Page 110 of Dark Embers

“Yes, but more so. It’s now imperative that you learn how to fight. Hadrian knows who you are, and he will stop at nothing to find you. What his desired purposes are with you, I don’t know. But we must not let him find you. At least not until you are confident in your abilities to stand against him.”

She shifted uncomfortably, looking down solemnly. “I don’t know how to fight. I tried, but I wasn’t strong enough.”

I leaned forward. “I will personally see to one-on-one defensive training with you, starting tomorrow. And in your next Defense class, you must spar. You can no longer afford to watch the others from the sidelines.”

I hoped my offer to instruct her would help alleviate her fear and anxiety. I’d never offered such training to any other student, butArya was the most important person in the Dome. I’d make her the best she could possibly be.

“I hope I can become the shifter you believe me to be,” she said, doubt wrinkling her forehead.

“You will. I have no doubt about that.”

She chewed her lip, quiet for a moment as I watched unknown troubles cross her expression.

“I know this is hard, but would you be able to give me your summary of what happened?” I asked. “Any details, no matter how insignificant, could help us in learning their strategies and intentions.”

She nodded and began to recount the events that took place. I listened and took notes, all the while buzzing on the bittersweet revelation that she really was who I always hoped. And I no longer believed it was just coincidence that her best friend was a witch who drew me irresistibly. Shea just might be able to help in this war. And under my tutelage, Arya was going to become great.

The battle against the vampire had been a long one, spanning hundreds of years and tens of thousands of lives. But I finally saw an end to it. We finally had hope.

Chapter 39

Arya

I sat next to Tobias’s bed in the hospital wing, holding his warm yet unresponsive hand in mine.

The harpies had gotten all the lead pellets out of his body, and in their place were square-inch gauze bandages over the slowly healing skin. His chest, which was bare and uncovered by the not-long-enough linen sheet, was scattered with them.

Ms. Heather said he was going to be alright. The lead in his system would make for slow healing, as lead was the one substance that weakened dragons most, but once it worked its way out, he would be okay.

I hated seeing him like this. Tobias had always been an image of strength to me, seeming almost untouchable—on a number of levels. Now he was vulnerable, in pain. And it was all my fault.

Like a glutton, I replayed our kiss again and again. I could almost still feel the heat of his lips on mine. It figured that he would only finally open up to me when he was on death’s door.

“You had better be alright, Tobias,” I whispered. “You can’t just kiss me like that and then abandon me.” Although, that would be a very Tobias thing to do.

“Arya?” Letti’s voice sounded from the next bed. But it wasn’t the feverish call of the last few days. It was a question. Was Letti awake?

I turned in the mermaid’s direction, and she was looking at me through heavy eyelids—actuallylooking at me!

The only way to describe the feeling that exploded in my chest was like a sudden eruption of fireworks made of relief, surprise, and joy. I never thought I’d be so happy to see my schoolyard rival looking at me again, even if her eyes were darkened and bloodshot.

In my excitement, I rushed to Letti’s side, wiping away fresh happy tears. “I’m here.”

Letti struggled to sit up, then grabbed my hand. “You have to listen to me. Don’t go outside. Don’t leave the Dome.”

“It’s okay, Letti,” I said in a soothing tone. “I already know the vampires are after me. They tried to grab me last night, but we got away.”

A series of emotions played through her eyes as they darted back and forth, then they came back up to me. “We?”

I gestured to Tobias in the bed across the room.

“Omigod, what happened?” Letti gasped.

“We were out after sunset and the vampires cornered us. We only got away because Ashlyn transformed and pretty much set them all on fire.”

Letti considered that for a moment, then pursed her lips in a decidedly catty expression. “Oh, so the fire-jinx is good for something.”

I frowned. Only Letti could still be nasty after waking up from a trauma-induced coma. “Never mind that. What happened to you?”

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