Page 216 of Axis of Fire

This time, Stasia interrupted me without saying a word.

She swept her hair aside.

Then slowly pulled down the high collar of her shirt.

I froze.

A long scar rested directly above her carotid artery.

“I know exactly what she’s capable of,” Stasia said calmly.

She pulled her collar back into place.

“Alicia tried to cut my throat three years ago.”

“After a healer told my parents that my dormant demonic gene would become exceptionally powerful once it awakened.”

A shiver ran down my spine.

And somehow...

That was what finally convinced me this was real.

That I was fully awake.

That none of this was a dream.

“She couldn’t stand the idea of being second,” Stasia continued, lifting her eyes to meet mine.

“Even though our magic is completely different.”

She let out a quiet sigh.

“That’s why I wanted the talisman.”

“They tend to amplify a mage’s senses.”

I stayed silent.

Trying to process everything I’d learned today.

“But...” I said slowly, finally voicing the thought that had been circling in my head, “it sounds like you wanted me to discover your second ability.”

Stasia studied me for a moment.

“You knew the talisman would react to the origins connected to my magic.”

“I’d read that talismans usually gravitate toward a mage’s strongest ability,” she said with a sad smile.

“But apparently... both of mine are equally strong.”

“How did you even find out about my powers?”

“Most of my visions come through dreams,” Stasia explained.

“The night after we met, I dreamed about you.”

A strange tightness settled in my throat, and I reached for the glass of water that had been brought to our table alongside the cocktails.