The Girl with the Fire Heart
Chapter 44

“The first time I ever laid eyes on you, you were standing in the crowd on the day of my family’s arrival celebration. I remember sitting next to the princess and wondering how much longer I would have to listen to her ramble on and on about how she loved attending various balls and parties and the importance of the dresses she chose to make a statement. All I can remember thinking is that I wanted nothing more than to be done with this parade and go to the new house and hide out there for the rest of my life. And just as I was sure that I would get that chance, there you stood, in all your stoic glory. I remember thinking it was odd that my element would suddenly respond to someone I didn’t know when there had been hundreds of girls that I laid eyes on. Something about you drew me in and I wasn’t so sure that hiding was what I wanted anymore. There has never been a moment since I have known you that I have not wanted to be near you. Even when we went years without speaking, when I was sure you hated me, I didn’t want to be away from you. I chose to endure animosity from you than settle for false affection from someone else. You were the only thing that could ever make me feel like my element wasn’t a responsibility but rather a purpose. Falling in love with you was the easiest thing I could do. And now I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I can’t promise you that it will be easy. It’s evident we weren’t created for that kind of life. But I can promise you it will be worthwhile. Our life together will be full of adventure and love and, most importantly, a place of belonging,” Damon’s declaration is met with a sniffling noise from Valentina.

Slowly, she turns around to look into his eyes.

“I snuck the contraption out of the barn before we left. I needed you to know that I never saw that steel cage as anything more than what it was, a cage, Valentina,” Damon takes a deep breath.

“No more self-imposed cages. No more feeling different. No more settling. No more animosity. I just want you. I just want to belong with you, for you, to you. Valentina, will you do me the honor of becoming my bride?”

For the first time since he started speaking, she sees in his hand a small box. Its black velvet casing is opened to reveal the ring inside. Right in front of her is a beautiful rose gold diamond encrusted ring with the sides intertwining, crowning the round diamond that gleams in the fire light. Valentina can see that the band of the ring is not one but two thin bands that wrap around each other.

She shifts her eyes from the ring to Damon, overcome with so much emotion she can’t get the words out of her throat. Valentina chokes out a laugh and nods her head frantically, forcing her feet to move forward and to the nobleman’s son kneeling in front of her. When Valentina stands directly in front of Damon, she wastes no time leaning over him and kissing him softly, not trusting her words even more than before.

Damon kisses her back, slowly rising to his feet and stepping closer to Valentina. He pulls back enough to look at her.

“Is that a yes?” he asks, smiling widely but his nerves still get the best of him at not hearing that simple three lettered word.

Valentina lets out a loud laugh this time.

“Yes, Damon. Yes. A million times yes,” she lifts her hands and cups his cheeks, placing another small kiss on his lips. Damon takes the ring out of the box, grasping her left hand and gingerly sliding the ring onto her finger. Once the ring hits the top of her knuckles, a rumbling sound comes from beneath the house. Both Damon and Valentina look at one another, shock and apprehension flooding their gazes.

Without thinking twice, Damon releases a small pulse of water, dousing all the candles out in a single shot before grabbing Valentina’s hand and practically dragging her out the front door of the abandoned house.

Damon and Valentina make it out of the house just as the walls come crumbling down. Damon breaks into a light jog, wanting to get as far away from the sudden destruction but all too aware of the heels his new fianceé is wearing. From behind him, he hears Valentina shout to run faster and he does, not looking back to see the reason for the instruction.

They make it to the end of the road and stop, panting and slightly sweating. They turn to look at the house and see that the entire place has crumbled, the only indication that there was even a house there being the foundation. Damon, feeling the overwhelming heat of Valentina’s fire, turns towards her and sees her flames blazing hot and bright. When he looks at her face, he can see fear shining in her eyes.

Damon tugs her closer, hoping to soothe her but his own fear is running rampant in his veins. He looks again at the house, and he sees the real reason for Valentina’s fear. In the shadow of the night and standing just beyond the rubble of the destroyed home is a person dressed in dark clothing. The person lifts their hand and waves and Damon notices the gloves they are wearing. Damon tugs at Valentina once more.

“Do you smell that?” she asks in a whisper.

“Smell what?” he turns to her. As he does, Damon gets the distinct smell of dirt, a scent he recognizes from their day at the races. A shiver runs down his spine at the realization. It can’t be a coincidence that twice in the same weekend, both he and Valentina could experience this unique scent. His water swirls angrily, like it knows something he doesn’t, but not wanting to stay here a second longer, he tightens his hold on Valentina’s hand and begins the journey back home.

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