Page 473 of Axis of Fire

"We ran into one a few minutes ago too," Aaron added. "Luckily, Azalia's songs can neutralize them."

"A few minutes ago?" Taylor asked skeptically.

"Yeah. During the trial with the little sphere," Rosalie replied.

"So... there are multiple identical locations?" I asked, adjusting the jacket to make sure it stayed securely tied around my hips.

"Looks that way," Azalia said. "Fortunately, there are more of us now."

She pulled a half-burned map from her pocket.

"We don't have ours," I admitted. "We left them behind while running from the Turiada."

"That's okay." Azalia smiled. "Using them turned out to be much easier than we thought."

She looked down at the map.

"Could you show us where we need to go next?"

I frowned.

For a split second, I was ready to add Azalia to my list of slightly insane people.

Then the map lit up.

A glowing trail appeared across its surface, leading toward Point K.

"What?" Taylor stared. "It's... interactive?"

"We were just as shocked," Aaron said with a shrug.

"This way."

Azalia pointed toward a stretch of scorched grass before setting off without hesitation.

Illariana Arden's POV

The next checkpoint—Point K—felt farther away than any of the others.

The forest slowly gave way to cobblestone streets lined with abandoned houses topped with faded blue roofs.

They reminded me of the district of Ruel Airis had once shown me.

My fingers tightened around the map before I could stop them.

Had he already decided to break me back then?

The thought refused to leave me.

His words replayed over and over inside my head.

Every promise.

Every touch.

Every look that had convinced me I was safe.

That I could trust him.