Page 381 of Axis of Fire

Hairline cracks raced across Seris's blue barrier with the speed of lightning.

My heart lurched.

Then pounded even harder.

The familiar warmth stirred deep inside me.

Slowly.

Steadily.

Climbing toward my hands, just as it always had whenever I summoned even the smallest flame.

For one hopeful second, I braced myself to see it.

Nothing.

The flow faltered.

It simply...

Stopped.

Damn it.

How was that even possible?

A frustrated scream clawed at my throat, but I forced it back down.

One more try.

Again.

The warmth rose through me, filling every part of my body until I could almost feel the fire breathing beneath my skin.

“Seris!”

Gianna's voice cut through the room.

Then his.

The barrier gave way.

Several spikes broke through Taylor's shield and shot straight toward Seris.

And that was the moment my fire awakened.

Wild.

Fierce.

Unrestrained.

It pulsed with emotion, refusing to belong to anyone but itself.

With every ounce of control I had left, I forced the flames toward the invisible barrier Taylor was still desperately holding together.

The instant they touched it—