Page 364 of Axis of Fire

Apparently my silence had lasted too long.

Airis exhaled sharply and continued.

“The nightmares are back, aren't they?”

I nodded.

Airis sighed.

“But I'll deal with it,” I said quickly. “I need to learn how, eventually.” I straightened my shoulders. “I'll handle it before the Selection.”

“Good.”

The answer came immediately.

Then he said something I hadn't expected to hear.

“And who exactly have you decided to get close to?”

I froze again.

It took me a second to understand what he meant.

Then I remembered Seris.

His hand on my shoulder.

A touch Airis had definitely noticed.

Unable to hide my surprise, I blurted out,

“Wait... are you jealous?”

For a long moment, Airis said nothing.

Before finally answering.

“It bothers me how quickly you start trusting people.”

I frowned.

“From your very first days here, you've known there's a hidden agent working for Moss. And now you're deciding to get close to just anyone?”

“That agent could be anyone,” I shot back, unable to hide my irritation. “Even my roommate.” I gestured vaguely. “But somehow, the only thing that bothered you was having men in my social circle.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I raised a brow.

“Don't make me say something you already know.”

“What exactly do I already know?”

Now I was genuinely getting angry.

And internally panicking.

Because every word he spoke only made my heart beat faster.

What if we weren't even talking about the same thing?