Page 219 of Axis of Fire

Honestly, his inability to hide his emotions was almost impressive.

Just like Stasia’s patience.

“You know how exhausting it is seeing the same faces and the same walls every single day?” she pouted dramatically before smiling at him again.

“Although I could never get tired of looking at your face, pretty boy.”

“Anastasia Radia Lang,” Tarven said sharply, “I’ll ask again.”

“What the hell are you doing outside the academy?”

With a quiet sigh, I looked away and continued eating my cake.

The argument carried on without me.

“I just told you,” Stasia replied lazily.

“We wanted a change of scenery.”

“Besides, Ria’s never been to Magicslan before, and I’m pretty sure that boring killjoy Airis never would’ve brought her here.”

“Do you even understand how dangerous this is?”

“Dangerous how?” Stasia asked, completely unfazed.

In that moment, they felt like complete opposites.

Not just in appearance...

But in temperament, too.

“Harold has no idea who’ll make it into the strongest class before the Selection Trials,” she continued with a shrug.

“And if you mean ordinary criminals...”

She waved her spoon carelessly.

“Thanks to your training, I could handle them with one hand tied behind my back.”

“That’s not what I mean,” Tarven muttered.

“I mean the company you chose.”

“Excuse me?” I raised a brow, shooting him an irritated look.

“I think she’s excellent company,” Stasia said with a grin.

“You’re impossible.”

Tarven let out a slow breath, as though physically forcing himself to regain control.

“What if you’re sitting here right now with one of Harold’s agents?”

“I doubt it,” Stasia replied calmly.

“You’ve known me long enough.”

She tilted her head.