Page 69 of Heiress of Fire

“I have constantly reminded myself that if I didn’t step up as a mother figure, that if I didn’t hold myself accountable, no one else would.”

“Is there any other person in your family that could assume the role you’ve had to?” he asked.

“I know that twelve years ago, when I was five, my grandmother, Rose, fought to keep me. But Nico convinced my mom that it was best to keep some distance between us and the family. He doesn’t like the Almenaras.”

Ron furrowed his brow. “And your mother still decided to marry him?”

“I don’t understand it either.” Davina shrugged and rolled her eyes.

“Where is your grandmother now?”

Davina seemed to be pondering. “I never thought of her whereabouts before.”

“You never thought to look for her?”

“No, not really. Most of the time, my mind is occupied with taking care of my siblings and becoming a better Soldier,” Davina confessed.

Ron exhaled, rubbing her knuckles. He looked down at her small hands. “I’m going to try my best to understand. For you and us. Because I don’t want to lose what we have and I want to make this work.”

“Are you sure? I have difficult parents.”

“I don’t care.”

“I’m pretty scared about what’s to come.”

“We’ll figure it out together.” He smiled.

“I can be stubborn at times.” She laughed.

“I figured,” he answered quietly. He admired the lines that made the shape of her perfect nose. All he saw was exquisiteness and he wanted to make her understand that. There had been no flaw in her. “You are more precious than all of the fields of flowers in Bellatorm and any of the treasures that we may find within the deep oceans that surround us.”

Her brown eyes twinkled as Ron glanced at her pink lips. A small breeze flowed between them, the flowers and branches were led by the wind while the waters continued to dance wonderfully in its ripples.

As much as he hated how she had to lead the army into war against Raven, he had to be there to believe in her and support her. It would be a greater mistake to turn his back on her.

She deserved everything good and because of that, Ron was determined to be the best version of himself for her. Because he couldn’t handle the sick thought that maybe she was capable of growing tired of his pestering for her to give up on the war.

His heart pulsed faster as she leaned in. Her hand snaked around his arm as a magnetic pull led him closer to her. Hopefully, she wouldn’t feel repulsed with him like he did with himself. Her brown eyes looked deeply into his own with what seemed to be… admiration. A small smile curled her bow-shaped lips as she neared him little by little. Those diamond eyes of hers held a glint of question behind them. Like she was doubting whether this was what he truly wanted.

Of course he did.

Ron didn’t even have to kiss her to know that he had fallen utterly in love with her, and he wasn’t afraid. She was the one, he was certain. Their lips barely brushed before a loud boom plummeted into the air, and the land beneath them shook.

Ron snapped his eyes open and turned in the direction of the explosion. Davina immediately peeled away from him. Dark smoke spilled into the air in large piles of clouds.

They both stood, staring at the black fumes through the trees of Somerlane Lake.

“It’s from Basalt,”Davina said.

“Why does she keep attacking Basalt?” he asked.

“I think she’s trying to weaken the islands one by one. Ron, I have to go.”

Already? It was too soon. Would he have to go fight alongside her now? No, he wasn’t ready. He wasn’t brave enough to face his fears in a matter of seconds like her.

Ron reached for her hand, but she slipped past his own.

“Davina!” he yelled. “Davina, come back!”

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