Page 8 of Heiress of Fire

“Then why are you here?”

“He invited the entire Levina family. My mother pestered me into coming to this party. She kept saying how it would be a slap in the face to one of the most prominent men of Basalt, and how we needed to create connections with someone as important as Sadoc,” Ron explained, his hand still extended to her. “I didn’t want to come. But now that I know that you're here, I’m glad I came.”

Davina looked at his hand and back up to his eyes. A small glint passed through them. She examined the creases in his cheek that formed because of his smirk. That was when she realized he had dimples. She’d never seen so clearly before.

Shameless flirt.

“I’ll return you to your friend before the night ends,” Ron promised.

Davina chuckled and slowly put her hand into his, setting the gold goblet over the table. His long fingers wrapped around hers. They were warm, a comfortable warmth. Like her fire, they felt familiar.

She looked at their interlocked hands, then back up at him. He had the same reaction.

“Come on.” Ron tugged her arm.

He pulled her toward the hallways of the manor. The corridors were filled with frames of drawings of Sadoc. Davina scoffed at the number of images he owned of himself.

“Do you even know where we’re going?”

“Just trust me, madam. No one knows more than I.” He deepened his voice and pumped up his chest. “Did I do well at the impersonation?”

“Don’t be mean, Ron. It’s his birthday today,” she laughed.

His laugh echoed through the halls, engulfing her like the waves hugged the shore.

They chuckled along with each other as they continued strolling through the hallways, holding hands.

The euphoria ended when the blonde servant, the one who examined Leilani’s invitation at the entrance, passed by them. His eyes darted between the pair. Ron and Davina turned to each other before running down the hallway, hands interlocked, away from the blonde-haired twin. Davina covered her lips as she giggled, her hair covering most of her vision as she rushed alongside Ron through the passageways.

He yelled after them, “Come back here! Sir Sadoc will not be pleased that his guests are loitering around in his home.”

Davina’s hair bounced as she turned to see the distance between them and the servant who was running after them.

“Run faster, Vivi.”

After taking several turns, they were able to lose sight of the servant. The yelling had become an echo throughout the halls. “Come back here!”

Davina and Ron rushed through the corridors until they were met with large dark green doors.

“Should we?” she asked.

“We’ve already made it this far.” Ron shrugged. Echoes of the servant yelling began to resound even louder as they stood ahead of the grand doors, identical to the door at the entrance. Ron quickly unlatched the door.

Ahead of them lay an impressive balcony with rock built into the railings. The railings had the same design as the cups by the water table, except they were a gloomy gray. Davina and Ron stepped inside and examined the deck.

He carefully closed the door behind them, there was no way out. Davina fixed her gaze upward, to the roof.

“Do you think we should climb down?” he asked as he looked over the railing before turning to her. He followed her gaze.

“What is it?” he asked.

Her eyes never released from above. “We could hide on the roof.”

Ron smirked. “I like your thinking. Do you need me to—?”

She did not let him finish his sentence as she jumped and set her foot over the railing, using it as support to push herself over the tiles that were used as a shade for the balcony. Her dress caused her to move at a slower speed than usual. She hoped he didn’t notice.

She pushed herself off the shade of the balcony and onto the roof. Davina looked down at him, and his eyes were gleaming. “You are breathtaking.”

---