Page 338 of Axis of Fire

And I froze.

Completely stunned.

Any questions I'd had about how an earth mage could physically affect another person suddenly disappeared.

Everything made perfect sense now.

“So we're going to have an unstable mage walking around who can break people's bones?” I asked, arching a brow.

At the same time, silently thanking fate that Gia was still my roommate.

“I don't know how strong her demonic bloodline is,” Stasia said, staring out into the distance. “I can't even begin to guess whether she'll end up among the strongest first-years.”

She exhaled slowly.

“And I'm prepared to pray every second of every day that she doesn't.”

Her voice trembled.

And something inside me twisted uncomfortably.

I hated seeing people cry.

Mostly because I never knew how to help.

“You two don't get along?” I asked. “Did she lash out at you in anger, or were you simply the unlucky person who happened to be standing closest?”

Stasia didn't answer right away.

And for probably the first time in my life, I found myself understanding that silence instead of growing impatient with it.

“She's the second person after Alicia who wouldn't blink if I died right in front of her.”

She was trying to hold herself together.

I could see it.

I could feel it.

“Maybe I'm just a terrible person if two people already want my head on a platter.”

“No, Stasia.”

The sharpness in my own voice caught me off guard.

I felt irritation flare instantly.

“You don't get to blame yourself for the way other people choose to see you.”

It was something my grandmother used to say.

All the time.

“Even if the way they see me makes them want to hurt me?” she asked quietly.

“You know...” I sighed.

Then paused.