Page 254 of Axis of Fire

“I’m one of Arachne’s descendants,” Joelle replied, clearly expecting that explanation to be enough.

“What world is your magic connected to?” Gia asked.

Fear shimmered in her large eyes.

For some reason, her behavior felt almost too rehearsed.

Or maybe I’d simply stopped trusting people like her.

“Mataarus.”

Stasia froze.

I saw the way her head almost turned—

As though she wanted to look at me.

But she stopped herself.

A few seconds later, she spoke in a perfectly calm tone.

“I don’t see why death magic would conflict with water,” she said with a shrug.

“But I still don’t understand why they’d put two poison-producing mages in the same studio.”

“Poisons?” Gia repeated quietly.

Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.

I barely stopped myself from rolling my eyes.

“And your abilities are connected to...” Gia began thinking out loud, but Stasia quickly cut her off.

“To Vuduarus.”

“Ria’s powers are connected to Plaraarus,” she said, nodding toward me and clearly referring to the Fire World.

“I don’t think switching roommates would negatively affect any of us,” I finally spoke up.

Honestly, I couldn’t care less about the rules.

Let the Strongest Twelve follow them.

A flicker of resentment toward Airis brushed against my chest.

But I refused to dwell on it.

“I agree,” Stasia replied.

“Honestly, the real disaster will happen if we don’t switch.”

Her eyes met Joelle’s again.

Slowly, the brunette nodded.

“Fine.”

“But this stays between us.”