Page 88 of Cruel Destinies

Might as well finish Christmas shopping, I justified as I stomped up the steps from the tunnel. The city buzzed with the activity of last-minute shoppers, and I quickly merged into the crowd.

I couldn’t explain why I’d felt compelled to leave. I’d felt frantic and on edge, and I guess I’d hoped the distance and distraction would offer some clarity about what to do about this curse.

And, in truth, I really did need to buy Arya a Christmas gift. This would be our first big holiday as an official couple, and I’d be a major douche if I didn’t get her anything. I wanted to get her something perfect.

When I walked past the alley—the alley,the one where Arya, Niko, Ashlyn, and I were attacked by those vampires—I paused. It was such a drastically different memory, but it also intruded on my thoughts more often than I would like. It felt like it happened just yesterday. It felt like it happened a hundred years ago.

When the hair at the back of my neck stood on end, I had that very familiar, very disconcerting feeling I was being watched. I resumed walking and resisted the urge to look behind me. It was probably just PTSD, but part of me swore I saw some shadows shrink just then.

Quickening my steps, I rounded a corner I hadn’t intended to. Vampires couldn’t come out during the day, anyway.

I felt every bit the hypocrite. My own words about Arya stupidly leaving the Dome rang in my ears.Whatever!Go and get yourself killed!

At least Arya had Ashlyn—and the witch—with her when they’d left the Dome for their “girl’s day out.” Not that Ashlyn was the most reliable protection, but she had handled herself well in the alley and could’ve at least called for help if something happened.

Here, today, in the middle of Chicago, I was alone.

Then I swore I heard a gunshot, but decided it was more of my paranoid imagination. Still, without another thought, I dialed Brett, thinking he’d be the more available friend. The call went straight to voicemail.

I tried Niko next, who answered on the first ring.

“Can you get away from Arthur for a few hours?” I asked.

There was a pause. “I think so,” Niko said. “He shut himself in Caesar’s office again for phone calls or something. I’ve been counting ceiling tiles for the past half hour, which is code for wandering the school because Arthur doesn’t seem to care what I’m actually doing.”

None of that surprised me. I’d experienced both extremes growing up. Either Arthur had his attention focused on me like a microscope, watching every minuscule movement and showing distaste if one strand of my hair disobeyed, or he was too busy with other things that he didn’t care whether I wasdoing my algebra homework or practicing my fireballs in the master walk-in-closet.

“Meet me in the city?” I asked. “M Burger at Water Tower Place?”

“Yup,” was all Niko said before hanging up.

I requested an Uber, then when I arrived at M Burger ahead of Niko, I ordered two Chicago doubles and two orders of jalapeno cheese fries. The loudspeaker playedSilver Bellswhen Niko joined me, and we ate in near silence until we’d finished.

“Since when does Tobias Dracul go to a mall?” Niko asked, discarding his tray.

I eyed him as I dumped mine and wondered if the news of mine and Arya’s relationship had spread across the Dome yet. It was only a matter of time. Niko wasn’t technically a student anymore, but he’d still spent plenty of time at school as of late. I shoved my hands into my coat pockets and led the way towardshopping.

“Since I suddenly found myself with a girlfriend to buy for.” I ducked my head, almost in embarrassment. I wasn’t sure what the right emotion was in this situation. It was an awkward way to announce I had a girlfriend.

I was so completely out of my element.

Niko punched me in the arm. “Congrats, man,” he said, though his tone sounded less than enthusiastic.

“It’s Arya,” I said, as if clarifying would change Niko’s reaction.

His eyebrows pinched, and he leaned away from me. “I know.”

My shoulders lifted. “You don’t sound thrilled.”

“It’s just...” he paused. “I saw Ashlyn this morning.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. She’d been training and had her hair all up in those...fierycurls.”

I suspected Niko had different adjectives in mind, but didn’t mention it. “I thought you broke up with her.”

“I did. I figured it was for the best, since I was leaving.”

---