Page 111 of Axis of Fire

Holy shit.

“Looks like you actually can shoot it,” Airis’s voice came from behind me, his warmth pressed against my back. “Now we just have to teach you how to aim.”

“Yeah. Without your hands involved,” I muttered.

“If you want that to stop as quickly as possible, then you should focus harder,” he replied smoothly. “Now summon the fire again.”

“And what? You’re just going to keep touching me until I figure it out?” I arched a brow, even though he couldn’t see it, and summoned another small flame.

“Exactly.”

He said it so casually that it somehow made it worse.

“And if you don’t want me thinking you enjoy my touch, you should probably concentrate, Fireling.”

And then his lips brushed my earlobe.

Briefly.

But it was enough.

The fire not only shot away from me this time—

it grew larger too.

“Nope. This is complete bullshit,” I scoffed, praying he couldn’t tell how flustered I actually was.

“Apparently, this is the only thing that works on you,” he replied.

I sighed and summoned the fire again, desperately trying to focus on the flame instead of Airis and the consequences of his games.

“Focus on the sensation in your hand,” he murmured.

“Not on the places where I touch you.”

Closing my eyes again, I concentrated on the feeling in my palm—

and this time, I finally noticed something different.

The fire felt separate from me.

I wanted to tell Airis, but I didn’t get the chance.

The moment his hand slid slowly along my bare arm, the flame burst from my palm and flew farther than ever before.

My eyes snapped open.

I understood it.

Or at least I thought I did.

I summoned the fire again and focused first on feeling it as something separate from myself.

I imagined its sharp edges softening, rounding into a sphere I could rotate in my palm, turning it from side to side.

And holy shit.

It worked.