Page 341 of Axis of Fire

Today I willingly climbed onto a flying metal death trap.

That was one.

Two—I actually agreed to learn how to control it.

Three—I kissed Airis.

Four—I followed my own desires and finally admitted them out loud.

Not completely.

In my own complicated way.

But I still did it.

And five—

I took the first step toward a real friendship.

A genuine one.

Dwayne would've been proud of me.

Anastasia Lang’s POV

As Ria and I made our way back to the studio, I spotted Miloran standing outside our door with his arms crossed over his chest.

He looked exactly the same as he had an hour and a half earlier, during my treatment.

The memory hit me like a lightning strike.

Two healers had been working on me—Sulfur and Cyant.

I'd managed to break six bones.

After another wave of pain tore through my body, Tarven finally lost patience and contacted one of the Strongest Twelve—Dilraba.

Her gift was extraordinary.

Teleportation.

A rare ability that couldn't be learned or acquired through training.

Either you were born with it—

or you weren't.

She and Miloran had appeared in the guest room where I lay unconscious while Rosalie's magic continued breaking my bones from the inside out.

The next thing I remembered was opening my eyes on an infirmary cot.

Miloran was sitting on the one beside mine.

He informed me that Tarven, Rosalie, Dilraba, and Draksen were currently in a meeting.

As always, Miloran looked perfectly calm.

Almost bored.