Page 308 of Axis of Fire

before I could become more.”

He looked away.

But I couldn’t.

I stared at him openly, unable to tear my eyes away.

Airis stood facing the mirrors, while I was still trying to process the words Ruël had chosen for him.

They didn’t sound like him at all.

As though they had nothing to do with Airis at all.

“What if the mirrors are wrong?” I asked quietly.

Airis stayed silent.

And for once, I hated the silence.

“What if this place is trying to plant false thoughts in our heads?”

This time, he exhaled slowly.

“I really am a coward.”

“Nothing will ever make me believe that,” I cut in immediately.

Airis finally looked back at me.

“When did you start accepting me?”

I paused.

Not for dramatic effect.

Just to give my frantic heart a chance to breathe inside the unbearable tension thickening around us.

“And when did you start choosing to see the best in me?”

Damn.

The words escaped too quickly.

Without thought.

And somehow, hearing them aloud became a revelation to me too.

At that point, no pause in the world could have saved my heart.

“Then…” Airis began.

One step.

And suddenly he was closer.

Dangerously close.

And somehow still too far away.