Page 440 of Axis of Fire

terror seized me.

Only a few yards away lay the enormous body of a monster.

Pinned beneath one of its massive claws was a splash of crimson.

Ria's dress.

I jerked upright.

My hand flew to my forehead.

Cold sweat.

The familiar outline of the room slowly came into focus.

Joelle's bed.

Our room.

My entire body was still trembling.

For several endless seconds, my mind refused to separate the vision from reality.

This...

This was how people like me went mad.

I drew in a slow breath.

Held it.

Released it.

Again.

And again.

Breathing had always grounded me.

It gave my mind something simple to hold onto until reality returned.

Throwing the green bathrobe over my shoulders, I slipped quietly into the hallway.

I barely noticed myself crossing the common room.

One moment I was standing by my door.

The next, my fingers were already wrapped around the cold handle of the next room.

Without hesitating, I hurried to Ria's bed.

Dropping into a crouch beside her, I gently shook her awake.

I wasn't thinking.

I was simply reacting.

I didn't care that she needed sleep.