Page 416 of Axis of Fire

Felt synchronized.

It was unsettling.

And strangely fascinating.

At some point, I became so lost in my thoughts that I completely missed the next instruction.

When Seris stepped forward...

I didn't step back.

We collided awkwardly.

"Miss Arden."

Sabina clicked her tongue.

In the blink of an eye, she was standing beside us.

The cold radiating from her was almost tangible.

When her long, slender fingers adjusted my posture, I instinctively tensed.

She didn't even seem to notice.

"In this dance, the leader leads."

She corrected the position of my arms.

Then stepped back.

"Again."

My face burned.

Every ounce of self-consciousness settled into my muscles.

I managed to make a mistake with nearly every step.

"You're struggling with your weight transfer," Suar observed.

Sabina had already moved on to help Stasia and Kaeron.

"And Miss Arden keeps confusing left and right."

I pressed my lips together.

I hated this.

For the second time since arriving at Istmond...

I was the weakest one in the room.

First with magic.

Now with something as ordinary as dancing.

I'd never thought dancing mattered.