Page 89 of Axis of Fire

I didn’t even realize my breath had stopped.

The second I looked up and saw that smug, self-satisfied expression, I immediately straightened and stepped away from him, slipping free from his arms.

“Or maybe you just wanted an excuse to touch me,” I shot back, gesturing toward the dark, oppressive forest around us.

“Which is why you’re leading me through this creepy death trap. Where are we even going?”

“You’ll see,” he answered shortly before continuing down the path without waiting for me.

All I could do was scoff in irritation.

A drop in the ocean.

“You said the Oracle shows the strongest emotional memory,” I said slowly, trying to steer the conversation back to the important part.

“Could it show a happy memory instead?”

“If it happened recently enough to overpower the painful ones that tend to stay buried the deepest, then yes.”

“But most of the time, it shows the moment someone’s powers first awakened. That imprint stays with a person for the rest of their life.”

“I don’t want anyone seeing that.”

I stopped walking.

“Neither does anyone else.”

Airis stopped too and turned toward me.

“But if you refuse to willingly give the memory the Oracle chooses, you’ll be punished.”

“And what kind of punishment?”

Airis shrugged.

“The kind that hurts the most.”

Damn.

“Did everyone see your memory too?” I asked immediately.

He gave a short nod.

That didn’t make me feel any better.

My friends were all over that memory.

And there was no way I could let the Oracle expose who they were.

“We’ll talk about it later. Closer to the Selection.”

Airis turned away and motioned for me to follow him.

“The day after tomorrow, we’re going to Vuduarus. I’ll decide whether your friends can actually be trusted.”

“You could just take my word for it.”

“That’s not enough.”