Page 73 of Heiress of Fire

Because no matter how much Raven was right, she couldn’t give herself over to the darkness.

“Tell me, does it hurt, Davina?”

The blade pained her flesh, but this was nothing compared to the wounds that Nico and her mother left in her soul.

“I-I’ve b-been through worse,” Davina croaked.

Davina slightly slammed her head against the floorboard from the agony. Her face reddened from the strain of not letting out a cry. Raven slowly dug the tip of the knife deeper into her flesh, its pointy edge pulling out more hot blood onto her chest.

“I have to admit, I liked Freya more than you. You’ll never be a single drop of the Almenara that she was and I consider that a great disappointment. I expected more from you, Davina.”

Raven sighed and pulled out the blade from Davina’s chest. Davina felt like she could breathe now that the knife was out of her flesh.

“But I’m going to keep my promise to you, I’ll give you more time to become a better warrior. I’ll see you later, sis,” Raven whispered.

She looked at Raven, the Dark Mistress stood tall, a smirk etched on her face as she stared ahead. Someone was there. Could it be Ron? Hopefully, it was.

Davina wasn’t able to recognize the person who stood before her as her eyes closed from exhaustion.

NINETEEN

“Tell me all about your pain and the weight of the world that has been over your shoulders. I’ll help you carry it.”

As the moonlight showered him and the pine trees stood behind him, Davina was able to notice a small glint in Ron’s eyes. She hadn’t known when his hand found hers, but she realized that she liked feeling his touch.

He was so gentle with her.

How could anyone like him ever have any type of interest in her?

She flinched as his other hand reached for her face. He stopped once he noticed her hesitation. But then he proceeded to softly clean her tears before she looked down at the bruises covering her arms.

“What happened?”

She debated whether she could trust him. He seemed sincerely interested in her well-being. She prayed that she wouldn’t regret being this vulnerable with him.

“My stepfather… He was going to hurt my sister, Genevieve,” she began. She could feel his shoulders tensing. “And I stepped in.”

Davina sucked in a breath before biting down on her lip, looking away from him so he couldn’t see her face. There was nothing more embarrassing for her than to have him find her crying over what was happening at home.

She’d gone to this side of the woods in hopes of letting go of her pain in privacy, but he found her. And he’d decided to remain once he realized she was afflicted, risking his reputation for her.

The usual impotence that closed her lips shut didn’t allow her to continue explaining anymore.

Remaining silent had already become a habit of hers, keeping every memory, every word, every aggression wrapped up in the deepest parts of her soul. No one ever approached her to talk about it like Ron was doing now. No one ever did anything.

But neither did she. Davina always felt so small compared to her parents despite having her activated powers.

“What did he do to you?”

She could feel his eyes scanning her bruised arms and then the water that dripped from her curling hair. Davina looked at him and wished he was able to understand without her having to say the words out loud.

Ron shot up from the log. Davina followed.

“Where are you going?” Davina asked as she rushed to his side.

“I’m going to teach that bastard a lesson for putting his hands on you.”

Davina’s eyes widened, quickening her pace and pulling his arm. “You can’t do that.”

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