Page 67 of Saving Destiny

I take advantage of the distraction to study the person beside me. Everything about the stranger appears unnatural. Her hair is either dyed or a wig. Cosmetics mimic the illusion of perfect lighting, but they’re so thick that fine lines weave through the caked structure. I expect her face to crack open, and it’s a horrifying thought.

I don’t understand what she’s wearing. She’s either not wearing the academy uniform, or it’s been altered so drastically that it’s unrecognizable. The skirt is half the length it should be, and the shirt is three sizes too small. She doesn’t appear dressed for an education.

Her magic is similarly strange and off-putting. She’s a mage, but her power seems stale and invasive; it feels like an army of ants crawling all over my body. The fake fingernail is still touching me. I sidestep and my shoulder bumps against the opposite bookcase, but her hand remains. I shake my arm, but that doesn’t work either. Shuddering with revulsion, I use my other hand to grab hers and dislodge it. When I’m free of her, I wipe my hands and my arm on my clothes. I need a shower and a change of clothes.

Touching her has regained her attention. She smiles so widely that I realize her teeth are fake, too; they’re too white and too even to be natural. Her falseness is starting to make me think she’s not human, and I imagine magically powered androids. I think I’ve seen the premise in a movie, but I thought it was ridiculous. That was when I believed tech and magic weren’t compatible. If they’re not truly at odds, the idea isn’t as impossible as I thought.

Her smile falters slightly when she notices the way I’m studying her, but it only lapses for a second. “Your magic feelssooostrong,” she says in a high-pitched whine. Every word feels like an ice pick stabbing my brain. I want to run, but my feet are rooted in place. Zosia and my brother will be disappointed in me if I flee after a few hours, I remind myself for the hundredth time that morning.

“You feel the pull between us, right? Some mages have fated mates, and I’m certain there’s something special about you. I knew it the moment I saw you.”

After exactly five seconds of slack-jawed surprise, a laugh bursts out of me. It’s a rough, abrupt sound and sends a blast of hot air directly into her face. Perhaps the laugh included spit, too, because she flinches backward and pats at her cheek carefully with one of her claws. When her fingers retreat, they’re streaked brown by the colorants on her face. I can’t tell if this embarrasses her because her skin tone and expression remain indecipherable.

I’m so absorbed in thoughts of robots and cracking faces that I almost forget her cruel words. They return to me when I see my brother approach the circulation desk and whisper something to Zo. The sphinx nods. I can’t tell what they’re saying, but Zosia keeps glancing in my direction. I’m positive Garrett could see me from his previous position, too. A jagged edge roughens his actions, and I realize he’s also uncomfortable in this crowd of people. Our former surname protected us in a way; most supes didn’t want to draw Addington’s attention.

The android beside me isn’t the only one who watches my brother prowl across the mostly empty center of the first floor A group of women at one of the tables pretends to research something, but they pay more attention to Garrett and me than the books in front of them. Occasionally, they lean toward each other to whisper and giggle. More often, they frown at their mobile phones and jab angrily at the buttons when they realize they’re not working as they expect.

Avery is included in the group’s perusal until they realize he’s blind. Half lost interest after that, but half didn’t. I’ve wondered about the reasons why. What makes his blindness acceptable for some and not others? Does it depend on the person’s open-mindedness or their motivations and goals?

“Does that behemoth work here too? He’s gone up to wheelchair girl like three times since I came in. I think I know who he is, you know. I’ve met the alpha shifter. You know, the one that controls all of the animals? I think that’s his heir. There’s no way he would work here when he could rule, even if the position is just over some mangy beasts. Why else would he talk to her, though?”

The android beside me shudders dramatically and several things on her person jingle with the movement. “And that vampire? Ugh. He’s so creepy. You know, I think he can see. He just pretends to be blind. Look at the way he moves around; he knows where everything is, so he must be faking it.” She pauses again and gasps. “Maybe the girl is just pretending too. Does she think the wheelchair will earn her sympathy points? I’ve heard that the magicless fake illnesses and pretend to need those leg thingies because they’re lazy and it gets them money from the stupid magicless government. Apocrypha wouldn’t hire someone without magic, right? A supernatural could have healed though. Shehasto be faking.”

The storm inside me rages more violently with every word the woman says. My iron control starts to waver, and my hands shake as I try to grasp hold of it. For the first time in several years, I feel capable of gruesome violence. I suck in deep breaths, trying to remember the breathing exercises Rhett taught me as I scan the area for him. He should be easy to see because he’s so big. Did he ask Zo for a break? Did he leave me all alone? The thought makes my control slip even more.

I should ask for a break. I should walk away. I should have walked away from the cloying scent of this … thing … the first time it dared to touch me. No matter how much I tense my muscles, though, I can’t move my feet; they’re stuck to the wood planks beneath me. A strange hum vibrates from the floor to the top of my head, but I’m too upset to recognize it. I don’t know if it’s the library’s magic or mine.

“Why do you look so funny? Ohh, it must be the pheromones.” The smugness in her tone draws my attention back to her.

Pheromones?

The creature isn’t tall, but her shoes add at least six inches to her height. Her painted smile shines with triumph until she meets my eyes. I know what she sees because I know what they look like right before I lose control of my magic. When I’m bombarded with visions, my eyes appear pastel and pearlescent like opals.

When my wild magic emerges, though, they swirl with the color of that magic – a bright blue. My brother once said they look neon and he saw flashes of lightning in them. The library’s interior light darkens further and the wall sconces flicker on and off, uncertain if they’re supposed to compensate.

The murmur of confused and concerned students barely registers as rage boils through my blood. My magic craves release; it wants to tear this woman apart with lashing wind or set her ablaze with crackling lightning. She has insulted all of my friends, except for the ghost she can’t see, and she’s insinuated that Zosia and Avery are faking their injuries to garner pity. My vision narrows as I focus on my target.

“You don’t have to be so feisty, you gorgeous man. They warned me that the pheromones might create a strong reaction, but you should hold onto all of that wonderful energy until we can be alone. Once we’re free of this horridly boring place and the lower-class rubes, I’ll give you an outlet for that passion inside you. I promise you that I’m worth the wait.” A crackling, annoying sound that might be a laugh escapes her painted lips.

My magic pauses its plans of destructions for a minute while my mind sorts through her words. She doesn’t make sense, and it furthers my suspicion that she isn’t human.

As if it’s perfectly normal for me to be speechless and baffled, she keeps speaking. “I suppose the hormones are confusing, right? They told me one of the side effects might be the inability to form thoughts. Since we’re going to be spending a lot of time together, I suppose I can explain. I didn’t want to come here, but Daddy told me I had to attend classes until I found a decent husband. Since you’re absolutely gorgeous and your magic feels powerful, I think you’ll do perfectly.

“Once we get out of this dingy, forsaken place and complete the second part of the spell, you won’t remember a word I’m saying right now. That’s the most amazing part of this spell that I paid so much money for. It makes you feel drunk, but you’re drunk on me. You’ll wake up and know only one thing – that you’re my mate. I just need you to concentrate and answer one question before we can leave. What’s your family name? It isn’t that important to me, but maybe it’s good if you have your own money. Daddy will want to know your family and he has a bit of a temper, so if he ever cuts me off, I need a back-up source of income.”

Although this entire situation is starting to make sense, I still can’t believe it. She thinks my interest in fucking her is making my magic react? The spell is strong; I almost tell her my former father’s name. My magic is stronger, though, and my anger overrides the impulse. She picked the wrong target when she chose me. I’m also fairly certain that what she’s doing is illegal, but my brain can’t focus on the nuances of magical law at the moment.

She’s still waiting for me to answer her question while I attempt to convert my magic’s wrath into something less catastrophic.

I don’t know if the others are aware of what’s happening, so I send a weak plea to Sage. I’m uncertain whether it will work since I’m not fully bonded, and I can’t talk to Zosia mentally unless she initiates the connection. I don’t want to lose control, especially not on opening day and not inside the library, but I want to hurt this woman. I focus on minimizing the fallout because I’ve never been able to stop my magic once it starts. Maybe if she apologizes ….

“You insulted my mate.” The words are pushed between my clenched teeth and my voice sounds strange, but it’s all I can manage.

Confusion momentarily lights the woman’s strangely colored eyes, but her expression doesn’t change. “Your mate? Oh! You mean the vampire. I thought you might be into guys because you’re so pretty, and the vamp is definitely homo. You can’t be only into cocks or fully mated, though. The spell wouldn’t have done anything if you were either. Don’t worry, pretty boy. I’ll make you forget all about the cock. I can even bite you if that’s what you want.”

Her words ruin my attempt to contain my magic. Every light fixture in the library flickers on, and the sky darkens so thoroughly that it looks like night beyond the dome. I barely notice. How many groups of people can this woman malign? How many more insults will she utter?

Something must distract the woman because she looks away from me and frowns, but the rush of blood in my ears drowns out everything except for the sound of rolling thunder.

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