Page 24 of Heiress of Fire

“I’m sorry for my reaction. It’s just… you’re the only person I’m afraid of losing.”

She had a firm grip on his forearms as his frantic gray-flecked eyes scanned her for any wounds. Davina didn’t know what to say. The words didn’t seem to come. Instead, she asked, “Where were you, Ron?”

Ron seemed to be searching for an answer, his eyes frantically scanning her face. Davina noticed his hesitance which caused a heavy maelstrom to birth in her mind. What was he hiding?

“I’m quite well myself, brother. Thank you for asking.” Beacon approached them with Val right beside him.

“Beacon, thank the King you’re okay too,” Ron muttered, letting go of Davina and immediately rushing into his brother’s arms. Valerie turned to Davina with a solemn look.

“Where were you? You missed out on all the fun." Beacon chuckled. “Davina, did you inform my little brother, or should I?”

Beacon firmly set his hand on Ron’s shoulder.

Ron turned to Davina with confusion. “Inform me about what?”

“About the attack,” Davina began.

“What about it?”

Seeing his muscles tense, Davina couldn’t find the right words to explain what had happened.

“We have finally deciphered the name of the Predator commander,” Valerie explained.

Davina continued to watch him, his demeanor, his frantic looks, his fear.

“Her name is Raven, little brother,” Beacon explained. “It seems that Davina is the number one target of the witch and she intends to put an end to our beautiful home that is Bellatorm.”

“So what does that mean?” Ron asked.

“It means that war is near,” Davina said.

EIGHT

Agasp echoed through the battered living room. Her three siblings were accompanied by Mae, who had been sitting over the charred davenport. Emmy’s beady eyes locked onto Davina’s. The little girl jumped from her seat and embraced her eldest sister.

“Davina!”

Emmy was only able to hug Davina’s waist, but she tightened her hold around Davina’s torso. Davina set a hand over Emmy’s dirty blonde hair, which was the exact color as Nico’s. A small smile found Davina’s lips. “I’m right here, Emmy.”

Micah and Genevieve were quick to follow, their arms wrapped around Davina’s shoulders.

“We were afraid that something had happened to you,” Genevieve croaked into Davina’s shoulder.

Micah leaned onto Davina’s other shoulder. Micah was silent, but his expression haunted her. He looked angry yet heartbroken. She was glad that he wasn’t throwing objects around the house because of the explosion of emotions he was feeling.

“I’m okay, kids,” she whispered, her hand brushing Genevieve’s soft dark hair.

“I really thought you were gone, D,” Micah muttered, almost as if he were embarrassed to admit that he was afraid of something happening to her. Davina kissed Micah and Genevieve’s foreheads.

Hot tears dripped from Davina’s eyes. Their pain was her pain. And right now, she could only imagine what they were feeling, thinking that their big sister had left them. In their minds, she was invincible. She was strong, she was capable, she was good, their protector. How she wished she didn’t have to live up to their expectations, but she had to. Nico and Mae never made the effort to live up to the expectations of the children. Davina didn’t wish to break their little hearts even more.

Her mother neared them. Davina looked at her as Mae ran a hand through her shiny black hair and watched with sorrowful eyes.

Mae hesitantly approached them. Davina’s lips parted, still holding onto the kids as her mother reached for her cheek. Her mother’s thumb caressed her beige skin. “Mom?”

The woman before her tore down her usual scowl and held glossy eyes, ones that were filled with love and care.

A low rumble resounded below their feet. Davina lowered her gaze to her boots to find them vibrating along with the shaky floor. The new jars and vases spilled onto the floorboards. Screams of terror began to echo throughout the village.

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