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“Easy. The dental-sealer device.”

I gave him a confused look. “Every dorm room has one of those. All of our students use it twice a year, and you’ve completely eliminated the need for dentistry at the school, allowing healers to focus on other things. It’s one of the best preventative health machines you’ve ever created.”

Kai swept a clandestine glance around the empty hallway that ran between the Military Training Room and the Research Lab, as if making sure we were alone. “You want to know a secret? I haven’t used it in years.”

I snickered. “You probably have a mouthful of cavities.”

“I’d rather take the cavities than haveeverythingI chew on feel like it’s made of rubber.”

I shrugged, shaking my head. “It takes a few days to get used to the extra bounce. But I don’t even notice it now.”

“It’s wonderful to know you are so adept at…adapting,” Kai said, stumbling over the impromptu tongue twister. “But me? I could never get used to that rubber feeling. And I won’t lie, Caesar. I’m having a hard time staying confined to The Dome. I’ve been here for years. Don’t get me wrong, this alliance of shifters is needed, and I’m grateful for it.”

“You’re wanting to leave?” I discerned.

The kitsune bobbed his head from side to side. “Notleaveleave. More of a change of pace.”

“Like what?”

Kai stopped in his tracks, causing me to do the same. I turned around to face him.

“I’m a master inventor,” he said, as if the title were something as easily worn as a pair of shoes. “And I teach math.”

“You’re an invaluable resource in both capacities,” I agreed.

Kai shook his head, a longing in his eyes as he looked down at the floor. “It’s not enough. I want more.”

I studied him for a few moments.

“You want my job?” I asked, half teasing, half serious. “Because it is all yours.”

Kai’s brow furrowed. “No, no, no. I don’t want your job. I can barely direct myself, let alone an entire school.”

“What is it you want?” I asked, all teasing gone.

Hesitating, Kai took a nervous look behind him. The hall was still empty. “Do you ever miss it?”

I blinked. “Miss what?”

“The frontlines, Caesar. Are you really going to make me spell it out? I miss the vampire fights. The need to protect our people.”

I suddenly felt tired and old. “Kai, those days are long over.”

“Maybe for you,” Kai replied. “And I understand your reasoning and your guilt.”

Guilt?

I set my jaw. Kai was referring to my broken promise seven years ago. The promise I’d made to my parents not to join the military forces. A promise that, when broken, had resulted intheir deaths. I had abandoned my arms that day and vowed to find a different way to defeat Hadrian that didn’t require my sweat and blood on the battlefield. And here I was. School Director.

And apparently, vampire-spy-coordinator.

“Look, all I’m asking is that you think about transferring me to the military. My team of engineers is more than capable of taking over the school’s projects. And if you find the time to look at the schematics I sent you a couple of days ago, you’ll see that I’m the perfect candidate to manage the vampire tracking system for the military.”

I exhaled slowly, my teeth closed and my cheeks puffing out. I knew Kai hadn’t meant to aggravate me. But the wounds produced by the loss of my parents were easily reopened.

“I went over the schematics last night,” I said at last. “They look good, and I believe Celeste will be willing to fund the prototypes. But just because I approve of this, doesn’t mean I’ll approve a transfer to the military.”

Kai frowned, the wind clearly out of his sails.