Page 84 of Heiress of Fire

“Stop trying to deceive me, love,” he mumbled. The credence he had to fix their relationship was beginning to thin when she noticed his widened eyes.

“I’m not. I want nothing to do with you.”

“No, stop,” he warned. “You’re better than this.”

“Am I? I am an Almenara, after all, I don’t know any better.” Davina smirked and shrugged before crossing her arms.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he gulped. Davina bit down on her tongue when the amusement in his eyes disappeared and they glossed.

“I thought you’d be different. I guess I was wrong.” A sharp breeze passed through them but they both remained standing still, staring at one another.

Not another word was exchanged between them when he stepped off the hard roots of the tree and headed in the same direction from where he’d arrived. Ron didn’t look back. He didn’t give any indication of the thoughts that could be swirling around in his mind. All that he simply did was walk emotionlessly out of the forest.

His receding footsteps over the foliage haunted her as she covered her mouth, not letting her incoming sobs escape. Drops of salt left her brown eyes and ran down her beige skin. Her chest heaved as she tried to withhold her crying.

Had she truly succeeded in tearing his heart apart? If she did then he was right about her. She was no better than Freya, Mae, or Nico. She truly was a heartless Almenara.

A cold sheet of shivers ran down her legs. Her entire body began to tremble in the same rhythmic, yet rapid, speed of her heartbeat.

She shook her head frantically and then proceeded to perform a breathing exercise that Master Abigail had taught her at the beginning of her Apprenticeship.

“Be strong, Davina,” she said to herself. She fanned her face to dry any tear lines.

A warrior couldn’t be sensitive. A true fighter had to remain calm and collected. This was war and it required sacrifice. She was doing the right thing, she reminded herself.

Davina exhaled one last time before wiping away her tears. She had to get out of there soon.

Large wild violet wings stretched behind Davina’s back; she rolled her shoulders before her feathers of fire lifted her into the air. At each flap of a wing, she could hear the flames crackling loudly.

As she drifted above Auris Island, she was able to glimpse Ron running back to his house. Davina had visited that part of Auris that day to reminisce a good moment that she had partaken with the youngest Levina, only for her to leave with a heavier weight over her shoulders.

Davina spotted Castellum Island and how there seemed to be numerous Bellatormans coming in and out of the castle. She was able to locate her friends loitering around the courtyard with a jumping Leilani in the middle, she seemed to be telling a story.

Davina headed to Castellum.

Once she neared the courtyard, her shadow had cast upon her friends which caused them to turn to her. Each of them smiled widely once they locked eyes with her. Their grins were contagious, she beamed at them as she found her footing on the stoned staircase. “Hello, everyone.”

They all greeted her with a joyful ruckus, all except for Snow.

“Hey, D, how are you feeling?” Caleb asked.

“I’m good, why wouldn’t I be?” Davina smiled.

“Just checking on you,” Cara noted hesitantly, a shy grin appearing over her lips.

Was her misery that noticeable?

Davina curt a nod before glancing down at her fidgeting fingers. “Everything’s fine. I’m fine.”

“You’ve been a little distant since we helped you move in with Leilani. Are you sure?” Caleb asked, quirking a brow and squinting his eyes.

Davina chuckled, “Yes, I’m sure, Caleb.”

“What about that whole situation Ron? Have you guys made up?” Caleb questioned.

It’s like he knew that they had just fought minutes ago.

“I don’t wanna talk about it,” Davina said. Especially because Beacon was there.

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