Page 84 of Radiant Shadows

As I made my way down the stairs from the avian common room, I saw him marching past…with Caesar and Mr. Inari carrying suitcases in front of him, the lot of them surrounded by a host of guards. What the hell?

I skipped down the stairs and ran to catch up to them. “Dad, what’s going on?”

He looked at me but didn’t stop or slow his stride. “I’m escorting Misters Rex and Inari to the platform.”

“Okay, I can see that, but why?” I demanded, my short legs practically jogging to keep pace with the entourage.

Caesar didn’t look at me, and neither did anyone else. They all wore somber expressions. Something was definitely wrong.

“There’s been a change in leadership,” Ignaeus said. “As Mr. Rex has proven unfit to direct the school, General Dracul has taken the position upon himself.”

“Unfit? What the hell does that mean?”

“That’s none of your concern, Ashlyn,” he said dismissively.

I ran in front of him and came to a stop, forcing him to stop, too. “The hell it isn’t. Caesar has done great things for every single person at this school, including you. Or have you forgotten that you owe your teaching position to him?”

Ignaeus didn’t respond, only scowled down at me.

“It’s okay, Ashlyn,” Caesar said. “Everything is going to be fine. Just taking a sabbatical, that’s all.” The sad look he gave me said that we both knew this was a lie.

But what could I do about it? Even if I was the lieutenant general’s daughter, I had no authority of my own. I was just another student.

My father pushed past me and continued to escort the two professors to the main entrance as I just watched helplessly.

“Ashlyn.”

I turned to see Niko coming up beside me. My heart did that stupid skitter thing again, and I frowned in denial of its presence.

He just stood next to me, and we both watched my father usher Caesar and Kai out the vault door.

“This is bullshit,” I muttered.

“They found video footage of Caesar having secret meetings with a vampire in a nearby diner,” he informed softly. “And General Dracul discovered text correspondence with said vampire dating back months.”

I folded my arms and jutted my hips. “I bet it’s all bullshit.”

“Actually, Caesar admitted to it,” Niko said. “He said this vampire was a rogue, helping him against Hadrian.”

I considered that for a moment. Caesar, trust a vampire? From what little I knew about Caesar, I did at least know how much he hated vampires. Was there actually any truth to this?

Even if there was, I didn’t necessarily see the harm in it. It would be smart for us to have a vampire spy on our side. Caesar, of all people, would be diplomatic enough to see the value in that, despite his prejudices. Apparently, no one else could see past theirs.

“He doesn’t deserve to be booted out for that,” I mumbled as the crowd in the Great Hall got thicker.

“I agree,” he mumbled back. “Can I talk to you in private?”

I looked at him sideways, debating whether or not to indulge his request. “Fine,” I eventually agreed.

He tipped his head toward the library, and I reluctantly followed him through the mass of students.

The library was mercifully empty, the hum of gossip silencing as the door closed behind us. I already felt better being away from all that. But being alone with Niko in this nostalgic space had my guard rising to my defense. He continued toward our secret spot, but I stopped.

“Okay, what’s this about?” I asked, refusing to go any further until I knew his intentions.

He spun and came back toward me, the vulnerability and sincerity on his face chipping away at my walls.

“Well, I guess we can just do this here,” he said, looking around the library for signs of eavesdroppers. “I was an idiot, Ash.”

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