Page 379 of Axis of Fire

Maybe he'd known exactly what was going to happen.

“Ria,” Seris called, his voice tightening with effort. “Try again.”

“We'll hold them off until you're ready.”

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

“What if I'm never ready?”

Loretta cried out.

The web of shadows shattered.

She collapsed to one knee, clutching her shoulder.

“I think...” she gasped. “One of the spikes is still inside.”

She winced.

“I can't access my Gift properly. It's... blocking the flow.”

My fear became something tangible.

“Ria.”

This time, Seris wasn't giving an order.

He was pleading.

His face had turned a dangerous shade of red, every muscle in his body trembling under the strain.

Panic spread through me.

I prayed that, this time...

My magic would answer.

Anastasia Lang's POV

Our first Survival class was taught by a translucent man whose feet never once touched the ground.

He looked almost exactly like the spirits illustrated in children's storybooks.

Except he was real.

And his kind was among the rarest beings in all of Istarus.

A djinn.

The stories claimed they granted wishes.

Reality was far less romantic.

Djinn were considered some of the most intelligent—and most dangerously cunning—beings in the entire universe of Noveris.

There were even whispers that they originated from the hidden world of Astaarus.

“No one knows what trials await you during this year's Selection,” the djinn said, never bothering to introduce himself.