Page 398 of Axis of Fire

I still couldn't bring myself to meet Airis's eyes.

"In a place like this..."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"This lake has a meaning of its own."

A brief pause.

"I've never brought anyone here."

Except you.

I looked at him.

"And what meaning is that?"

"A mermaid created it."

His silver eyes reflected the dancing lights above the water.

"She spent six hundred years collecting every tear she ever cried out of pure happiness."

I smiled without meaning to.

"You always choose places that carry a story, don't you?"

Tilting my head, I studied him.

Every day he seemed a little more real.

More alive.

And somehow...

Even more impossible not to fall for.

Not just because of the way he looked.

But because of who he was.

"Just like you," Airis said softly.

Anastasia Lang's POV

Watching Miloran attempt to dance to the tune a street musician was playing on his flute, I couldn't stop laughing.

"I'll take that as a compliment," he said, continuing to move with an almost impressive lack of rhythm.

"And as obvious jealousy of my extraordinary talent."

I smiled.

He'd become so much more genuine around me.

He wasn't afraid to make a fool of himself.

Wasn't afraid to seem clueless.