Page 54 of Heiress of Fire

“Don’t say that,” her voice quivered.

Ron set his sword into the holster that was around his waist and approached her, his hand snaking around her arm. She trembled against his touch.

Davina stepped away from him.

“I don’t think I can go through this war,” Ron began. “I’ve been through enough already because of my dormant powers. And you have, too, we don’t have to be a part of this. Don’t fight, Davina, please, I am begging you.”

“I did not go through all of that for nothing, Ron. Do you have any idea how much of a sacrifice it was for me to go into the lake, looking for you? I told you that I hated it, and I still went into the water. For you. Because I care about you and because I couldn’t imagine a world without you in it.”

“I care about you, too. But I don’t think I can, I’m sorry,” he muttered.

“Why not?” Davina asked.

“Because, Davina, I don’t think that I’ll survive with my conscience knowing that my lack of abilities cost you your life,” he said.

“I can protect myself,” Davina argued. “Besides, you are one of the best Soldiers of Mistral. What about that?”

“It won’t be enough on the battlefield.”

Davina sighed, biting down on her tongue. She passed a hand over her forehead to massage away the headache that was settling in.

“Have you ever thought that maybe this is what I want?” Davina asked.

He remained silent with his lips pursed. Davina looked away because she could hear her own heart shattering inside of her chest.

“I want to do this. I have been working so hard to become a Soldier and now I am one. As a matter of fact, I’m a Captain. The King chose me to guide Bellatorm in the war against Raven. Me, Ron. An Almenara. I am a descendant of the woman who led the Revolt, which caused the Era of Silence to begin. So many Bellatormans have hated me for the blood that courses through my veins because of that. But he has not rejected me, he took me out of the dirt that I’ve lived in and has put me in a position of power. He has honored me and embarrassed those who have proclaimed themselves as my enemies. I don’t think you know how much that means to me. And I would really like for you to fight by my side. It’ll make my life so much easier if I just have you there with me.”

She hoped that he would be convinced to fight with her because not only did it bother her that he didn’t want her to fight, but it also bothered her that he didn’t want to fight at all.

He sighed. “I’m sorry, I can’t be what you want me to be.”

Her jaw tightened as she gritted her teeth harshly, holding back all the insults she felt like speaking. This day meant so much to her that she refused to ruin what they had built together, her fingers curled.

“I thought that everything we went through today would be enough to change your mind.” Davina’s voice was low as she avoided his gaze.

After she saw how he had nothing else to say, her wings appeared behind her back. She set her twin swords back into their holsters and stepped away from him.

He stared at each feather of fire as she put a distance between them.

“Davina, don’t go. Please, hear me out.”

“No. I can’t do this right now.”

She flew away despite his echoing pleas for her to come back. She needed to see Leilani, she’d know what to do.

Thunder clapped loudly behind her as Auris Island blurred past her and she was welcomed by Basalt’s green wonderland.

FIFTEEN

After crying in Leilani’s arms for over an hour, Davina finally arrived home. She looked down at her armor, wondering how she was going to make it disappear. She hadn’t thought much about wearing her armor in front of Leilani, but she knew her family would be scandalized if they saw her in it. Which was the usual reaction whenever it came to anything that involved Castellum. In mere seconds, the armor silently shrank over her skin until it was completely gone.

Davina stood dumbfounded with her arms extended in front of her. “What the—”

The armor disappeared with just one thought. She wondered whether it would reappear at her mental command as well.

A second later, the armor spread over her figure again.

“Okay, no, go away.”

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