Page 298 of Axis of Fire

“You really need all that when you have me?” he asked immediately.

Only two more blocks.

Then we'd be standing in front of Tarven's house.

Two blocks left to convince him not to make me spend the night there.

“Yes.”

I met his gaze without hesitation.

“Right now, my magic is blocked.

A part of me is missing.

That's already stressful enough without losing my comfort zone too.”

Sometimes I honestly wondered why I collected enemies so easily.

Alicia.

Tarven's six sisters.

Maybe I was rotten to the core.

Or maybe I was simply vulnerable enough for people to sense it.

And decide to hurt me because of it.

“I'm your comfort zone,” Tarven said quietly.

“Or at least I'm trying to be.”

God.

He was stubborn.

I let out a slow breath.

Not from anger.

Not even from frustration.

From helplessness.

Because the thought of being alone in that house terrified me.

Especially without my magic.

I wouldn't be able to surround myself with poisonous spores to keep people away.

I wouldn't be able to protect myself if something happened.

“Well then,” I said, my voice sharper than I'd intended,

“How exactly would your parents react if we slept together in your room?”

Tarven froze.