Page 438 of Axis of Fire

"He was raised to be a weapon."

His voice turned even colder.

"He wasn't taught how to feel."

"He simply..."

"...doesn't know how."

Something cold settled inside my chest.

My lungs tightened.

No.

He just doesn't know him the way I do.

None of them do.

Eugene sighed.

"I'm not telling you this to drive the two of you apart."

His tone softened, if only slightly.

"You're one of the strongest fire mages we've seen in years."

"And I don't want this entire academy paying the price for your broken heart."

I swallowed hard.

I refused to let even a single piece of what he'd said take root inside my head.

When I didn't answer, he continued.

"We can't assign you another mentor because Airis—"

"I don't want another mentor."

I cut him off before he could finish.

Folding my arms tighter across my chest, I met his gaze without flinching.

"I get attached to people."

"I wish I didn't."

"But I do."

"And I doubt that's ever going to change."

I paused.

"So if you truly don't want to deal with the consequences of my broken heart..."

"Leave things exactly as they are."

His jaw tightened.