Page 231 of Axis of Fire

“Shut up before you die faster than those statues do,” Stasia hissed, struggling to stay on her feet after another strike from the iron statue.

Moving quickly, I leaned out from behind the tree and hurled a burst of fire at the cloud figure.

It faltered.

But it didn’t stop.

“I still don’t understand the physics behind this,” I muttered.

“They’re just stronger than we are,” Stasia replied.

Another impact from the iron statue.

The trunk split with a deafening crack.

We threw ourselves aside just seconds before the tree crashed to the ground.

Damn it.

My breathing grew faster and faster.

But the power stirring inside me...

Still felt asleep.

It didn’t respond to my fear.

And that was the most terrifying part of all.

******

My fire stayed exactly where it was.

My heartbeat didn’t.

It felt as though my flames were being held back.

Panic surged inside me.

But that was impossible.

Airis was in Mataarus.

He couldn’t possibly be blocking the flow of my fire magic.

A pause.

Not in the fight.

Inside me.

Damn it.

What if that was the answer?

“If they were brought to life...” I said, glancing toward Stasia as she grew another tree to shield us.

“Then they have to breathe too, right?”