Page 24 of Gifted Destiny

The shifter makes fighting a supernatural authority sound like another task on our to-do list, but the implications are serious. The library might be a fortress, but she has promised to serve and cooperate with the supernatural community. Closing the library for a significant amount of time requires a very good reason, and defying law enforcement doesn’t qualify.

In the silence that follows, I hear a buzz from the thick copse of trees. A dip into my library knowledge identifies it as the song of katydids and tree crickets. I never heard it in the city, and the lack of traffic noises and boisterous kids sweeten the music.

“We won’t have to fight,” Bren declares with such conviction that my head snaps toward him. “Zosia is right, though. We can’t rely on the contract alone. Actions speak louder than words –which is a quote I don’t have to credit anyone with because it’s become a cliché.”

A smile breaks through the weight of my worry. I adore his quirky quote recitals and look forward to the bite-sized nuggets of wisdom. I belatedly question the quote’s implication. “What actions?”

“I should attempt a transfer tonight, just to be sure.”

As the others gape at him, my brain immediately enters brainstorming mode. “Aren’t there other options? What about calling the BSP? We can ask them if a contract will suffice. We run the risk of getting someone corrupt, but even a tentative answer might help. We don’t have to give them any specifics.”

I don’t mention bonding, even though Tremayne said it would help. I refuse to force Bren into my bed. It’s too similar to what his father did to him. I was ready for Avery in a way that I’m not for Bren – although I can’t explain this intuitivism.

I’m ready for Kodi, my mind whispers. He’ll be the next one in my bed. My memory keeps replaying moments from last night. When my best friend watched me with Avery, his desire had been real rather than an echo of emotion. I’ve loved him for years, and I can handle it if he ghosts during intimacy. Convincing him that I’m okay with the possibility will be the most difficult part.

Garrett’s grunt pulls me from my thoughts. “Tremayne thinks the bureau is less corruptible, but is it? I don’t know much about the shifter detectives except that Addington was irritated when they got in his way. That is probably a good thing.”

“I have not dealt with the Bureau since I arrived at Apocrypha. However, I know the vampires’ stance on the agency. They consider them allies despite their animosity toward shifters. A man I respect once called them the best of the breed and said they have impeccable ethics.” Avery adds. Hemight be a daywalker, but the night clearly favors him. His silver hair shines like starlight, and his skin resembles moonglow.

“My visions are useless right now, but my intuition says a call is worth trying. Who wants to volunteer?”

I shudder dramatically. “Not me. I don’t willingly pick up phones.” The inclination might be one of the only things I share with my generation. Talking on the phone is horrible, but making a call is the worst. I prefer the magical telegram machine that the library uses for inter-academy business.

“I’ll do it. I don’t mind, and it’s good practice as the library’s representative. Being an alpha shifter might also help me determine whether the person we speak to can be trusted. Maybe,” Garrett adds with a shrug. “Phone communication lacks scent or other non-verbal clues. One of the detectives who visited today was definitely shadier. He smelled of desperation.”

“Yes. Detective Parks’ energy was extremely agitated. It’s likely he’s being blackmailed.”

I can’t believe Avery remembers who was who. I referred to them as Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum. Dum must be Parks. “He was suspicious,” I say with a nod. Whether he was blackmailed or bribed doesn’t matter; he’s a threat to the library and Bren.

Now that a decision is made, we can’t stall any longer. The library recalls the remains of our picnic as I haul myself back into my chair, stubbornly ignoring any assistance. When we reach the door leading into the building, Garrett doesn’t pause to ask permission before he hoists me into his arms. I mention the elevator, but it’s a half-hearted attempt that he chooses to ignore. His chest radiates heat, immediately dissolving the slight chill of the evening air, and I burrow into it. No matter how many times he’s carried me, I’ve never worried that he’ll drop me.

We’re both silent on our trip down the stairs, and I imagine we’re contemplating the same worries and doubts. They keep me alert despite my exhaustion and the comfort of Garrett’s arms. I’m vibrating with tension by the time Garrett starts speaking into the handset of the ancient telephone.

I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Bren safe. The alternative is unacceptable.

Chapter 14

Avery

I’ll never look upon the library’s front doors the same way again. My existence was altered in staggering ways when I walked through them a week ago.

It wasn’t the first time. This building has always provided an escape. While here, I could ignore my condescending master and the slurs the other students hurled in my direction. The library helpfully translated every book into Braille, although I rarely had time to appreciate the gift. Regardless of whether I read or wandered the stacks, the building’s calm energy offered restoration and nourishment. I sorely missed it when the doors were closed.

When I returned, everything changed. Passing through the entrance had been like traveling directly into the sun. It wasn’t all hyperbole; Zosia Abram is my sun. She guides my days, fills my nights with promise, and offers me warmth and life.

The sphinx didn’t know me, but she still took me in without hesitation. She severed the contract I’d been attempting to break for over a decade and rescued me from my servitude.

When she trusted me enough to share her body, another miraculous change occurred. Her spun-gold aura became an extension of mine and my connection to the library blossomedinto fruition. Our completed bond isn’t the end but the beginning.

The new tattoo on my back is tangible evidence of what we share, but she’d given me so much more. She’d confronted her deeply held insecurities and permitted me toseeevery minute of our time together with her unique magic. The scent, taste, and feel of her captivated me, but beholding her pleasure enthralled my heart, mind, and body.

I hadn’t doubted my ability to share her, but I also hadn’t considered every implication. In addition to Zosia’s body, her time and attention are also divided. My yearning to spend every night and every minute with her grew after our intimacy, but today’s events clearly defined the situation. It isn’t just the other men. The library and the world need her too.

Distracted by memories of last night, I’d attempted to pacify myself with the depth of our bond. Our souls are now intertwined; only death or tragic betrayal could break the connection. Every pain or worry she unintentionally shares with me is intensified, and not being able to ease her fears is torturous.

I’d also been privy to her relief when Tremayne confirmed Ansel as her father. The hawk shifter possessed a kind heart, and I hadn’t been surprised at the announcement. He’d been one of the few faculty members to show me kindness.

I also wasn’t shocked by the news that Jonathan Addington had courted Zosia’s mother. The alpha shifter wouldn’t have accepted rejection lightly, and Karasi must have known his ire would extend to her child. Ansel was kind but not powerful, and he’d been correct in assuming he wouldn’t have been able to protect her and their child.

---