Page 97 of Heiress of Fire

Davina sat atop the tall walls that were being built around Castellum Island. The Chief Leaders lifted a mandate that required the help of all Leaders, Soldiers, and Apprentices to help build the walls for extra protection against Raven and her Predators.

She didn’t meet with the King that day because of her blinding frustration with her reality that she couldn’t find the right words to speak out loud. And because she had to focus on being ready for any kind of attack from the Main Predators. In every Predator ambush, it seemed as if their Dark Mistress knew the exact strategy that Davina planned for battle.

A golden sunset was painted before her as she tried to make sense of her desperation. The bright orange hues of the sun shined over the ripple of the oceans.

Perhaps the King had made a mistake in choosing her to lead the army. That annoying thought returned to her mind, she groaned.

After the engagement announcement, the people's usual scornful looks and comments ceased.

However, Davina knew some people were losing their patience. There was word that several Bellatormans were beginning to pilgrim out of the islands to reach faraway lands. Those loyal to the King remained.

She was surprised her mother and stepfather hadn’t boarded with her siblings on those ships.

Davina spotted a blonde-haired girl in a pretty blue gown with a basket of red roses between her arms. Davina gagged as the red hue of the roses made her think of love.

Love. What a horrible word.

She no longer believed she’d ever have a chance at love because of her engagement to Isaiah, who seemed to be growing restless for their wedding.

Somehow, she always found a way out of the conversation about their wedding, but she feared her excuses were beginning to grow scarce.

Anxiety tormented her as she recalled that she would have to share a home, a bedroom, and a life with a man she couldn’t bring herself to love.

There hadn’t even been any plans for the wedding. She had to make haste with the matrimonial preparations because Isaiah kept his word about helping her with her parents and with the rumors. Although she was forbidden to see her siblings by her parents, she continued to watch over them from a distance. Whenever she couldn’t, Isaiah would provide the best guards for them.

Davina became aware of his feelings for her the moment he decided to announce to the islands of their betrothal. Or to be more specific, after she burned Ron’s hand. She couldn’t stop thinking about what Ron had told her that day she began to recall all those times when Isaiah would glance at her longingly.

And the words he spoke since he helped her against the Predators seemed too raw for them to be a performance.

“Mr. Isaiah sent me to give you these, miss.” Her sweet voice interrupted Davina’s meditation.

Why did they have to send her with the flowers?

Davina gulped. The flowers must’ve been another one of his attempts to impress her into marrying him soon. She jumped off the wall with ease, landing near Ashira’s figure. The Captain found it hard not to roll her eyes at the girl’s squirming.

Without a single drop of regret, Davina snatched the basket from her hands. Ashira slightly gasped. She opened the little card that hung from the basket and read…

You are more beautiful than the entire valley of roses from Somerlane.

Isaiah’s words would have been appreciated by her if it hadn’t been for the last word that read Somerlane.

Somerlane Lake, where her relationship with Ron went downhill. Her chest heaved as she recalled Ron’s words and many poetic declarations.

“Are you okay, miss? Shall I get you some water? Or should I call Mr. Isaiah?” Ashira’s eyes widened, reaching for Davina. Davina shook her head as she slammed the card into the basket, quickly handing it back to Ashira.

“No, I’m fine. Just get these back to my house in Basalt.”

“Yes, miss.” Ashira nodded as she fixed the basket carefully over her brown leather satchel.

Ron’s voice pounded in her mind as she leaned against the wall for support.

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.

The sweet kiss that they almost shared by the lake rushed into her mind like a whirlwind of pain. The way her lips brushed against his. The look of love and tenderness in his eyes. His acts of service and his comforting words.

Why couldn’t she forget about him once and for all? Davina shook her head as she ran a hand over her temple.

“Not now,” she whispered to herself. “No, no, no. Not today.”

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