Page 486 of Axis of Fire

"Why?"

Her eyes narrowed.

Damn.

She already knew every answer.

I knew every answer.

I was simply extraordinarily talented at pretending I didn't.

"Light exists because darkness stands beside it," she continued, knowing perfectly well my pride would never let me answer. "And darkness exists only because there was once light."

She let the silence settle between us.

"You've spent your entire life trying to keep only one of them."

"I think we're done here."

I pressed my lips together and deliberately looked away, refusing to meet her patient gaze.

"I'm proud of you."

"That's enough."

I turned toward the endless void surrounding us, searching for anything beyond its invisible edges.

There was nothing.

Only emptiness.

"My future self truly regrets never acknowledging you," she said softly. "Never celebrating your victories—no matter how small or how great."

I swallowed hard.

Why...

Why did hearing those words from myself tighten my throat so painfully?

"I'm proud of you."

My eyes burned, and I forced myself to look anywhere but at her.

"You finally chose the easier path."

A faint smile touched her lips.

"You opened your heart..."

"To the wrong person."

The words escaped before I could stop them.

A tear slid down my cheek.

"You don't know that."

"My person wouldn't have done this to me."