Page 445 of Axis of Fire

"Pull yourselves together."

Joelle's irritated voice cut through the conversation.

"When we step through those gates..."

"...every eye will be on you."

She wore a fitted burgundy gown threaded with black beads.

Even hers widened into a dramatic skirt near the hem, keeping the overall silhouette elegant rather than modern.

The farther we walked...

the brighter the light ahead became.

Music drifted toward us.

Soft.

Elegant.

Calming.

Yet somehow inspiring at the same time.

The moment we stepped into the light, the full grandeur of the Selection unfolded before us.

An enormous open plaza stretched across the academy grounds, adorned with flowers, shimmering gold and silver, and hundreds of guests dressed in breathtaking formal attire.

At its center stood a circular marble stage, suspended above the ground by an intricate lattice of silver and gold metalwork.

Beyond it lay a vast marble dance floor, still empty for now.

Around its edges, long banquet tables overflowed with food and crystal glasses filled with colorful drinks.

Behind the dance floor, wide marble steps rose toward an elevated terrace where the academy's most distinguished guests had already gathered.

My gaze immediately caught on two enormous creatures.

One was a harpy.

She towered nearly three times higher than an ordinary one, her feathers the color of a clear summer sky.

Tiny white sparks shimmered across her wings, while her bright golden eyes glowed with quiet intelligence.

Her beak twitched slightly...

as though she were speaking.

My eyes drifted farther—

and found him.

Airis.

He stood beside her, dressed in a charcoal-gray suit embroidered with silver patterns that caught the light with every movement.

His dark hair remained as untamed as ever.