Page 328 of Axis of Fire

Thankfully, the heavens took pity on me.

Airis finally gave up and went back inside.

I was just beginning to feel a wave of relief wash over me—

when he came back.

Carrying an armful of things and closing the balcony door behind him.

Airis dropped his hoodie onto my lap.

“Put it on.”

The command was brief.

And when I ignored him, he added,

“Otherwise, I'll do the changing myself.”

I snorted, but this time I didn't argue.

The cold had already begun working its way into my bones.

If it hadn't reached them already.

After zipping up the hoodie, I tried not to look too pleased that my skin was finally wrapped in the warmth it had been craving.

“Thank you. Now you can go back inside,” I said.

But Airis apparently had other plans.

He lowered himself onto the ridiculously small loveseat beside me.

Close enough for our thighs to touch.

Then he draped a warm blanket over both our legs.

“I believe I said I wanted to be alone.” I shot him a pointed look.

“You can pretend I'm nobody, then,” he replied.

I turned away.

Internally simmering with irritation.

And doing my best to ignore the tiny traitor somewhere deep inside me—the one currently celebrating every single thing Airis was doing.

We fell silent.

Allowing the silence to settle between us like an old friend.

My gaze remained fixed on the sky while my thoughts waged war inside my head.

I didn't know what.

But I needed to say something.

Needed to justify myself somehow.