Page 162 of Axis of Fire

I blinked.

“What?”

“To the beach.”

Dwayne wiggled his brows dramatically when he saw my expression.

“You're serious?”

“Darling, we have absolutely no idea when you're coming back.”

His smile softened slightly.

“Don't you want to visit your favorite place one more time before you leave?”

My favorite place.

Anthony Gormley's Another Place.

The beach filled with iron figures staring endlessly toward the horizon.

I hadn't even allowed myself to hope I'd see it again before returning to Istarus.

“We'll bring paints.”

Dwayne pointed at me.

“Canvases.”

Another point.

“Snacks.”

A third.

“We'll watch the sunset.”

Okay.

Now he was fighting dirty.

“That actually sounds amazing,” I admitted.

And for the first time since waking up that morning, excitement pushed aside the exhaustion.

Only briefly.

But it was enough.

My gaze drifted toward Airis.

I had no idea what he thought about any of it.

Or whether he even wanted to come.

But whether I liked it or not, he was becoming the closest thing I had to home in Istarus.

He'd be responsible for me.