Page 253 of Axis of Fire

But the fingers gripping the strap of her pale blue bag trembled ever so slightly.

“I’m Gia. Nice to meet you.”

Her voice was quiet.

Painfully uncertain.

I sighed inwardly.

Maybe it made me arrogant, but I’d never liked people like that.

Or rather—

They unsettled me.

They always made me question everything.

You could never predict what was hiding beneath that soft, vulnerable appearance.

Girls like Joelle didn’t scare me.

At least with them, you always knew exactly what to expect.

“I...” Gia began, only to stop herself abruptly.

My body tensed even more.

Why was I reacting to her like this?

“You’ll be sharing a room with her,” Joelle said, nodding toward me.

“Though honestly, I wouldn’t mind switching roommates.”

“What exactly would happen if we switched?” Stasia asked immediately, locking eyes with Joelle.

The brunette hesitated.

As though carefully weighing her next words.

But before answering, her gaze shifted to Gia.

“What kind of magic do you have?”

“Water,” Gia answered quietly.

I frowned.

Did they put us together so she could keep my fire under control?

“And yours?” Stasia asked.

Joelle didn’t answer right away.

But after a quiet sigh, she finally said,

“I weave poisonous webs.”

“Like an actual spider?” Stasia raised a brow.