Page 74 of Heiress of Fire

“I very much can, and I will,” Ron growled.

His voice was no longer soft and kind. It was angry and powerful instead. She’d never seen him lose his serenity before.

“Don’t do anything to him,” she pleaded.

“Why are you defending that piece of garbage?” he yelled.

“Because he won’t hesitate to drown me the next time.”

Ron stilled and calmed.

He remained silent too long for her liking. She observed him, searching to decipher him. Why did he care so much? This was the first conversation they ever truly had. The first time they’d ever met only included a polite exchange of words of an introduction.

Ron seemed to care more about her than her mother did. Mae decided to stand back and allow him to force her into the water. Now Davina bared bruises over her arms yet there were bruises in her soul that had her mother’s name written all over them.

“Why didn’t you fight back, Davina? You could’ve burned him.”

“I-I don’t know.”

“And your mother? What did she do?”

“She never does anything. She allows him to—to do all those things. She leaves me at the mercy of an unknown man who thinks he has the right of a father.”

“Why?” he asked.

“I think it’s my fault. I gave him the right only a father should have, and he took advantage of it,” Davina said.

He sighed before pulling her into his embrace. Davina remained still at first as she realized that he was hugging her. He was comforting her.

Ron, Beacon’s brother. The son of the Great Levinas, a descendant of the wealthiest Mistran founding family. But she allowed herself to find solace in his arms, careful not to allow the upcoming cry to escape her lips.

Finally, there was someone who cared about her.

“You don’t deserve the parents that you have.”

Davina didn’t think she deserved either good or bad. The parents that she had were what she had, so she had to deal with it. She remained silent as she closed her eyes, breathing in his scent. So warm and comforting.

Davina’s eyes fluttered open, only to meet an unfamiliar white ceiling with three chandeliers dangling across the room. The light emanating from the chandeliers was dim, faintly illuminating the suite. Davina turned to her left, examining the room, her cheek stung as she met the soft cloth of the pillow below her.

She hissed, lifting her hands to reach for the pain. Strong throbs ran from her shoulder down to her wrist almost immediately, slowly she lowered her hand. Raising her head, she was able to find her fractured armor set on the bed beside her.

She gulped. Where was she?

Her heart raced as she recalled the battle of last night, her injuries, and her embarrassing attempt at fighting Raven.

Davina’s fingers trembled as they grazed the gauze that was wrapped around her chest and back. Shuffling feet neared the doorless entrance of the infirmary.

“You’re awake!” Valerie’s voice sang.

Leilani, Cara, and Snow rushed into the room after Val.

“Valerie, I’m so glad you’re here.” Davina reached for her.

She needed to have some sort of light near her after the storm that Raven threw at her.

“Stop squirming so much, you’re going to open up your stitches,” Valerie ordered. Davina plopped her hand back onto the bed and rolled her eyes.

Leilani was the first to reach Davina’s side, holding onto her hand.

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