Page 47 of Heiress of Fire

Davina didn’t want to spend her entire life wondering what could’ve been if he survived. What could’ve become if he didn’t die? Maybe she was exaggerating but the moment felt too real because he wouldn’t wake up and he was under water for too long. He had passed out long before they got out of the water. Davina rested her hands over his chest as she curved her head, leaning against his chest, trying to force herself to breathe properly.

Suddenly, after a few long moments, his chest convulsed. Ron coughed out the water onto the sand beside him. Giving him enough space to breathe in new air.

Once his coughing calmed, she exclaimed, “Ron!”

She threw herself around his arms and he didn’t even hesitate to wrap his arms around her.

“You can’t get rid of me that easily, love,” Ron croaked out, she was almost sure he was smirking.

Davina didn’t want to let go of him, afraid that it was all a dream. She hated the fact that she was doubting the reality of Ron having woken up despite it being a good reality.

“I thought I lost you,” she whispered.

It felt like she was able to breathe now that she knew he was okay. “I’m okay. You don’t have to worry anymore.”

Davina reluctantly pulled away from his embrace and looked into his gray-flecked eyes. King Magnar had chosen him to be a Protector as well. Then why did it seem like he was the Protector that was struggling the most?

The King chose them. The King had watched over them, over Ron, yet he seemed so upset instead of being happy for being chosen as a Protector. What was stopping him from activating his powers? Why is his armor scattered throughout the islands? When he had sworn that he’d done everything right, that he had gone above and beyond to activate his powers, yet nothing ever happened.

“We should search for the other parts of your armor,” Davina said.

As much as she wished to plop onto her bed and sleep for days, they had to finish what they had started. She had to observe him and see what was wrong. What was he doing so wrong that his powers refused to appear? So, she pushed the shock of almost having lost Ron to the waters deep into her soul. She’d deal with it later.

Her bare feet left prints on the sand as she shuffled to stand and give him a lift. Ron furrowed his brow, he must’ve noticed the way she removed all emotion from her expression.

She pulled him harshly before he stumbled onto his feet. Davina stood still as she realized the force of her arm.

“Alright, let’s go.”

He nodded, alarmed by the sudden change in her tone. “Uh, my sword?”

“Oh, right, it’s over there, by the staircase.” Where her boots also lay.

Davina walked quietly behind Ron toward the staircase. While she picked up her boots and laced them back on, he did the same before grabbing his sword.

“Basalt’s next?” she asked.

“Yes,” he chirped.

She only nodded. Then they headed out of Neptulus to Basalt, crossing the Bridges into Castellum and then to Basalt Island.

The entire walk to Basalt Island had been quiet. She felt odd with herself for the hug and the emotions she felt when they got out of the water. It was a moment of fear and comfort mixed into one.

It was an impulse, she didn’t mean to react like that. And she certainly didn’t mean for him to see how much she cared about him.

But it was almost impossible not to care for him. He had comforted her that one night in the woods, the night of Sadoc’s birthday celebration, the argument at the Archives, the portrayal of their powers, the day the King instituted them as Protectors, and now the lake.

After their argument in the underground Archives, she was able to understand that he didn’t want her to fight in the war. It upset her that he seemed to not believe she could be a capable Captain. Since she was already struggling to believe in herself.

She was chosen to be the leader of the Protectors. It felt wrong and unpleasant to even think about rejecting this new role she had been given, even though it also felt wrong to have been made Captain.

Curiosity itched her brain as she began to think whether any other Almenara had been given this kind of leadership for the good of Bellatorm before. Did the Almenaras ever have the chance to show they were competent? The answer had been no.

Davina recalled the stories that circulated the islands on how the Almenaras had once become the villains. The rogue ones of Bellatorm, a scandalous family. She shook her head as she realized that the latter term had stuck to their family after all.

“Do you know where we have to head to?” Davina’s voice ripped through the silence between them. This wasn’t like the stillness they usually shared, this silence was awkward.

Usually, the silence was comforting and peaceful. She was the one who made it awkward by choosing to become so cold one second to another. Surely, he didn’t know how to deal with this side of her. No one knew how. She had to admit that even she didn’t know what to do with herself either.

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