Page 41 of Cruel Destinies

Again, I nodded, then pulled my fork out of the napkin wrapping. The prongs sunk easily through the cream and pie.

“I thought we should meet to update each other on what’s been going on,” Julian continued.

“And Hadrian’s okay with this meetup?” I raised the first bite of pumpkin pie to my mouth. The spices made for a taste explosion, and I closed my eyes and savored the flavor.

As my eyelids opened, I found Julian looking at me with bored annoyance.

“Of course Hadrian’s not okay with this,” he replied. “I’ve been assigned a solo mission here in Chicago, which explains why I can meet with you without him knowing.”

I gave him an impressed look. “A solo mission? You must be moving up Hadrian’s ranks at break-neck speed.” I took another glorious bite.

“He’s simply using me for my ability to walk in daylight,” he said with a shrug. “But let me start at the beginning. Heaven knows, I have all the time in the world to speak while you satisfy your sweet tooth.”

I grinned between bites. “You know me so well.”

The vampire explained what he’d gone through to be reinitiated into Hadrian’s legion. The torment sounded horrendous, and I had to swallow down a gulp of hot coffee to stop myself from choking on pie when I heard Julian tell his story.

“And I’ve been on a few missions,” Julian said. “I was there during the attack on Arya and her friends.”

The fork I was holding clattered on the table, and I dabbed at my mouth with my napkin. “You were there? And you didn’t warn me?”

Julian tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. “And that wouldn’t have been obvious, right? I was with Hadrian the entire time. He had me on a tight leash and wanted to make sure I really was serious about joining him again.”

“You must have done your job,” I growled. “That attack nearly killed one of my students.”

He studied me with his azure eyes. “I actually didn’t really participate in the fight. Hadrian wasn’t happy with me.”

“And yet he sends you here on a solo mission?” I questioned.

He sighed. “I already told you, I’m here because of my abilities. No doubt it’s another test to prove myself.”

“And what is your mission?” I noticed that I’d consumed most of my delicious slice.

He cleared his throat and hunched over the table. “Hadrian wants me to bring Arya back to him.”

I polished off the last crusty bite and sat back, analyzing the vampire. “That’s it? A simple grab and run?”

Julian nodded.

“She’s a siren,” I said softly. “She’d stop you in a heartbeat if she didn’t want you to take her.”

He chuckled lightly. “If I were planning to kidnap the girl, I’d make sure I’d keep her mouth shut. But I have no intention of taking her.”

I smiled. “I’m glad to hear that. Because this conversation would be heading in a very different direction if you were making such plans.”

Julian blinked. “I’m still on your side, Caesar. But this is a test I will ultimately fail, and Hadrian has already informed me of the punishment I will suffer for returning empty-handed.”

I sipped my coffee, then placed the cup back on the table. “What do you propose we do?”

“Well, if she is the prophesied siren you think she is, I say we storm Heritage Prep Academy with everything you’ve got and get Arya to end Hadrian and his reign.”

A bombardment of feelings struck me, but mostly shock. “A full-on assault on the vampire fortress?”

Julian shrugged. “Why prolong it? If the prophecy is true, why would you want to wait? To let Hadrian become even more powerful?”

“The girl needs training,” I said. “And we’re working on that.”

“You said it yourself,” he replied. “Arya’s a siren. She can command anybody she wants to at any time. That includes Hadrian. Drill a hole in that fucking place and force Hadrian out, then let Arya do her thing.”

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