Page 451 of Axis of Fire

right.

Honest.

As though I'd known these steps long before I'd ever learned them.

Maybe...

long before this lifetime.

"In your presence..."

His voice was barely more than a whisper.

"I don't know how to stay indifferent."

I looked up at him.

"Good."

I bit my lip to hide an even wider smile.

"Because I can't either."

The music faded far too quickly.

We came to a stop.

Only for Airis to lift me effortlessly once more, spinning me through the air before catching me against his chest again.

I laughed softly.

Then his expression changed.

It became serious.

"Before they send you into the labyrinth, Draksen will give his speech."

"I'll be waiting for you by the flower pavilion."

Something in his tone scratched uneasily at the edge of my thoughts.

"Why?"

He gently set me back on my feet.

But he never answered.

"Well," Azriella announced as applause swept across the ballroom once more, "it seems the Strongest Twelve had quite the surprise prepared for us this year."

"They chose to open the Selection by dancing with this year's strongest newcomers."

"And now..."

"let us look back on everything that brought us here..."

I barely heard another word.

Already making my way back toward my group, I watched as more and more people returned from the dance floor, slowly filling the space around us once again.