Page 266 of Axis of Fire

“I don’t know,” Tarven muttered.

“But he was seriously pissed after Miloran told him what kind of test I put you two through.”

A grin nearly tugged at my lips.

“And after he saw the scratches on her face, it honestly looked like he was about two seconds away from cutting off my oxygen supply.”

I stayed quiet.

Should I tell Ria that?

We’d never actually talked about feelings.

Or attraction.

Or anything like that.

But even without saying it out loud, it was obvious that whatever existed between her and Airis was far from normal.

“Don’t change the subject.”

“We were talking about Alicia.”

I sighed.

I wasn’t ready to face my sister.

Not mentally.

Not emotionally.

The last time we saw each other, she left me with a scar—

A permanent reminder of just how deeply my sister loved me.

Deeply enough to want me dead more than anyone else.

And unfortunately, Tarven had seen the aftermath.

Not the attack itself—

But everything that followed.

Everything except the scar.

That part, I hid from everyone.

“It’s because of that bitch that I volunteered to become your mentor in the first place.”

“I won’t let her lay a finger on you.”

I smiled.

“And here I thought you just wanted to spend as much time with me as possible.”

I shrugged, slipping into my usual teasing tone.

The mask that would never let Tarven realize how much I liked him.