Page 344 of Axis of Fire

Honestly, I had no idea how I'd ended up there in the first place.

“It's done.”

The first thing I noticed was Miloran stepping away.

Opening my eyes, I carefully pushed myself upright with Cyant's help.

“You'll have some trouble moving around on your own for the first few minutes,” Sulfur warned.

As I glanced down at my legs, something else caught my attention.

The bracelets.

The ones suppressing my magic.

They were gone.

I looked at the healers.

Confused.

Miloran answered before either of them could.

“The preparations for the Selection have begun.”

I fell silent.

Not because I lacked thoughts.

Because there were far too many of them.

Too many to choose from.

“So?” Tarven's voice echoed through the room before he'd even crossed half the distance to us. “How is she?”

Our eyes met.

And he smiled.

Bright.

Relieved.

Almost ridiculously happy.

I still wasn't sure how to react.

Everything felt unreal.

“Stasia is fine,” Sulfur replied. “We managed to heal all the fractures.”

“Excellent.”

Tarven stepped closer.

Though, notably, he didn't touch me.

Instead, he planted his hands on his hips and announced with that same satisfied grin: