Page 489 of Axis of Fire

Deadlier.

"Get over here!" Loretta shouted. "I can't keep the shield up at that distance for long."

"So lightning's off the table," Kaeron concluded.

"So I'm just supposed to stand here?" Pria scoffed as she rushed toward us.

"I can't imagine how difficult that must be for you," Loretta replied, her voice dripping with dry sarcasm.

"Did anyone notice that it hasn't moved?" Kaeron asked.

He was right.

Despite unleashing dozens of attacks, the demon hadn't taken a single step.

"You know, some of us had more important things to focus on," Pria muttered.

But Kaeron wasn't looking at her anymore.

His eyes found mine.

He gave me a small nod.

I let out a slow breath.

I knew exactly what he wanted me to do.

Anastasia Lang's POV

My hands were still trembling.

My body hadn't recovered from that cursed encounter with my true self, but I couldn't afford to dwell on it.

A demon stood before us.

Somehow, it had broken free from its prison, and now...

It was impossible to tell what it intended to do.

It wasn't moving.

It simply watched us.

Waited.

But every instinct in my body screamed that danger was closing in.

"Has anything like this ever happened during the Selection before?" Rosalie asked, keeping close behind Taylor's back.

"You think this is part of the trial?" I arched a brow. "Does anyone even know what kind of demon that is?"

"I've never seen one like it," Azalia admitted.

"It's not an elemental demon," Aaron said, his eyes never leaving the creature. "Its abilities are probably tied to mental magic."

"How can you tell?" I asked, turning toward him.

"That's an odd question to ask someone from the Realm of Death." Aaron offered a crooked smile.