Page 91 of Axis of Fire

In some parts of it, tiny lakes shimmered between the greenery.

But what felt strange was the way the outskirts of the city were wrapped in a thick mist that seemed to appear from nowhere.

“Why was it abandoned?” I asked quietly, feeling a stream of icy wind that the dense forest had shielded us from until now.

“It was one of the cities destroyed by magical burnout.”

My eyes traced every detail hungrily, searching for signs of ruin.

“It only looks this intact because every three or four years they restore it for the Selection.”

At some point—I hadn’t noticed when—the warm fabric of Airis’s jacket settled over my bare shoulders, carrying his sharp, familiar scent with it.

Immediately, I remembered how easy it had been to fall asleep beside him.

I rarely managed to sleep comfortably next to anyone.

But with Airis...

it had felt effortless.

That was... strange.

Though maybe there was an explanation I simply hadn’t found yet.

“Decided to play the gentleman?” I asked, wrapping the jacket tighter around myself.

“I think you need a lecture on gratitude, Fireling.”

I ignored him, hiding the faint smile tugging at my lips behind the jacket’s collar.

“If you hadn’t brought me here, you wouldn’t have had to give up your jacket just to keep me warm.”

And the second the words left my mouth, I mentally smacked myself.

Damn it.

Now he’s going to think I like him.

Or worse—that I want him.

Which, admittedly, wasn’t entirely far from the truth.

But I was never going to admit that.

Especially not to him.

So I hurried to change the subject before he could say anything.

“Can we go closer to the city?”

A stupid question, honestly.

But it was the only lifeline I managed to grab onto.

“The barrier surrounding Maavislane won’t let us through while preparations for the Selection are underway.”

Silence settled carefully between us after that.