Page 335 of Axis of Fire

An hour later, we were back in Istmond, having said nothing about what had happened on the balcony.

My thoughts and emotions were a tangled mess.

Meanwhile, Airis had retreated behind the mask of the serious mentor once again.

We approached the student residence in silence and found Tarven standing near the entrance.

With a girl I didn't recognize.

I tensed slightly as I noticed the way they smiled at each other.

The way neither of them seemed in any hurry to avoid physical contact.

Stasia was nowhere in sight.

A moment later, the unfamiliar girl noticed Airis.

A bright smile immediately spread across her sun-kissed face.

And suddenly, my heart tightened too.

There was something in her eyes when she looked at him.

Admiration.

Perhaps even adoration.

Or maybe the balcony had left me seeing rivals where none existed.

“Airis,” I heard her melodic voice call. “I'm so happy to see you.”

I swear, the brunette looked seconds away from throwing herself into his arms.

And somehow, that irritated me even more.

“Thanks for walking me back,” I blurted out.

Before anyone could respond, I quickened my pace toward the entrance, giving Tarven a brief nod of greeting as I passed.

The moment the doors closed behind me, I stopped listening to the conversation outside and practically flew up the stairs toward my floor.

We'd been assigned rooms on the fifth and top floor.

And somehow, I managed to climb four flights in record time.

It was amazing what jealousy and irritation could do to a person's speed.

I barely noticed when I reached the room Stasia and I had been sharing.

But I nearly jumped out of my skin when I spotted Gianna lying on Stasia's bed.

She wore a long blue robe, her red hair pinned up in curlers.

A book rested in her hands.

She snapped it shut immediately, looking almost as startled as I felt.

“What are you doing here?” I asked at once.