Page 1 of Gifted Destiny

Chapter 1

Zosia

I’ve finally accepted that my birthright has led me to become the destined librarian to a sentient, magical building that also happens to be one of the wonders of the supernatural world. Knowing this doesn’t ease my fear or overwhelming anxiety, though. My trepidation has less to do with my position and more to do with the men that I’ve gained as my companions.

Job is a bit of a misnomer. This isn’t a mundane occupation, and we aren’t wage slaves. I’m a sphinx and my supernatural abilities make me the only one capable of performing the duties of the position. My guardians and I can’t quit if we get tired of our work because we signed contracts more binding than a marriage vow. Quitting will result in death, and I doubt those deaths would be pleasant. Additionally, our boss’ physical form is the building we live and work in.

My fellow employees are the men I mentioned. My contract’s terms stipulated that I choose four guardians to protect me. While sex isn’t explicitly required, it is implied. The deeper bond created by intimacy will enhance their connection to the library, increase my strength, and make our lives easier.

Somehow, I attracted four unbelievably gorgeous guardians who have almost as much emotional baggage as I do. I like themand desire them despite the complications associated with their involvement. They are irrevocably tied to me, and one of them now faces imprisonment.

Guilt gnaws at me while I watch the strange detectives from the Bureau of Supernatural Phenomenon depart with the rest of the students when the library closes. I didn’t know about the BSP’s existence two weeks ago, but that doesn’t erase their authority. Collapsing into an ugly cry will accomplish nothing good, though. With a sigh, I dutifully concentrate on the tasks required to end my first official workday.

To say that opening day was eventful is an understatement, but the events leading up to it were just as action-packed. Last night, I bonded with my vampire guardian while my ghostly best friend watched. I was ready to lose my virginity and don’t regret a minute of it. While still bathing in the afterglow, however, my shifter guardian told me that his beast considers me his fated mate.And… while I was distracted by the implications of his confession, we learned that his brother has the ability to manipulate the weather. I knew the sweet, absent-minded mage’s brain processes the world differently from most people’s brains. I didn’t know his powers were considered illegal.

While the BSP made this point very clear, their visit might have been provoked. Jonathan Addington, the brothers’ father, harbors a powerful grudge against me and he has considerable influence in supernatural society. He has proven that he will stop at nothing to acquire the library. If the alpha succeeds, he’ll level up from villain to supervillain. In the wrong hands, the library’s power could bring about an apocalyptic catastrophe. Magicless and supernatural humans would suffer similarly, and it would be my fault.

My traumatic history proves Addington isn’t above exploiting children to acquire power. He was the one behind my childhood imprisonment in which I was tortured and nearlykilled. He wanted my magic. Our current working theory is that our enemies use the magical essence they extract from unwilling donors to modify the genetics of magicless and supernatural fetuses.

Escaping Addington’s dungeon would have been impossible without help. I owe my life to my best friend. He sacrificed himself to save me, and someone else hid me among the magicless all the years after. Earlier today, I learned that the unknown ally might be someone I only recently met. He might also be my biological father. After spending nearly a decade in an orphanage, this discovery has rattled me.

Although we haven’t confirmed Ansel’s paternal status yet, we are certain that he’s dying. This is also partially my fault. He agreed to be the interim library custodian and brought me here, but my arrival meant the end of his life. Concentrating on my guilt lessens my worries, but it’s fleeting.

The library’s front doors lock after the last patrons leave, but I can’t relax yet. Ansel and his mentor, the mage Tremayne, remain as our guests. I hope they have answers.

I collapse into my wheelchair, grateful that locking it has become a habit after all these years. Avery prevents my chair from leaving the desk area by crouching in front of me. His unseeing gaze doesn’t meet mine, but I appreciate his efforts. Being eye-level with everyone’s chests is annoying.

Although our night together wasn’t accidental, I didn’t realize it would have such lasting effects. The night created a mate bond, giving us tattoos and creating a shimmering link that only we can see. It resembles a tangible thread in my magical sight and it allows us access to each other’s emotions. It also enhances his ability to communicate with the library.

“Zosia?” My vampire mate’s silver gaze conveys compassion and worry. He can’t see how close I am to falling apart, but he can feel it.

My hand trembles when I reach to grasp his, and I’m glad he’s the only one close enough to see. “I’m all right, Avery. Today was just ….” My voice trails away because I can’t put it into words. He doesn’t bother trying to finish my sentence or question me further because it’s not in his nature. He’s calm, patient, and rational, even though he was raised as an outcast. His experience didn’t make him bitter or resentful, unlike others I know.

The specific one I’m thinking of hovers several feet in the air above the circulation desk. Kodi’s handsome gray face displays a worried frown. “Are you freaking out, princess?” The ghost lacks tact, manners, and patience.

“No.” The library’s power reveals to both of my companions that my answer is a blatant lie. Sage, also known as the library, flags dishonesty between my guardians and me. Thankfully, it goes both ways.

“And I’m happily alive,” Kodi deadpans. His sarcastic tone is a perfect example of the aforementioned bitterness.

I sigh loudly. “I’m not exactly freaking out,” I whine. “Besides, the students are gone and the door is locked. I’m officially off duty, which means I’m allowed to freak out.” I tilt my chin up and glare at my best friend.

Kodi’s eyes gesture to our remaining guests without moving his head. I know him so well that a single glance can deliver a pointed statement, and he has a point. I duck my head to rub the persistent throbbing behind my eyes.

We still don’t know if we can trust them, especially after Ansel revealed the possibility of his parentage in a classic Star Wars move. Tremayne is supposedly the only professor on campus who is allied with us and not our enemies, but this is hard to prove.

I want to trust them. Ansel understands what I’m going through. He brought me here; he knows about my childhood, and he evidently knew the family I never met.

The library chose the campus of Apocrypha Academy as its location, but Addington and his minion, Walthers, have bribed or blackmailed every faculty member, according to Ansel. The shifter is on the brink of death, and we’ll have no one we can trust beyond ourselves if Tremayne doesn’t fit the bill. Sage must trust him a little if she’s allowed him to stay past closing; she’s usually fanatical about rule enforcement.

The mage, who resembles a popular fantasy book wizard, just saved our asses too. He’d helped me deflect the bureau’s questions and he’d given me clues about the organization without calling attention to my ignorance. I knew nothing about the BSP’s authority, jurisdiction, or interrogation skills. They can separate truth from lies, and they’d wanted to leave with Bren. My mage guardian might have influenced the weather, but he’d been unfairly provoked. Closing time had saved us for the moment. If they’d managed to question Bren, they would have taken him. We have a short reprieve and the night to formulate a plan. The detectives promised to return when we reopen.

Before I greet our guests, I perform a mental sweep of every interior nook and cranny. Spies are a risk we can’t take. My senses reassure me that no one is trying to evade our magical security. The gargoyles that guard the exterior of the building confirm this.

The library goblins are currently hiding because Tremayne doesn’t have a contract with Sage; they are extremely particular about who can see them. I amuse myself by pondering how the BSP would classify the strange creatures. The library itself is considered an accepted phenomenon and not under the bureau’s jurisdiction, but Bren’s volatile magic affected the atmosphere above and around the building. Even if this hadn’tcaught their attention, I’m sure Addington put pressure on them to investigate. He wouldn’t have allowed the opportunity to slip past him, and I suspected that he instigated the incident in the first place.

Tears of anger and frustration fill my eyes at the reminder. “Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum are coming back. What if they take Bren away?” My words are a whisper, but they still bring Bren out of hiding. I’d sent him to the archive room. The room is hidden from the patrons’ sight by a bookcase but close enough to the circulation desk that he could hear everything.

“I won’t let them take me, little lioness,” Bren says. The library is uncertain whether he’s lying or not, and my concern increases.

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