Page 487 of Axis of Fire

I wiped my face with my sleeve, only to notice the knowing smile returning to her face.

"What now?" I asked, unable to hide the irritation creeping into my voice.

It drove me insane.

She knew everything.

She was me.

Yet instead of helping, she just stood there smiling.

"So many things," she replied with an infuriating grin.

I already knew she wasn't going to explain.

"Now go."

She waved a dismissive hand.

"I'm bored."

"You're bored of yourself?"

"No."

Her smile widened.

"I'm bored of the person you are right now."

I opened my mouth to fire back another retort—

—but with a single wave of her hand, the world vanished.

A heartbeat later, I was standing inside the small chamber I'd entered what felt like hours ago.

Something inside me had changed.

A tiny spark had settled somewhere deep within my chest.

Almost imperceptible.

Yet it carried the strange promise that something important had begun.

I just didn't know whether that was a good thing.

Taking a slow breath, I brushed my fingers over cheeks still warm from tears that had already dried.

Then I started toward the exit.

I had barely taken a few steps when a deafening explosion erupted somewhere just beyond the chamber.

I froze where I stood.

Chapter 46

Shaking off my shock, I sprinted out of the temple.

Straight into a world consumed by fire.