Page 441 of Axis of Fire

I only needed to know she was alive.

"Ria, wake up," I whispered, once again wondering how someone could sleep so deeply.

I woke at the slightest sound.

"Stasia...?"

The sleepy mumble came from the next bed.

Instead of Ria, I'd managed to wake Gianna.

Damn.

"You're dreaming," I sang softly before turning back to Ria.

This time I gave up on being gentle and shook her arm much harder.

Frowning, she instinctively tried to brush my hand away.

Then, as if reality caught up with her, her eyes flew open.

Fear flashed across her face.

Heat instantly radiated from her skin, and I snatched my hand back.

"I'd rather not end up with burns," I muttered, frowning.

"Stasia?" Ria asked, her voice still thick with sleep. "What's going on?"

She didn't bother lowering her voice.

I immediately shushed her and nodded toward Gianna's bed.

"We need to talk."

"Get up."

Letting out a weary sigh, Ria pushed herself upright.

"And grab something warm."

Illariana Arden's POV

Following Stasia outside, I slowly began to wake up, pulling Airis's hoodie tighter around myself as the cold wind hit us the moment we stepped out of the dormitory.

What struck me as odd was that no one stopped us.

There was no strict dorm supervisor, no one questioning why two first-years were wandering outside in the middle of the night.

We simply walked out.

"Where are we going?" I asked, catching up beside her.

"To ruin your dress," Stasia replied matter-of-factly. "Or ask Madame Zhivorzhinette for a new one. Depends on whether she's asleep."

I frowned.

For a second, I wasn't entirely convinced I was actually awake.