Page 484 of Axis of Fire

No excitement.

No anticipation.

I just wanted the Selection to be over.

I wanted proof that the horrible vision had been nothing more than a nightmare.

And I still couldn't understand why we hadn't crossed paths with Ria yet.

That...

more than anything else...

was what truly made me nervous.

Illariana Arden's POV

When I opened my eyes, I found myself staring at my own reflection.

Alive.

Defiant.

And subtly different from the real me.

My other self sat upon a throne carved from black stone, wearing a sly, knowing smile.

My gaze immediately dropped to her clothes.

Her body was wrapped in swirling black mist, flames flickering through it in scattered bursts.

As though embodying two forces at once—

Fire.

And Death.

If Death could even be called an element.

So... what exactly was I supposed to do?

Look at her?

Convince myself she actually existed?

Believe that this...

could truly be me?

"Are you just going to stand there in silence?" she asked.

A shiver ran through me at the sound of my own voice coming from someone else.

My reaction only seemed to amuse her.

"And what exactly am I supposed to say?" I shot back. "Ask you questions? And which ones can you actually answer?"

The questions spilled out before I could stop them.