Page 49 of Saving Destiny

“Your grandmother’s choice of guardians shared similarities with yours. There was a vampire, a shifter, and two mages.” The goblin says the last while frowning in Kodi’s direction. I suppose Kodi would have been classified as a mage before he died, but I doubt he would have lived to adulthood if his powers were as Zosia claimed. The alpha shifters wouldn’t have stood for it.

“Is the second one from the left the shifter?” I ask as I turn my attention back to the photo.

“He is.”

My chest puffs with pride for no reason at all. The man I pointed out appears bulkier than the other guardians. His ebony skin glows with a strange color under the unforgiving photographer’s bulb, but this doesn’t classify him as a shifter. Do we recognize our kind? Is this how Avery knew?

The goblin waves his hand and the page turns by itself. The images turn into paintings, but they are as intricately detailed as the photo and almost more realistic for their bright colors. Nothing seems remarkable enough to notice as we scan the next three images. The clothes become stranger and there’s more cultural diversity among the guardians, but they are just men. Perhaps this is the reason why their likenesses are in a book instead of on the wall. My alpha nature should bristle at being in the background, but I’ve never desired power despite Addington’s attempts to beat it into me.

“When will Zosia’s picture go on the wall?” Kodi asks as the goblin returns the book to its hidden drawer.

“Now.” Fin replies and claps his square palms. The sound resembles a thunderclap in the small chamber, and my brother jumps in surprise. I might too, but I choose to deny it.

Two photos with matching frames materialize on the bare wall next to Zosia’s mother. They’re so clear that I resist the urge to scan the room for hidden cameras. The first displays Zosia in her wheelchair. Her chin tilts upward, her beautiful hair flows loose around her shoulders, and her expression exudes confidence and intelligence. The second picture is of her sphinx form, and it’s similarly elegant and regal. She sits on her haunches with her bad leg splayed to the side, but her position appears natural. If I didn’t know she was injured, I doubt I would guess by looking at the picture.

While the four men stare with obvious appreciation, Zosia scowls at the first picture of her in the wheelchair. “I despise pictures of myself.”

“You’re more beautiful than I could have imagined,” Avery breathes with apparent awe.

The sphinx’s body jerks, and I gather that she’d forgotten she was still sharing her vision with the vampire. Her ears twitch with agitation and her tail lashes against my shins. I don’t mind.

“The vampire is already mated to you, kitten, and he’s not going to suddenly reject you based on your legs. We are not like the assholes that made you feel less than beautiful.” My tone is calm as I speak to the nervous shifter. I’m not usually the one who soothes anyone’s emotions, but I can’t resist speaking up.

“The shifter has valid points.” Avery’s posture is stiffer than usual; he looks offended that she might think he’d judge her unfairly. “I would add that it doesn’t matter whether we’re mated or not. I’ve told you how I feel. Nothing changes that – especially not the injuries you suffered while being held captive.”

“Duh,” Kodi drawls with an unnecessary eye roll. “Haven’t I been telling you the same thing for years?”

Zosia starts to protest, but Fin interjects smoothly. “This concludes your tour of the arcane floor. Gilly is waiting downstairs for you, librarian, and Duggar shall continue the instruction of your guardians.”

“Wait!” Zosia calls before Fin disappears. “I have one more question. When will my guardians’ pictures go into the book?”

“Once you’re fully bonded of course,” the goblin replies and his tone resembles Kodi’sduhfrom a second ago. “We could add them one at a time, but it’s better to wait and include them all.”

“Signing the contract doesn’t make us fully bonded?” I ask the question because I know Zosia won’t. Her fluttering wings and twitching ears indicate embarrassment. I have an idea of what beingfully bondedentails, but I still have questions. Has Avery earned his place already? Is that what the mate mark means? Fin doesn’t appear inclined to explain.

“Zosia knows the way of it.” The goblin imparts the riddle and herds us from the small room with gestures and unnecessary wing flaps. The arched doorway disappears into a blank wall the moment we exit.

I linger behind the rest of the group alongside my brother. His silence has me worried. “Bren?” The way I say his name is a question he’s familiar with.

My brother frowns but his glance toward me includes direct eye contact, which is encouraging. “’The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it.’ Monson.” He adds the quote’s author absently, and I wonder whether I’ve lost him again. He’s been rambling about time since his first visit to the top floor, and I don’t know why. I’m scared to ask because his farseeing abilities give him a different relationship with time than the rest of us.

We reach the stairs and slip on our shoes, and it feels strange to have them back on. Zosia is already gliding through the air as if she can’t wait to get back downstairs, but I wonder if she’s fleeing our questions. Kodi floats silently alongside her and Avery is already halfway down the stairs.

I glance at my brother and clear my throat to get his attention. “Thank you,” I say, but it comes out as a rough growl. Just like apologizing, Addington didn’t encourage gratitude. The foreign sentiment draws my brother’s full focus.

“For what?”

I scowl because it’s uncomfortable to put emotions into words. Instead of looking at Bren, I watch Zosia wing gracefully from side to side. The library provides her with air currents; I recognize the way her wings tilt even if I can’t feel it beyond the balcony. My griffin wants to fly with her, but our wingspans wouldn’t fit comfortably within the space. Mine is nearly twice the size of hers.

I force my gaze back to my brother when it’s clear that I’m deliberately stalling. “I think I’ve been looking at this all wrong,” I begin uneasily. “The sphinx is my griffin’s mate and being here allows me to shrug off Addington’s control, but I haven’t considered how important our roles are until now. The men’s pictures might be confined to a drawer, but it’s our responsibility to ensure that the only sphinx in existence stays safe and carries on her lineage. I’m honored to be included, but I wouldn’t be here if not for you. I haven’t given you enough credit, and I’m sorry I’m just now realizing it.”

Bren sighs heavily; it’s not the reaction I expected. “I wish I could reassure you that you’re right, Rhett, and I want you to be right. Ever since this morning, I’ve been thinking about what Fin told me …. The future depends on the present and the path needs to be strong. But then … he started talking about extinction.”

Something foreign pierces my chest. Fear? “What are you talking about?”

“We’ve already guessed that our genetics were altered with the experiments Addington and Walthers executed. What if their tampering is the reason the sphinx lineage stops?”

I stare at him, unblinking, and he stops. I halt a step lower than him and the height difference almost brings us to eye-level. “Keep going,” I growl.

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