Page 9 of Saving Destiny

The rest of the property is no less impressive despite its lack of turrets and towers. Everything is constructed of thick stone blocks that crawl with ivy, and the magnificent stained-glass windows remind me of medieval architecture. The library doesn’t possess the only gargoyles, but my instincts tell me that the others are just decorations. Only the library's statues can move.

As I view the campus, the library provides me with information about it. Two of the buildings function as student housing. They’re less ornate and designed for function over beauty. The ordinary, rectangular edifices are plain and almost ugly when compared to the classroom buildings.

Matching the gargoyles’ bird’s-eye views with the glimpses I saw as we drove onto the campus helps me form a map within my mind. The classroom buildings are separated into Houses, which makes me wonder if a certain British author stole the idea. Supernaturals are sorted by their powers and species rather than their characteristics. The House of Beasts is for shifters, the House of Magic for mages, and the House of Others for the vampires and Fae. The latter appears smaller, but the library informs me that it extends under the ground. Several basement floors serve as quarters and classrooms for the vampires.

The only other large building hosts the community facilities, such as a gym and a cafeteria. I may be biased, but I think that the library is the most imposing and beautiful building of all despite its relatively plain exterior. Its inherent magic increases its visual appeal.

Bren squeezes my hand, and I refocus on my goal. It’s a simple matter to find Kodi if I concentrate on the ache in my chest that represents our straining bond. A magical string of energy that’s nearly invisible leads me to the ghost suspended in the sky beyond the House of Others. Kodi's coloring makes him look like a man-shaped cloud; his facial features are blank but pained.

I squeal aloud when a massive beast joins Kodi in the air. I almost jerk away from Bren with surprise, but his touch keeps me anchored.

“It’s just Garrett,” the mage says with smugness and amusement. Both reactions are reasonable.

“That’s Garrett?” My words are breathless as my shock morphs into wonder and disbelief. The past week has overflowed with new experiences and startling revelations; this is simply one more to add to the list. Stars above, though, he's gorgeous. I’ve never seen a griffin before. They’re rare and elusive, and their magic makes them impossible to photograph or film.

“In this way, sphinxes are similar,” the library informs me.

I barely hear her because I’m still studying Garrett with embarrassing single-minded fascination. I’ve only seen drawings that can’t hold a candle to the reality. He’s half lion like me. Where I am human, however, the shifter is avian. All of the myths and drawings portray eagles, but the resemblance is slight. I think his avian half might be an unknown or nonexistent – in our world – species. His massive beak curves and tapers into a brutal point and horns jut from his skull. They shimmer with a black brightness similar to obsidian and end in deadly points.

His wingspan might measure twice the size of mine, but it’s probably just for proportion's sake. Our wings don’t actually keep us aloft – magic is required for that – they assist with flight trajectory and speed modulation. The griffin’s feathers are thicker than mine and layered in several rows. While mine are predominately gold, his are a mix of darker browns and reds. The underside of those feathers appears mostly white, and I assume the lighter color camouflages him from below when he’s flying.

My sphinx form has four lion-like legs, but only Garrett’s hind legs are mammalian. His feathered front legs end in bird’s feet, and he possesses wickedly sharp talons formed of the same obsidian material as his horns. The transition between feathers and fur appears seamless from this distance.

“Isn’t he beautiful?” Bren asks.

I nod because the ability to speak has abandoned me. Either the gargoyle’s vision is superb enough to recognize the frustration in Garrett’s dark eyes, or the bond between us transmits the emotion. I assume the griffin has just realized what I did earlier – he can’t physically touch the ghost and drag him back to safety. He hovers next to Kodi’s unresponsive body, occasionally flapping his wings to examine the ghost from another angle.

It’s only after my obsession with the griffin falters that I notice a second trail of magic extending from Kodi’s form. One led me to him; it's a familiar thread of magical energy that binds him to his contract, the library, and me. The second pulses with foreign magic and isn't gold and sparkly. It's the worst color of greenish-yellow that reminds me of sickness and toxic chemicals. I follow the leash to its origin, which happens to be a window on the second story of the House of Magic.

I will the gargoyle to peer inside, but the sun glints off the glass and creates a reflective barrier. I’d bet money that Walthers or Addington is on the other side, controlling the tether’s leash.

A flash of silver captures my attention. Avery stands at the bottom of the steps leading into the building. I’ve rarely seen his demeanor as anything but calm, but his frustration matches Garrett’s. An audience of young adults has formed nearby, probably students. They gawk and point at the massive griffin. Some attempt to film him or take photos with their cell phones, but I doubt they’ll catch anything but sky. Unless the tether makes him visible, no one can see Kodi. As if sensing his lethality, the onlookers toss the vampire wary looks and give him a wide berth.

“They can’t touch Kodi. He appears unconscious,” I mutter as my frustration starts to turn into helplessness. I don’t need to tell Bren this if he can see everything I see, but it helps to say it aloud.

Bren’s hands squeeze mine reassuringly. “Tell them to go inside and disrupt the magic’s source.”

“How?” I’m uncertain whether I’m asking the mage how to communicate with them or how to stop the pull of magic, but he answers the former.

“You’re connected to all of your guardians just like you’re connected to the library. Our names are beside yours in the book, Zosia. Tell them.”

“Avery?”The mental query is weak and tentative as I concentrate on my vampire guardian. I speak to him the same way I speak to Sage.

Once I say his name and focus on him, I see another trail of magic; it connects Avery to me and the library just like Kodi’s string. This one is a golden color with hints of blue that reminds me of chrome. My request vibrates along the thread like it’s a guitar string. It seems ridiculous, but the comparison makes sense. When Avery signed the contract book, he wrote his name in blood. We're all connected through the book, and the few drops of his life’s blood provide a guide, like a microchip tracker or a trail of breadcrumbs. I pluck the string with more effort and repeat his name.

The vampire jerks with surprise before smiling with pleasure.“Zosia?”He acts as though communicating in this manner is perfectly normal. I follow his example even though my success startles me. I’m uncertain whether Bren can hear us or sees the vampire’s reaction, but he makes a small sound of encouragement.

“Can you see the magic leash … tether ... thingamajig?”I honestly have no idea what to name it, and I wince with embarrassment. Bren chuckles, but it sounds empathetic rather than mocking. I start over.“I can see a glowing string of magic that leads from Kodi into the second-story window of the building you’re standing in front of. The entrance is three stone steps above you. Whoever is trying to leash Kodi is behind that window. Since no one can touch Kodi ....”

My mental babble trails into silence because Avery is already moving. The building’s steps must be constructed of very little organic matter because he moves slowly at first. Once he’s inside the structure, the gargoyle can’t see him any more, so I can only watch and wait while nervousness assaults me

Can our enemies tether the vampire, too? Did I just send another of my guardians into danger?

Chapter 6

Avery

I’m startled but not surprised when Zosia speaks directly into my mind. She has become an integral part of my life, and the progression of our relationship feels natural. Telepathy is a gift often shared by ancient vampire mates and shifter packs; it helps them protect their homes and each other. It would have been an insult if we couldn’t acquire the same skill.

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