35. THIRTY-FOUR

THIRTY-FOUR

D avina arrived at the entrance of Somerlane Lake. After the two times that she was there with Ron, not even Basalt could compare to the memories she shared with him under the flowing branches.

She felt a scowl cross her lips as she thought about how Isaiah mocked her past with Ron by gifting her a bouquet of roses from the ones around the Lake.

What would Isaiah have to say if he knew that she was meeting Ron clandestinely? She asked herself that question before she realized that she didn't care if he found out. In fact, she wanted him to find out because then he would forget about ever trying to convince her to love him.

Ron's back faced her as he observed the birds that chirped over the branches of the willow tree. She had to speak to him. They had lived such separate lives for months that she yearned to know how he was doing.

He had been hellbent on staying out of the war and convincing Davina to follow along with him, he'd abandoned his post as Soldier and Protector, so she wanted to know what changed his mind.

He was different, she had to admit that. He seemed more confident and stronger. It was exactly the man she wanted him to become. Not for herself, but for his wellbeing.

Davina corrected herself, he was already confident and strong, yet he hadn't been able to see that within himself.

Davina slowly approached him, suddenly feeling self-conscious about her choice of clothing. She looked down at her simple purple gown.

His gaze was now set on the small ripples in the clear blue water. A small beige basket had been set above the plaid blanket. The same one from all those months ago. A bittersweet reminder of what they could've been. No, she wouldn't think like that today. She would enjoy the little bit of time they were able to share that day.

"Hi," she voiced, holding her hands behind her back with rosy cheeks.

Ron turned at the sound of her voice, his eyes immediately brightening at the sight of her. She couldn't help but feel her face flush even more.

"Hello, love."

This time, she wouldn't fight him for his nicknames.

"Hello," Davina said, bouncing on her feet. Here, with him, she didn't have to hide behind a fa?ade like she did with Isaiah. Ron was quite aware of her feelings for him, she'd known from the note he wrote and from his flirtations. She didn't have to conceal how he made her feel and it felt like freedom.

And for some reason, it didn't alarm her that he knew how she felt.

He approached her. Davina let herself be wrapped in his embrace, quickly returning the gesture. She closed her eyes as she savored his warmth. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around him. Savoring the very feel of him.

"I've been waiting so long for this," he whispered.

Davina rubbed his back, smiling quietly. "Me too."

"Can I just say how boring my life has been by not talking to you?" Ron said as they parted, holding onto her fingers and leading her to the plaid blanket under the long leaves.

"Don't lie to me, Ron. I've seen that Neptulan girl you've been running around with." Davina crossed her arms.

"Don't be jealous, love. No one will ever compare to you." Ron grinned, dimples showing.

"Right." Davina rolled her eyes.

"Well, I have a lot to say about your type as well. I didn't know you liked short guys."

"He is not short. He is still taller than me, you fool," Davina retorted before punching his shoulder.

Ron stumbled back, a surprised look on his face. Davina furrowed her brow. Startled from the look on his face, she stilled. She hadn't intended to hurt him. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

What was happening to her? First his hand, now his arm.

"It's not a problem, I barely felt a thing." He chuckled.

"Ron, I… I'm sorry. For everything, really. For burning you and for all those things I said in the woods that day," she said. It was difficult for her to apologize. Not because of pride, but because she truly regretted hurting him.

"It's okay. I'm fine. Now sit." Ron waved it off and motioned for the cushioned seats on the blanket. She didn't think the emotional and physical scars she gave him were a trivial matter to the point of being waved off.

Sitting down next to Ron, Davina was still pained that her punch had come out stronger than she'd intended. Enhanced strength was not a gift that any of the Bellatormans had received from the King.

Suddenly, flashes of when she punched the bag off its hook and into the wall crossed her mind. A dent caused by the punchbag was currently being fixed by the Apprentices who specialized in repairments of the castle.

She'd have to visit the King soon. Between healing from the Predator attack and the wedding preparations, she hadn't found enough time to visit him. If she were to be truthful, she was avoiding King Magnar because of Isaiah.

Isaiah's behavior was different. She wished she could speak about it to someone, but she felt like the King would get offended if Davina said anything. Even though the King had been nothing but respectful and continued to surprise her with his good heart.

"Do you remember the day we first met?"

"How could I not?" she asked.

She'd never forget the first time she met him or the scandal that circulated among the partygoers because of an Almenara being inside of a Callaghan home. Davina would never forget the eyes that were watching her as she passed through Valerie's house and the whispers that followed her through the corridors of the party.

"I remember thinking you were cute and pretty and beautiful all at once. I recall you looking around way too much because you were so scared of what the other families might've thought about you for being on Neptulus."

"When Valerie invited me to her birthday party, I thought it'd be on Auris. And she had the audacity to tell me that it'd be on Neptulus the day of," Davina complained.

"I'm glad she tricked you into going." He beamed so brightly that his dimples appeared.

Davina fought the smile that tried to find itself on her face. Instead, she sighed and asked, "What's the point of this, Ron? What is it that you want from me?"

"You," he said with a smirk. She remained serious. Although, fireworks were exploding inside of her.

Part of the reason she didn't want to leave Isaiah was because she knew she'd come back to Ron. What if she went back to Ron and along the line, he decided she was too much to handle? What if she learned to truly love him and he broke her heart because she was a mess?

"I broke off our, whatever it was that we had because I realized you were not putting enough effort to grow in your power. And I so earnestly wanted you to have the happiness of having your abilities activated," she said. "And if you never activated your powers, then how would you ever want to fight the war with us?"

Silence. Davina held her breath, waiting for his response.

"You're right."

Never in a million years did she think he'd ever agree with her.

"You were right the whole time. I'm sorry that you felt forced to make such a difficult choice for my own good."

At that, she didn't even know what to say. Usually, one would say that it was okay. Yet, it wasn't okay. Everything was far from being fine.

"Then after a while, I decided it would be a good idea to kill two birds with one stone. I could move on and get the people's support through Isaiah," Davina explained.

"Did you move on?" he asked. After seeing her hesitate for an answer, he asked another question. "Does he make you happy?"

"He does, he's just—he's not…" she couldn't finish the sentence. She didn't want to cheat on Isaiah like that. "There are some things he needs to fix about himself, and I understand that. No one is perfect."

"I don't think he's good enough for you. I don't know what it is exactly but I know he's hiding something from you. So please promise me, you're going to be careful whenever you're around him." Ron reached for her hand and caressed her knuckles.

Isaiah was a Chief Leader, what could he possibly be hiding? It was just Ron trying to watch out for her like he usually did.

"Then who's good enough for me?" Davina grinned.

"I don't know, a prince?" He laughed.

She snorted before she burst out in laughter. Ron joined in with her. Davina wanted to capture this moment and engrave it into the deepest pools of her essence. The certainty that she was in the right place beside Ron would never compare to the solace of any other home she'd ever dwelled in.

After their laughter quieted, she began to wonder if he had at last mastered his powers.

"Wait—" she began. "That day you returned to training with us, I saw lightning flash in your eyes. Did your powers finally activate?"

Ron beamed and nodded.

"Show me!" Davina squealed.

Ron lifted his free hand, not letting go of hers. In mere seconds, bright hues of blue and yellow appeared above his hand. Electricity buzzed and hummed as he wiggled his fingers. A brilliant grin crossed his lips, his eyes filled with wonder as he turned to her. Once he closed his hand, the light dimmed almost instantly.

"I'm so happy for you." And she meant it. "Does this mean you're going to fight with us?"

"Of course. For Bellatorm and for you. Wherever you go, I will go."

This time, she believed him wholeheartedly.

She could feel the hum of his power buzzing under his fingertips and she couldn't help but wonder whether he could feel the heat that warmed her skin.

"What caused you to change your mind about everything?"

Ron's face went dark. He turned to the lake's rippling water, she noticed the way his jaw clenched.

"I think what helped the most was knowing what was right and what was wrong. I realized that the hate and disbelief I kept in my heart was what was stopping me from letting my powers be at their fullest. Things got really bad for me. There were days where I was thinking of using my own staff to end my life." He stopped. Davina felt like her pulsing heartbeat had stopped for just a second.

"But then I thought of you and the life you're fighting for. I thought about everything I could've been if I only let go of everything I was too stubborn to hold onto. Then it didn't sit well with me that I lived so long with hate and contempt toward myself and the world. I hated that you were right. That I was being selfish. I was being self-centered. All because I was scared."

She waited patiently for him to continue.

"There was nothing for me to fear. The rush, the power, the ability is so wonderful. It's so much more than what everyone ever told me it would be."

Davina nodded, she understood that feeling. "I'm just happy that you came to your senses before you did anything drastic."

"I am too because then I wouldn't be able to tell you that I am willing to be completely and utterly yours."

"What of Ashira?"

"I feel nothing for her."

"Then why are you dragging her along?" Davina questioned.

"I am not dragging her along. She is the one who chooses to follow me around."

"Please, I saw you both at the wedding."

"I had no date to the wedding. She searched for me and refused to let me go for almost the entirety of the event," he sighed.

His words were enough. He was the most honest person she knew after Leilani.

Yet, she felt a bit of unease as she recalled the reputation he had created for himself. He had confirmed the rumors of the other women the moment that she had read what he wrote in that letter. Ron noticed the frown that curved her lips downward.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said, not wanting to ruin the sweet moment they were sharing.

"There has been no other woman that has passed through my life, as special as you," Ron promised.

She nodded with a small grin.

"You have nothing to worry about."

She nodded again. Perhaps she was wrong about his honesty. Ron searched to meet her eyes.

"What's wrong?" he wondered. He looked sincerely confused.

"What of all the women you've taken to your bed?"

Shock hit his expression.

"I've done no such thing!" he exclaimed.

Davina continued to stare at him with blank eyes.

"I know that there have been rumors about me but I promise you, Vivi, I have done no such thing."

"Then why is Bellatorm repeating such foul comments about you?" she asked.

"You know how the people can be," Ron said. "One day, I went to start my shift at the cavern and everyone was whispering and gushing as I passed by them. I asked around to see what the commotion had been, only to find out that someone supposedly saw me going home with another woman the night before. I didn't care, I let it be and figured it could be my little revenge against you for having accepted Isaiah's marriage proposal." He scrunched up his nose as he scratched the back of his neck.

Davina's lips gaped. "Ron!"

"I'm sorry." He laughed and flinched away from Davina's reach. She could tell that he was expecting another one of her punches.

Davina crossed her arms and held her brows furrowed. "You're annoying."

"You love it though," Ron cackled.

"Do I?" she remarked.

"Of course you do. You wouldn't be here if you didn't." An eyebrow of his quirked up. "I was so mad at you for accepting him as your fiancé before you ever let me have the chance of asking you."

Davina wondered how different her life would be if it was Ron who had proposed instead.

"Shall we eat?" he asked as if trying to ease the heartache they felt.

Davina nodded.

"I brought you our favorite, chocolate chip cookies. Don't burn them this time, please." Ron held up a hand as he covered the box of cookies.

She rolled her eyes. "I promise I won't."

"Those were a batch of good cookies that you turned to garbage. Why do you think I shook my head that day?"

Davina laughed, her head tilted back as she let herself howl. Tears were beginning to sting her eyes from the laughter. But her rejoicing died once she realized that there was no way she could delight in Ron if Isaiah was her fiancé.

"What's wrong?" he asked, setting the box back onto the blanket.

"It's nothing to worry about."

"Whatever it is, Vivi, we'll figure it out together," he began. "Now, please, do me the favor of feeding yourself some actual food. You look pale."

It was way too easy to recall Isaiah's comment about her supposed weight gain. Davina looked down at her skirts before raising her eyes to Ron who was already chewing on a large piece of honey bread. "I'm not hungry."

"What? It's almost nighttime, how are you not hungry?"

"I'm on a diet. I've gained a few pounds," Davina said.

He gulped down the piece of bread that was in his mouth. "I think your lack of food is making you delusional. You're perfect, now eat."

Davina blushed; she hid behind her brown curls, fixing her gaze on the food which caused a rumble in her stomach. Ron reached over and sweetly set her hair strands behind her ear. His fingers grazed her cheeks and traveled down to her chin.

His eyes traveled to her lips, Ron leaned in slowly. As if there was a magnetic force between them, she neared him too. A soft breeze surrounded them as she remained entranced by the flecks in his eyes.

It wouldn't hurt if she leaned in just a little more.

"Tell me who told you such lies and I'll put an end to them," he muttered.

Davina snorted at his threat. His fingers remained with a soft hold over her chin.

"Ron, you're too sweet to even squash a bug."

"You see, Vivi, these past few months without you have made me into a changed man. For the better, of course. Who could be foolish enough to question the beauty of all your shapes and curves?" His finger danced against the back of her hand. "Was it your fiancé?"

Davina looked away.

"I'm going to murder that brainless fool."

"Ron, please. I'm sure he had his reasons."

"He has a reason to lose his tongue, that's for certain," Ron fumed.

Davina reached for his hand, wrapping it in her own. Carefully caressing his fingernails. His dark stare softened.

There he was.

Davina smiled. "Forget about it. Let's eat, I'm famished."

"Fine," he huffed.