Page 65 of Heiress of Fire

But all his allegations against Davina fighting in the war had been because Ron desired more than a short time with her. He admired the person that she was. He loved that she cared for others. He loved her laugh and the way her curls bounced at her every step. He was amazed by the creases in her cheeks whenever she smiled.

Ron hadn’t known that a person’s smile could light up his day in the same potency as hers. He didn’t know someone could be powerful enough to give happiness to others with something so simple as a smile.

“Your drool is on the table,”Beacon said as he pointed over the mahogany marble table before them. Ron quickly returned to reality and rolled his eyes at his brother’s remark. He didn’t mind if others knew about his interest in the Almenara girl. In fact, he wanted all of Bellatorm to know that she was worthy of love. But Davina was a bit shyer about it than he was.

And he was beginning to love the way her cheeks turned scarlet whenever he commented on her appearance or her persona.

Ron glanced at the others who sat around the table. He observed how Caleb and Cara had the same trembling fingers, Val fidgeted in her seat as Beacon held her hand under the table, Snow bit the inside of her cheek while Davina and Leilani sat next to one another. Ron understood everyone’s anxiety. Davina was a target, and they were next in line after her.

Thankfully, Leilani took the seat beside Caleb, leaving the last remaining seat for Davina next to him. He noticed the way she refused to acknowledge his presence beside her. She must’ve still been upset about the way he reacted the last time they spoke, her reaction was justifiable. Ron glanced at the two Chief Leaders but couldn’t help but notice how Isaiah had his eyes set on Davina. There was a slight curl in his lips as he stared at her.

Amir cleared his throat, he and Isaiah stood beside the table with the bookshelves and spiral staircase behind them. “An earthquake hit yesterday. A pretty lethal one, at that.”

“Was it connected to who we’re thinking, Amir?” Beacon asked.

Amir nodded with heavy eyes. Davina sighed. She had her elbows over the table and closed her eyes as she set her hands near her forehead. Ron furrowed his eyebrows.

“Has there been any news of her whereabouts?” Snow asked.

“I don’t know where she is right now. But I know where she was yesterday,” Davina noted.

The Chief Leaders and every Soldier at the table turned to Davina. She fidgeted at the feel of their glances. Ron felt his blood grow cold. He slowly turned to face her, ignoring the pain in his back.

“Me and Leilani were in Basalt. We were passing through the green mountains when Raven came to me. She brought four of her servants with her,” she began. “It was like I was in the eye of a hurricane, but the hurricane was of darkness. She was offering me another chance to rebel against Magnar and fight at her side.”

“What happened after that?” Isaiah asked with his arms crossed.

“I refused. Although what caught my attention is that she said that Magnar created her too.”

“What?” Cara asked with widened eyes.

Snow and Valerie turned to one another with furrowed brows.

“She is also a daughter of Magnar, a Bellatorman. Just like us,” Davina informed.

“What island did she say she was from?” Caleb asked.

“I don’t know from which island. She didn’t say,” Davina said. “All she said was that she was a Bellatorman like us and that she understood what it was like to be rejected by her people. I think that’s why she became who she is today.”

Ron watched as Beacon nervously scratched his beard. Isaiah and Amir took a deep breath before pacing a few steps by the table.

If Raven had truly left behind everything that was good, then there was only evil in her heart. There would only be malice, vengeance, murder, and lies within her. His heart began to beat faster in his chest as thoughts of Davina not surviving Raven’s wrath rushed into his mind.

“This changes things,” Isaiah sighed.

“It changes everything,” Davina corrected.

“If she is one of us then she knows our weaknesses and she knows our strengths,” Amir claimed.

“My main concern is, how do we defeat someone who knows everything about us?” Leilani asked.

“No matter what, we must prepare. We must best ourselves more each day. We never know when the next attack will be.” Isaiah nodded.

“Prepare ourselves, how? We’ve already been training harder than anyone else in the military,” Caleb argued.

“We have to continue with the intensive training we’ve been doing with Master Abigail, especially Davina and Cara,” Amir said. “Cara, you just activated your vibration powers a few days ago, but the King chose you as a Protector and we don’t wish for your life to be cut short because of our lack of instruction.”

Cara nodded with a small smile.

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