Chapter 30 Caesar

The world was a blur.

Conversations fluttered around me, muddled and muted. My mind couldn't concentrate as I packed a bag—the same bag I used almost a week ago when I traveled to Canada in search of gryphons.

The trip had been a failure, at least in its intended purposes, but it had brought me closer to a witch and a vampire, two beings that shifters hated above all others.

This was the reason we were at war. Not because vampires were pure evil and witches were untrustworthy. It was because no one was willing to trust each other. But if there was anything I had learned, it was that we were stronger together.

I might have failed to share that knowledge with my fellow shifters as Director of the Dome, but I wasn't done fighting yet.

Pulling the zipper around the last of my belongings, I looked up at Igneaus Summers, the Shifter Politics and Phoenix Mastery teacher. "I need to speak with someone before I go."

Igneaus looked down his nose at me as if I was inferior to him. At this moment, it was hard to believe those same eyes had ever regarded me with respect.

"Lord Dracul is allowing you to say your goodbyes," Igneaus said. The other four shifters from the military were present, staring at me with expressions of contempt. "We will escort you to whoever you desire to speak with. But know that the more people you speak to, the more likely it is that word will get out about your traitorous actions."

I had been around the school long enough to know that word of my vampire dealings would get out in no time at all. There would be grand speculations about my involvement with the blood suckers. Rumors would likely spread that I'd had a hand in Hadrian's attack on Arya and her friends. I was only glad I wouldn't be around to hear any of it.

"How gracious," I deadpanned. "Will you send for Arya Walker?"

The phoenix shifter tilted his head and studied me. "Of all the people in the school, you desire to speak to a student?"

I nodded. "If she's the only one I get to speak to before I leave, I'll consider that enough."

Igneaus didn't immediately respond but continued staring at me as if debating whether or not he should send for Arya.

"Please," I said, injecting humility into my tone. "There are things I've been meaning to tell her."

Igneaus sighed heavily. "I don't think General Dracul would approve of such a visit." He held up a finger. "But...like Celeste said, you've done a lot for the shifter world. If this is the last time you get to talk to her, then I'll see it done."

I nodded in thanks. At least my years of dedication and loyalty had amounted to something.

He tapped rapidly on his smartwatch and looked back at me. "I sent her an emergency summons." His watch blinked with a green light, indicating she was on her way.

"Thank you," I said, taking one last look around the room I had called home for the last seven years.

A moment later, the door of my quarters flung open, making me jump and spin in that direction. The five military shifters leaped protectively in front of me, taking defensive stances.

Over their bulky shoulders, I saw a seething Kai, his chest rising and falling rapidly, and his face flushed a wild crimson.

"What the hell is going on here?"

"Mr. Inari—" Igneaus started.

"Don't Mr. Inari me, you fire-spitting pigeon. Has the shifter world gone mad? First, one of our greenhouses gets destroyed, and now Caesar gets ousted for supposed vampire dealings?"

"Watch your tongue, Kai," Igneaus cautioned. "That kind of disrespect will not be tolerated here at the Dome."

"Respect?" Kai replied incredulously. "Do you honestly think I care about respect right now? The greatest shifter of our time is being thrown out of the one place that needs him the most. Well, if you throw him out, I'm going with him."

My heart swelled at hearing my life-long friend speaking so boldly. Kai and I had been through so much together. We'd bled together, killed together, lost loved ones together. Our shared trauma had made us brothers, but as much as I loved him in that moment, I didn't want to risk him getting incriminated right alongside me.

"Kai, don't do this," I said softly, even as I threw him an appreciative look. "The school needs you."

Kai whirled on me, pushing through the soldiers that were each easily twice his size. "Don't even start. Lord Dracul is the last person I'd ever work for. Can you imagine me having to report to his resting dick face on a daily basis? No. I've already submitted my resignation, and I've packed my bags. I'm coming with you."

My heart warmed and broke at the same time as I looked sadly into my friend's eyes. I knew there was no changing his mind, and maybe this would be a good thing. But was Kai really willing to follow me where I was going?

"Kai, are you sure you want to do this?" I asked. "While I appreciate the gesture, I'm not sure you're prepared to follow me this time."

He gripped my upper arms firmly. "Brother, there is no place I wouldn't follow you, whether it's a brothel in Tijuana or the pits of Hell."

I laughed, remembering that unfortunate misadventure in recruiting our current Mao Mastery teacher, Vauna Vex.

"Besides, it's already done," Kai added.

Igneaus had pulled out his phone and was flicking his finger as he read. "The poor fool's right! He's no longer listed as an active teacher."

"Which means your military tech will be going down in quality," Kai quipped, and I couldn't help but smirk.

A small cough came from just behind the seething kitsune, and my eyes fell on the next visitor.

"Arya!" I said, painting a smile on my face. It was harder than I expected. "Come in, come in."

Her eyes were red like she'd been crying recently, and her hair had been thrown into a messy ponytail, with strands jutting out this way and that. She looked tired and hunched over as if she were carrying a bag of bricks on her back. And metaphorically, she was.

Kai stepped to the side, and Arya timidly entered the hostile space. Her anxiety was justified: she'd been summoned to a room containing five military soldiers.

"Igneaus," I said, turning to the lieutenant general. "One last favor. May I have a moment alone with Arya?"

Igneaus shook his head. "You heard General Dracul's orders, Caesar. We're supposed to keep tabs on you until you've left the Dome."

I sighed. "That's why I'm asking you as a friend, not a prison guard. It will only take a moment, and then I'll be out of your hair for good."

He mulled it over for a moment, chewing his bottom lip. "Five minutes. You get five minutes with the girl, and then you're done."

"Sir," one of the other soldiers—the naga—said, "I must question such an allowance. General Dracul explicitly—"

"It's not an allowance, Captain Bender," Igneaus growled. "It's an order."

The four shifter soldiers saluted, then spilled out of the room. Igneaus followed behind them but turned around once he reached the door's threshold. "Your time starts now."

I nodded, then looked at Kai. "The same goes for you. I'll be done in a bit. Why don't you go and get your things, then come back?"

Kai still looked as if he were ready to shoot volts of electricity at anybody who got too close, but he nodded and swept out of the room, closing the door behind him.

I had to make this quick, but I also had to be gentle with her. The girl looked like she was about to shatter.

"Arya, you seem distraught. Is everything okay?"

Her emotions were so raw, my words seemed to be the final blow to the cracking dam, and she burst into heavy sobs.

Instinctively, I went to her and drew her into an embrace. She stood stiffly but rested her head on my chest as fresh tears soaked into my shirt.

"Hey, it's going to be okay," I said soothingly, both for her sake and my own.

"Nothing is okay," Arya sobbed, shaking her head against my chest.

Did she already know I was leaving? Surely, she wasn't this sad over my departure.

"What's wrong?" I asked softly.

She sniffled. "It feels like the world is falling apart."

I nodded in agreement but didn't vocalize it.

"I'm an ursa," she said as a fresh sob released. "And I destroyed one of the greenhouses. And you're leaving the Dome!" Her body trembled. "And Tobias lied to me."

Her shoulders shook against me, and I held her closer, providing as much comfort as I could. The bit about her being an ursa was something I'd been meaning to discuss with her but hadn't had the time. Ms. Heather had explicitly told me that she needed space and rest as she dealt with her new shift. And Kai had gone off about a greenhouse being ruined—now I knew who the culprit was. As for the general's son...

"Why are you leaving?" she wept. "Is it because of me? You can't handle teaching me anymore?"

"No, of course not," I whispered as I patted down her hair. "Quite the opposite, really."

"Then why?"

I was running out of time.

"I've been forced to leave the Dome for reasons beyond my control," I admitted. "I'm sure you'll hear the rumors soon enough. General Dracul has decided that changes need to be made, and that is why I asked for you to come here to speak with me before I leave."

She stepped back from me and looked up, her eyes shimmering with tears.

"Do not trust Arthur Dracul," I whispered. "He seeks to weaponize you. He doesn't see you as a person. He wants to use you against the vampires, even if it means it ends in your death."

"He's already spoken to me," she said with a nod. "He wants to personally train me every day from now on."

My heart thudded for her obvious angst over the matter.

I sighed. "I'm sure you will learn much. But don't let him own you, and above all, don't let him break you. You are so much stronger than he will ever give you credit for. Don't be afraid to wield that power over him if you need to."

She nodded, then looked up at me with tired, worried eyes. "I don't know if I can do any of this, Caesar. I'm not ready to be a soldier, much less a weapon."

I placed my hand on her shoulder. "I know. Those of us who are called to greatness are never ready for it, and that's how I know you're the most worthy person for the job. I have always believed in you. And I will always be ready to fight by your side."

Her bottom lip trembled, and she sucked it between her teeth.

There was a knock at the door, and Igneaus reentered, along with the other soldiers. "Time's up, Caesar."

I turned hastily back to Arya. "If you ever need me for any reason, my personal contact is in your tablet."

"Now, Caesar," Igneous barked.

"But if all else fails, call Shea," I added in a rush.

"Shea?" she asked as the imposing phoenix marched toward her.

"I'll explain later—"

Igneaus grabbed Arya's upper arm and attempted to drag her out of the room.

"Let go of me!" she snapped, jerking her arm to no avail.

"Stay strong!" I called after her as Igneaus forcefully tugged her through the doorway.

My door closed with resounding finality. I hated leaving her like this. She was our greatest hope for peace in our world, and if Arthur had his way, he'd destroy her before she ever got the chance.

But what choice did I have? My cards had been dealt, and my only option was to play the hand I'd been given.