raven. You’ve been through not one, but three betrayals, and you’re still a good person. If I went through what you went through, I don’t know if I’d ever survive.”

“You went through enough as well,” Davina argued quietly, fixing her sleeve.

“But I didn’t go through the same heartaches as you.”

She couldn’t help but think about her most recent heartbreak.

“I still don’t know what happened with Amir for him to…” She couldn’t find the strength in herself to admit that he was gone. “It’s killing me. I don’t understand why he did what he did. And then Leilani… I don’t know what to make of it. I can’t believe she’s gone and I could’ve sworn I saw her eyes turn black before she died. Then we have the issue with Caleb, who’s destroyed after everything.”

“We’ll figure it out together.”

She could feel him grinning at her as she shook her head. He lifted her chin.

“We will,” he insisted.

“You promise?” Davina quirked up a brow.

“I promise.” Ron flashed his teeth. “You are strong. You are brave. You are beautiful. You are worth it. Now, it’s time for you to let me prove that to you.”

“You could start proving it to me by telling me what you wrote in those letters.” She smiled.

“Davina,” he groaned.

“Come on, I’m sure they’re full of such intricate prose,” she teased.

“No.”

“I can’t believe I have a poet for a boyfriend,” Davina exclaimed.

Ron hummed while shaking his head.

“I’m sure they’re not that bad,” she said.

Ron rolled his eyes.

“You know I’m never going to stop nagging, so you might as well just tell me.” Davina shrugged.

A slight rosy shade colored his cheeks.

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