Page 347 of Axis of Fire

My eyes locked onto Tarven, who stood there wearing a distinctly displeased expression.

Rosalie lingered behind him, trying her hardest to look innocent.

The act would've been more convincing if she hadn't been looking at Miloran as though he hung the stars in the sky.

“I was trying to make your life easier,” Miloran replied with a shrug. “Mentoring two mages at once doesn't sound particularly efficient.”

“Rosalie won't be joining the strongest group.” Tarven's voice remained firm. “Draksen assigned her to the Vuduarus sector.”

Relief washed over me.

Softly.

Like a hand brushing against my cheek.

Then my gaze met Tarven's.

And suddenly my breathing—

My heartbeat—

Everything inside me seemed to stop.

“Miloran would make a terrible mentor.”

Tarven folded his arms.

“I wouldn't trust him with you. Not for a second.”

I nodded.

And felt something twist painfully inside my chest as the possibility I'd barely allowed myself to consider slipped away.

Illariana Arden’s POV

My bare feet carried me across a dirty parquet floor littered with scattered trinkets and forgotten pieces of the past.

My body kept moving forward without conscious thought.

It felt as though it belonged to someone else.

I passed abandoned puzzle pieces and a half-finished picture that seemed vaguely familiar.

Old toys.

Broken toys.

Damage I hadn't caused.

With every step, more fragments of my childhood emerged.

Reminders of my parents.

Of the wounds they'd left behind.

Far too many for one person to carry.

I didn't understand any of it.