Page 15 of Cruel Destinies

Bringing his hand down on the armrest, Arthur shook his head. “No. I believe Tobias is right where he needs to be. At least for now.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Even though you pulled his friend Nikolai Candida out of school based on his father’s recommendation?”

“Look, Caesar, I know how you feel about us taking students out of the Dome before they complete their education. But Paskal Candida’s son—”

“Is not ready for military assignment,” I interrupted.

The embers that had slipped from Arthur’s eyes just moments before returned, like wind on hot coals, and he sat up straight in the chair.

“The boy fought off a group of vampires and caused them to flee,” the general said, somehow managing to contain his anger.

“Hehelpedstave off a vampire attack,” I corrected. “And it’s quite possible he’d be dead were it not for your son.”

Seconds ticked by as Arthur stared hard at me. “So, you think I should’ve taken my son on as an intern instead?”

I sighed and shook my head. “No. I believe that neither of them are prepared for the dangers of military life.”

“I’m afraid it’s a bit too late for that,” he replied. “Nikolai has already begun military training. He’s no longer your responsibility, Caesar.”

I shrugged, resigning from this futile argument. “You’re absolutely right. He’s yours now. And I hope you feel the weight of his life in your hands.”

The general pondered this for a few moments, narrowing his eyes. “I assure you, Director, the Candida boy is in a much safer place now.”

I snorted “A safer place? What other place is safer than here at the Dome?”

Arthur barked a humorless laugh. “From your perspective, you probably do believe that the Dome is an impenetrable safe-haven. But let me remind you that it’s not. While you’re down here sitting pretty, taking the military protection for granted, the vampires could choose to lay siege. How much food do you have on hand to keep the school going if they decided to bar off your entrance? What if they found out how to sever your electricity? They could crack the Dome and cause its depressurization, drowning all of you except for the mermaids,who they’d simply wait for as they eventually came to the surface.”

These were valid concerns that I had heard several times over the years. And until recently, the argument had been that the vampiresdidn’tknow the location of the Dome. But that had changed. Kendall Green had revealed everything to Hadrian.

Yet, I couldn’t let that kind of mindset poison the school. If things ever got to the point of such danger, we would evacuate.

Arthur sighed heavily. “Look, Caesar. The Candida boy has my protection. I swear it to you, and I’ve sworn it to Paskal and Nadia. Now, may we move on to the topic that has brought me here?”

“Of course,” I conceded with a single nod, relieved that the general wasn’t continuing his verbal attack of the Dome further.

“It’s about Arya and the prophecy.”

My heart skipped a beat at Arthur’s words, and my mouth went dry. I picked up the glass of water on my desk and sipped at it. “Go on.”

“It has come to my attention that the girl is indeed the siren of the prophecy.”

I blinked. “Has it now? There are some within the Dome that think such an idea is merely a projection of desire.”

“That might be so,” he said, “but what do you think?”

I considered telling him that I didn’t know yet, that all that had been revealed about Arya was that she wasasiren, not necessarilythesiren. But I didn’t believe that.

“I believe she’s the prophesied siren,” I confessed at last.

“Then you must also believe that her training must be fast-tracked,” said Arthur.

I smiled. “Great minds think alike. I’m personally seeing to her training. I’ve also tasked Celeste with one-on-one instruction, as well as our lead harpy, Maya Heather.”

Arthur returned my smile. “While I’m glad to hear that, I’ve come to request that I take over her training.”

My smile faded. “That is absolutely out of the question.”

Arthur gave a heavy sigh. “Caesar, her fate is no longer a school issue. It is military. If the only way we can defeat Hadrian is through her, I need to oversee her training personally. Yesterday. I need to know what she is capable of.”

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