Page 358 of Axis of Fire

“Good.”

For the first time, a flicker of interest crossed his face.

“I'll give it a physical form.”

My stomach tightened.

“And what am I supposed to do? Just summon flames?”

The anxiety inside me sharpened.

I wasn't even sure I'd be able to control them.

“You can aim at me.”

I stared at him.

Hitting targets had never been easy for me.

Aiming at an actual person?

That felt impossible.

Stopping in the center of the arena, I took a slow breath and tried to force my panic into something resembling calm.

“You don't need to demonstrate raw power today,” Draksen said. “We're already familiar with your potential. What we need to see is your control.”

“You may begin,” Azriella added, folding her arms across her chest.

For several long seconds, my body locked up completely.

As though I'd never touched magic before.

As though I had no idea what I was doing.

Dozens of faces watched from the stands.

Their features blurred together.

Heat swept through me.

But not the familiar kind.

Not the heat that accompanied my fire.

This one seemed to smother it.

Cool it.

If such a thing was even possible.

“Well?” Kaeron asked patiently.

I raised my hand.

Searching for even the smallest spark.

Anything.