Page 4 of Heiress of Fire

“Unlike you, I try my best to look presentable. I know I’m going to see Sadoc today.” Leilani was careful in lowering her voice before flipping her hair. Davina scrunched her lips and nose, trying not to laugh at her friend’s delusion.

Leilani rolled her eyes.

“Let’s do something about your outfit,” Leilani noted, holding out her tanned hands. A branch began to grow over her fingers. The bark screeched as vines encircled it and before purple buds began to appear. Davina was enchanted by the gift Leilani shared with her twin, Caleb.

Leilani's powers were charming. Unlike her powers that only brought destruction.

Davina felt a hit to her chest but quickly recovered before Leilani noticed. Purple peonies and true lavender began to wrap around the branch. When she had finished, Leilani twisted the branch, then set it over Davina’s brown curly hair. “Like the princess that you are.”

“Let’s hurry. We don’t want to be late.”

Smoke filled the air around Auris Bridge, which came from the Aurisan’s fire abilities, as they walked down the Bridge. As they neared Castellum, Auris's hot and humid air became a fresh breeze that allowed them to breathe deeply.

“Speaking of Sadoc…” Leilani began.

“No one was speaking about Sadoc,” Davina affirmed bluntly. Her lips pursed into a line.

“Well, now I am. He invited me to his birthday celebration. It’s next Friday, and on the invitation, it says I can bring a plus one.” Leilani grinned.

Davina wondered whether Sadoc knew that Leilani was of the lower class. Sadoc was the opposite of Leilani, and not just when it came to their economic situation.

It was strange for Sadoc, a Basalan, to be cold and emotionless like the Neptulans. But despite her observations, Leilani disregarded Davina's observations.

“Beg me all you want, but I will not go to that jerk’s birthday party.”

Leilani stopped and unraveled her arm from Davina’s. “Not even for me?”

As soon as those words left her mouth, Davina was overwhelmed with guilt.

“What about our plans for me to move to Auris with you so you don’t have to stay with your parents any longer?”

It was a conversation they had constantly. Davina wished to leave the hellhole that was her house, but she couldn’t ever find the courage to leave her siblings behind. She felt too ashamed to think about beginning a new chapter of her life without them.

“Exactly, you’re coming. And you’re wearing that dress I bought you,” Leilani noted before raveling her arm around Davina’s again and guiding them both to the other end of the Bridge. “No complaining.”

“Fine, but I’m only going because I know you’re right,” Davina groaned.

The Aurisan and Basalan girls approached the end of Auris Bridge and noticed two familiar figures standing on the sandy shore of Castellum.

Valerie had been pacing by the edge of the Bridge with her hands on her hip while Snow played with her white strands, the crystals on her pastel blue dress twinkling. Valerie’s silk dress shined under the rays of the sun, combining perfectly with her pale skin and dark hair, complementing her light abilities.

Valerie’s black hair whipped as she glimpsed Davina and Leilani. “Seriously? I wanted to train today, not tomorrow night!”

"Don't be such an apple polisher, Valerie!" Lani exclaimed.

Davina parted from Leilani as her Basalan friend was immersed in a bickering argument with Val. Davina stared at the grand fortress that stood before them, covered in silver that glinted under the sunlight. It was majestic and wonderful, tall and grand. The most beautiful of buildings in the kingdom of Bellatorm.

More than fifty training rooms, a growing Armory, hundreds of chambers, four kitchens, and the King’s warded section at the very top of the castle. Her eyes traveled to the highest window that was situated at the very top of the fortress, the window belonged to his throne room. That was where the King had been spending the last four hundred years. She wondered whether the King, in isolation, cared enough about his people to look through the glass.

Davina served the silent King Magnar as an Apprentice, but she had to admit that she struggled to believe he'd come back as well. But she found peace in her powers which caused her to have some sort of hope.

Once she was done observing the fortress, she turned to Snow and sent her a smile. “Hi, how was your day today?”

“It had been a pleasant day before you directed a word to me,” she snapped, walking into the courtyard and up the flight of stoned stairs. Her silver dress cascaded above the staircase with each of her receding steps.

Davina sighed, reminding herself that it was in Snow’s nature to be cold. At least that was the excuse that her friends said about Snow. Valerie and Leilani approached Davina as a small sob pierced the air. Immediately, the three girls turned and found a young boy collecting bronze coins from the cobblestone Bridge; a basket lay nearby. Davina’s heart clenched at the sight.

“Seems like the Prey received new members after yesterday’s Predator attack,” Valerie said, walking up the staircase.

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