Page 74 of Gifted Destiny

“Right,” Bren says with a nod, although he probably doesn’t even know what I want to do. His gaze moves to Kodi. “Joseph Campbell said, ‘A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.’ The definition can be simpler than we think.”

“I knew it,” Kodi whispers. “According to that quote, we’ve all been heroes this whole time,” he adds, trying to puff out his chest without air.

“You want to try and save Agustin’s soul.” Avery returns us to the current topic. His tone lacks the judgment and incredulity I feared.

“Yes,” I say on a released breath that sounds like a soft growl in this form. “I see no point in being superheroes if we can’t save innocent people. Agustin is innocent, and his soul doesn’t deserve to be separated from Atanea and her other guardians. If he’s still fighting to protect the library, some part of him must remain. I have to try.”

The four men surrounding me nod, and I can’t detect any doubts in their emotions. Like me, they can easily imagine one of us in Agustin’s place. What if one of them had been sucked into the book?

My heart aches for the grandmother I’ve only encountered after death. She left the library despite knowing the consequences because she’d never lost faith in her mate. She’d tried to save him.

Kodi’s energy shivers erratically, and I expect a warning; his job is to keep me in tune with reality. I’m pleasantly surprised when he doesn’t say it’s hopeless. “I swear I can feel that part of him that your grandmother mentioned.” He shakes his head. “I hope I’m not just imagining it, but that piece reminds me of … me – just like Avery said. We’ve both been reduced to the essentials, and we’re constantly poised on the threshold of the afterlife. I might be able to hold onto him and protect him while the bad spells are destroyed.”

I want to hug my mate, but he is composed of electricity and plasma. Instead, my body vibrates with a rolling rumble of affection.

“Are you purring right now?” Kodi gushes in a higher pitch than his normal speaking voice. “That’s so adorable. I want to pet you. Can I pet you?” My purr switches to a warning snarl. My sphinx doesn’t mind being stroked like a housecat, but she doesn’t want to admit it.

“You didn’t complain when I was petting you last night, princess,” Kodi drawls.

My growl softens as I fight a blush. My mates seem amused, and I don’t sense any jealousy from the shifter. I should have made him mine before he resorted to his asshole comments. Memories of last night and this morning return without shame.

Garrett clears his throat and raises an eyebrow when he catches my attention. His desire matches mine, but his emotions clearly indicate that the timing is all wrong. My tail thumps and my wings rustle as I regather my thoughts.

“Kodi, that’s wonderful news. Can you try to solidify the connection while Bren and I try to create mage fire?”

“Is that what you’re calling it now?”

I shoot Kodi a dirty look before I realize the words were transmitted privately along our mental link.

Bren regards me dubiously. I don’t need a mate-bond to read his mind. He thinks our task is dangerous and probably pointless, but he doesn’t argue. We don’t have any other options.

“I have some discreet resources I can tap into to more closely monitor Walthers’ and Addingtons’ movements on campus,” Avery murmurs. When my emotions spike with alarm, the vampire offers a smile. “I shall not endanger myself,mon amour.”

I force the breath from my lungs. I must display the trust I say I have in my men for it to be of any use. “All right,” I sigh. “Thank you,” I say instead of the warning I want to issue. Avery knows my thoughts and offers a warm smile in response. “I suppose Bren and I should go to the roof?”

“That will be the safest place,” Garrett agrees. “You need energy to practice magic, though. You two head up; I’ll bring some food.”

I want to kiss the shifter, but I settle for butting him with my head. I am hungry but returning to our apartment for food sounded like a monumental task. I’ve grown accustomed to being coddled by the library’s magic.

“And I guess I’ll just stay and watch the book.” Kodi adds an overly dramatic sigh to his complaint.

“If you want to turn solid to fetch food, I’ll switch with you.”

Kodi grimaces. “That sounds like a complete waste of a body. It’s fine. I’ll remain on guard duty.”

“Thanks, boo.” I pucker my lips to mime blowing a kiss to him, and he pretends to catch it in the air. The utter cheesiness of the act elicits chuckles from both of us.

“Is this okay?” I ask Bren on the way to the stairwell. He’s been quiet most of the morning, and my mind automatically provides several negative reasons for the silence.

“I will be,” he murmurs but doesn’t elaborate.

I overthink all of the reasons he might say this as we climb the stairs. Briefly, I question whether I want to return to my old life – when things were simpler. I know the answer before the question fully forms. I’m not the same person that I was just two or three weeks ago. I couldn’t return even if I wanted to, and I really don’t. My new life may not be easy, but it’s mine. This is where I belong.

Chapter 34

Zosia

The gargoyles sense our desire for privacy as we emerge onto the roof. Although the library is the tallest building on campus, I still worry about magical sight or mechanical interference. The stone creatures stretch their wings toward each other and form a barrier, doubling the height of the wall. They seem designed to perform this function because their bodies are the perfect length.

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