Page 66 of Dark Embers

I opened my eyes, the memories disappearing like a light being turned out, mercifully taking the nausea with it.

I looked down at Letti, who was stirring under the white sheets placed over her. “No…Arya.”

I couldn’t take my eyes away from the restless mermaid.

“That’s all she’s been saying since I’ve been able to stabilize her,” Maya said, pressing a dainty hand to her chest, concern lacing her features.

I shook my head, trying to make sense of this mess.

“I know it isn’t my business sniffing about like a hound,” she said, “but why would she keep saying the newest mermaid’s name?”

I sighed heavily. I knew the answer to that now, and my mind began to spiral because of it.

“Keep doing your best with her,” I instructed, my breathing increasing as my heartbeats followed suit, and I opened the door to leave.

“Arya,” Letti whimpered again.

I quickly stepped out of the room and shut the door, afraid that students nearby would hear her mumblings. The last thing we needed right now were more rumors about Arya flying around the Dome.

I found Celeste and Kai waiting for me just a few feet down the hall.

“How is she?” Celeste asked, the worry on her face impossibly seeming to age her.

I shifted my eyes around the room and saw several students loitering about, awkward, not speaking to one another, pretending they weren’t by Ms. Heather’s office for the sole purpose of eavesdropping.

“As good as can be expected. Thanks to Maya’s incredible care, her wounds are all but healed.” I stepped closer to Kai and Celeste, then whispered, “Walk with me.”

I hoped my anxiety wasn’t too transparent. I was the school director, and everybody here—teachers and students—would be looking to me for guidance and comfort. If I was honest, I could use some of that right now, myself.

Speed-walking through the halls, I made for my classroom. It was the one place I was hoping I’d be able to get my bearings to think this situation through. Kai and Celeste kept up, talking behind me.

“The copper alloy lining the exterior of the trains likely deterred the vampires from pursuing the poor girl,” Kai said quietly.

“A precaution I’m glad we put in place,” Celeste replied. “One of many obstacles I hope will keep the vampires at bay rather than draw attention.”

They continued chatting, but my troubled thoughts had me tuning them out.

Letti couldn’t stop saying Arya’s name. I had enough experience with trauma to form an educated guess as towhy.

The poor girl’s attackers had mistaken her for Arya. The girls shared physical similarities. But they’d been wrong and probably knew it. This pointed to the vampires’ knowledge of a girl named Arya. It also indicated that they knew of her importance, which only validated to me that Arya was the siren from the prophecy.

But that meant that the vampires somehow knew of the prophecy, too.

Hadrian is aware of Aryaandthe prophecy. I’d been dancing around that thought since I’d first heard Letti say the mermaid’s name. And finally acknowledging it, I realized the mistakes I’d made.

I’d sent Julian off to Hadrian to discover this very thing. And I hadn’t heard back from my vampire ally since he’d left weeks ago. For all I knew, Hadrian had killed him.

What made matters worse was that Julian’s eyes were sharp, and he was extremely good at keeping tabs on vampire activity close by. If I hadn’t sent him away, he could have potentially stopped the attack on Letti. But then we would’ve been back at square one—we wouldn't have learned that Hadrian knew about the prophecy.

“I hate to point out the obvious, Caesar,” Kai said, “but you’re walking extremely fast.”

“If it’s too difficult for you to keep up, phase through the walls and meet me at my classroom.”

“I’m always up for a brisk walk,” Kai replied. “I’m more concerned with how you’re feeling.”

I stopped, anger bubbling inside of me. “One of our students nearly died! This school was founded upon several ideals, one of which was a promise of protection for every shifter who attends. Whatarewe if we can’t even protect our own students?”

Kai threw a glance at Celeste. I saw the kitsune’s Adam’s apple bob down, then come back up like a bouncy ball.

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