Page 476 of Axis of Fire

I shoved the thoughts away.

Enough thinking about Airis.

Enough pretending his betrayal didn't hurt.

Enough putting whatever had existed between us above my own survival here...

above the Selection itself.

There would be time to fall apart later.

Now...

my only priority was making it through the Selection.

I lowered my gaze to the map once more.

Then, before I could overthink it again...

I started walking.

Toward the longer route.

The safer one.

To hell with it.

For once...

I wanted the easy path.

There had already been enough battles in my life.

Chapter 45

Even though I'd chosen the easier route, I still expected a catch.

Especially from the map, which had glowed like it had completely lost its mind the entire way to Point O.

I'd tried asking it questions.

It had ignored every single one.

The moment the map showed I was only a few yards from my destination, I spotted two familiar figures in the distance.

Kaeron.

And Pria.

They stood before a massive oval-shaped dome of glowing light.

It pulsed with faint streams of air, and it almost looked as if anyone who stepped too close would be swallowed into its depths.

I quickened my pace.

The movement didn't go unnoticed.

Both of them turned toward me immediately.