Page 47 of Gifted Destiny

“Zo, you should try to send the image without touching. I think you can do it now that you’re bonded. It’s probably similar to mental speech.”

“I guess I can try.” I frown with uncertainty, hoping that I don’t send Avery a random stream of consciousness. At least I know that my thoughts are safe with my vampire. “Kodi, take off your shirt.”

“Right away, Your Highness.” Kodi accompanies the husky, suggestive tone with a devilish grin. My body heats per his intention because the lust I feel helps him solidify. His body drops rapidly, like an astronaut suddenly encountering Earth’s gravity. The fall from several feet in the air draws a squeal from him.

Garrett snorts a laugh, clearly amused.

“Well, that’s new,” Kodi murmurs quietly, ignoring the shifter. When his new leather boots are resting flat on the floor, he shakes off his surprise and pulls off his shirt.

I study the design intently while also concentrating on broadcasting the image to Avery. I assume my experiment works when the vampire’s jaw drops open.

“Wow, that’s a …very large … tattoo.” The lack of amusement in Garrett’s comment pricks my joyful mood. I want to pry into the meaning behind his tone, but Avery interjects.

“It works!” The vampire crows with triumph and strides toward me. His lips find mine without hesitation, and his hot, firm kiss leaves me breathless. After he pulls away, I pant andreach for the glass of water. What was I doing before? I can’t even remember.

When Bren nearly chokes on a bite of his breakfast, I see that Kodi has reverted to ghost form. His shirt is somewhere between half-on and half-off.

I can’t hide a giggle as Kodi’s face contorts into a look of intense concentration. “Screw you guys.” Kodi throws us a dirty look and escapes to his room, but access to his emotions reveals that the anger is mostly for show.

I eat a few bites of food as I contemplate whether to confront Garrett or talk to Bren. Ultimately, I decide that the shifter’s moods can wait. “Are you worried about this morning, Bren?” For a few blissful moments, I’d forgotten our impending trials.

Bren’s dark hair flops to the side as he shakes his head. “Nope. The transference worked, so they won’t catch me in a lie or uncertainty regarding the contract.” His pale green gaze connects briefly with mine before flitting away. “It won’t be long before I’ll have to do another. Kodi can only take as much as I gave him, so I need to give the library more.”

I take another bite, but the taste doesn’t register as I nod with understanding. “I suppose a bond would help you release more power.” Bren doesn’t meet my gaze again, and it makes my smile shaky. “Will you let me know when you think you’re ready?”

“When he’s ready to fuck you? Because you need to fuck him to get his power?” Garrett’s growl vibrates the table and everything on it.

I almost cower out of habit and years as a magicless nobody, but my sphinx won’t permit me. I meet the shifter’s gaze with blazing fury and a growl that matches his own. I send a silent command to Avery, and he obeys even as fury flares in his aura. Within seconds, he and Bren are gone, and we are alone.

Along our bond, Kodi asks a wordless question. I reassure him this is my fight before refocusing my attention on theshifter. I don’t need to match his height or mass because my anger fuels my power.

“Say what you need to say, Garrett Kennard.” I hiss his name like a curse and set my face in a mask of deadly calm. He could easily snap me in half, but I don’t care. His comments were out of line, and he ruined the first good mood I’ve managed to maintain for more than a couple minutes. This conversation should have happened days ago, but it didn’t. Now, he needs to beg for my forgiveness.

Chapter 22

Garrett

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I didn’t mean to say the words aloud. I shouldn’t have thought them. I woke up in a foul mood after Bren ignored my lecture about being impulsive and called me out for being controlling. When I finally attempted to sleep, my jealous imagination taunted me with the sounds of Zosia and her damn ghost. Imaginary or not, sleep eluded me because my throbbing cock refused to respond to my desperate attempts to ease my need.

The sphinx within the woman scowls at me from eyes turned golden, and my griffin can’t decide whether to submit or continue his show of domination. Her show of power makes him pant with lust, which is uncharacteristic. He knows we fucked up, though, and he seems to be turned on by her righteous anger.

I inhale a deep breath through my nose, drawing on a lifetime of practice. It was necessary to maintain iron control around Addington and his sadistic friends. They reveled in provoking me to the point of shifting until I learned how to deny the beast. If Addington weren’t a bastard, I might have thanked him for the helpful lessons.

“I’m sorry.” I force the apology past my clenched jaw, but the library betrays me.

“No, you’re not,” Zosia points out coldly. Her power makes her glow like the sun, and I swear she radiates heat. I don’t see how anyone could think this woman is weak.

I consider leaving, and it isn’t the first time I’ve entertained the idea since I walked into the fabled library. I could walk out. I could abandon my brother and my mate and search for a different life. I don’t actually want to leave, but my pride is broken and bleeding.

The alpha in me chafes at being considered second, third, or fourth best. I have to share my mate, and I’m going to be her last choice. She chose a vampire first. Her second choice was a creature that wasn’t even alive anymore. She might choose my brother next – someone who’s never really had an interest in women.

I’ve been groomed to lead and take the position of alpha my entire life, but I’m just a bodyguard here – in a library. I can’t even fucking read ….

The revenge I’ve planned for years will be carried out from behind the scenes because I am here. I do not control my destiny.

The insecurities and complaints that have been rising within me for days rush to the fore as we glare at each other. We’re both breathing hard, and I would be sparking with magic if I were Bren. If my griffin didn’t want to make her ours so badly, he’d be demanding that I shift.

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