Page 388 of Axis of Fire

"The gifts don't work quite that literally."

I smiled.

"Then you somehow avoided being sent back to Vuduarus just to show me this?"

When our eyes met, I was reminded all over again of how many questions he'd left unanswered after everything that had happened between us.

"For one evening," Airis said, the corner of his mouth lifting into the faintest smile, "try resisting your addiction to knowing everything, Fireling."

Anastasia Lang's POV

Violetta's district seemed endless.

Market stalls stretched as far as I could see, each one painted with vibrant designs.

I remembered Tarven telling me that the people of Magicslan spent half the year preparing for this celebration.

They painted everything.

Windows.

Doors.

Their festival clothes.

Even the thresholds of their homes.

Everyone believed the Capital Festival granted wishes and set the course of the year ahead.

I'd dreamed of seeing it ever since Tarven first told me about it.

But Alicia had always refused to come.

And she certainly would've never allowed me to come without her.

Somehow...

I'd always imagined I'd spend my first Capital Festival with Tarven.

Instead, I was walking beside Miloran.

Tarven hadn't even thought to invite me.

Miloran had.

"Tarven promised he'd bring me here once I got into Istmond," I said quietly.

I'd hoped the music and laughter filling the streets would swallow the words.

They didn't.

"He was planning to."

Miloran glanced at me.

"I just beat him to it."

I stopped walking.