Page 82 of Heiress of Fire

Davina had sacrificed a relationship with Ron to fight the war for her siblings and now she was forbidden from seeing them. She couldn’t hug them, speak to them, or be in their proximity because it was Nico and Mae’s will.

She found it hard not to hold resentment toward her mother. Davina was the child of her womb, a firstborn Almenara, yet Mae disregarded her as if she were otherwise. As if she were a stranger that took up space in their home.

Her leg bounced repeatedly while she rested her head in her hands, and questions ran wild in her mind. What kind of mother chose another man above her daughter? Who, in their right mind, would do that? What had she ever done to deserve all this pain and suffering?

She had enough of it, yet she had no idea how to stop drowning in her baggage.

A branch snapped and boots clomped onto the thicket nearby. She immediately snapped her gaze in the direction of the incoming stroller. No one ever really came to these sides of the woods, so who would want to be this deep into the trees?

Once she locked eyes with him, she felt her heart drop to her stomach. She shot up, quickly examining his demeanor.

His pale lips were curved down, his brows were scrunched, there was a slight clench in his jaw, and dark circles hugged the bottom of his eyelids. Long wrinkles ran down his brown sleeves and his royal blue trousers were disheveled at the hems.

“Vivi,” Ron noted.

She felt a strong palpitation in her chest.

He flashed his teeth, and it was like his misery was gone in mere seconds. “I’m glad to see you here, love. I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”

Davina clenched her fists while she breathed in through her nose. “You don’t get to call me that anymore.”

“Why not?”

“We’re done, Levina. I’m not going to repeat myself,” she said.

Ron made sure to slowly scan her before taking a step closer. “Are we done, though?” he questioned.

“Yes,” she affirmed.

“Mm, I’m not quite sure.”

“We are, now leave. I’m in a sour mood, and I don’t feel like dealing with you today.”

Her boots felt like they had been glued to the foliage beneath as he continued to stride toward her. The golden rays of the afternoon sun highlighted his gray-flecked eyes. She dropped her gaze since that look of his only seemed to cut her open even more.

“Mm, it’s fine. I like angry you,” he mumbled, reaching for her chin and making her meet his eyes again.

No. She wouldn’t give herself the privilege of looking into the eyes that belonged to a heart she would only keep breaking.

I’m sorry, she thought.

She gripped his hand, ducked under it, twisted his arm onto his back, and pinned him face-first onto the nearest tree. He grunted once his cheek collided against the trunk.

“Feisty, I see.”

“You sure you still like angry me?” she asked.

“Always.” He chuckled.

Davina sighed as she grabbed both his arms and threw him across the forest. Instead of falling onto the ground, he curled his body inward and rolled back onto his feet.

“I heard about what happened three weeks ago. I’m sorry you had to go through that,” he panted. “But you don’t have to keep fighting for them, Vivi. They don’t deserve you!”

She marched over to him and jabbed at his face, he dodged. Bringing her arm back, she elbowed his jaw and then kneed his stomach. She shook her head when he barked from the impact.

The Captain uttered, “You don’t get to have a say in my decisions. You never did and you never will.”

Ron grabbed her incoming fist and twisted it, making her flip onto her back. Davina grunted once she landed on the floor. She did a kip up, spinning and sending him a high kick. He ducked and then blocked all of her upper hooks.

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