Page 352 of Axis of Fire

Her gaze flicked from Stasia to someone behind us—

Then back again.

And once more.

“Alicia,” Stasia murmured.

I noticed her ring-covered fingers curl into her palms.

“One of the girls back there looks exactly like you,” Gianna said.

“My sister studies here,” Stasia replied flatly.

“Wow.”

Gianna turned back toward the front of the room.

Then froze.

I followed her gaze.

The figure standing before us was anything but ordinary.

A towering man with impossibly broad shoulders stood at the front of the room, surveying us like a predator studying its prey.

A thick mane of white hair framed his rugged features and prominent nose.

“Draksen Ardevayne,” Gianna whispered.

“Am I the only one who thinks he looks like a lion?” I whispered back, unable to stop staring at the impressive amount of facial hair the Academy's director possessed.

“That's because he's a werewolf.”

Stasia leaned closer.

I immediately turned to her, not even attempting to hide my shock.

“What?”

The words escaped me louder than I meant it to.

“Werewolves actually exist here?”

Stasia nodded.

Then one of her brows lifted skeptically.

“What exactly were you and Airis doing all that time alone if you still don't know something this basic?”

Memories immediately flooded my mind.

His fingers leaving trails of fire across my skin.

His lips capable of erasing every fear I'd ever carried.

His eyes...

I cut the thought off before it could continue.