Page 65 of Axis of Fire

“There have only been two recorded cases in Istarus where a mage who hid their abilities exploded and wiped out three nearby villages.”

I stayed silent.

That easily could have been me.

“How did you make it to twenty-five without being consumed by your own power?”

His eyes searched mine, as if my appearance alone could give him the answer.

“Because of my friends,” I said, exhaling.

“They were with me when the fire first appeared.”

I swallowed, trying to push that memory away—

the one that still filled me with shame.

“And they helped me learn to control it.”

I didn’t want to explain how.

I was afraid he’d laugh—

at me, at Gwendolyn’s ideas.

But they had worked.

I was still alive.

A quiet but heavy sigh left him.

“Either way, I’ll meet them in three days. And I’ll decide whether they can be trusted.”

I scoffed, taking it as an insult.

“You think I haven’t learned how to read people by now?”

“Anything’s possible,” he replied calmly.

What an idiot.

“Now, if your conscience is done tormenting you, we’re going to sleep,” Airis added as the bed creaked slightly when he turned to face the wall.

“Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.”

“Don’t feel like telling me how your powers first appeared?” I asked.

I didn’t know why.

Why it suddenly felt... easy to talk to him.

Even though he irritated me beyond reason.

“Oh? You suddenly feel like sharing your own story?” he asked without turning.

I thought about it.

For a second.