Page 85 of Gifted Destiny

“There is no such thing as a true timeline. All timelines are valid. The different threads exist to accommodate every soul inexistence.” The explanation could be a company motto with how easily it rolls off her tongue. She frowns again as she presses the screen several times. “Highly irregular,” she mutters again.

“Do you always talk to yourself?”

The Timekeeper jolts, but I don’t know if it’s in response to Garrett’s deep voice or the question.

“Yes, I suppose I do. No one ever notices,” she muses before pressing another button. “My orders have changed. Instead of issuing a citation, my superiors wish to aid your cause.” She seems more confident now that she has clear-cut instructions. I doubt she ever questions her orders.

“My superiors have the ability to replace your enemy, Alpha Jonathan Addington, with a separate Jonathan Addington. The replacement poses less threat to your timeline and has agreed to the terms of answering for his counterpart’s crimes.”

“Say what?” Kodi breathes.

At the same time, Garrett issues a terse, commanding, “Explain.”

The woman’s brow furrows as she continues to read. “The man in question has violated the laws of time in both timelines, but he proves to be difficult to capture and subdue in this timeline. Because there are several timelines in which the culprit exists, Cronos Corporation has agreed to assist.”

I remember her comment about Kodi – how he only exists in this timeline. “How do multiple copies of the same person exist?” I ask.

“What is the price of this transaction?”

I’m grateful for the shifter’s level head. I am focused onhowandwhy, but he is paying attention towhat. His diplomacy will save us from the innocent agreement that always places the main character in trouble in every fable and fairy tale I’ve heard. I wish the library were more interested or capable of providing guidance, but she seems content to remain silent. I can sensethat this Timekeeper’s arrival has caught her attention, however, which is more than she’s given me all day.

The woman studies me for several seconds before returning her attention to her tablet and shifting through several screens. “I can only offer you the information I am given and there is no mention of gathering anything in return.”

“Everything has a price,” Garrett grumbles. “How is this exchange to occur? Where is this doppelganger?”

The Timekeeper glances at her tablet again. “I have been authorized to permit linear travel to the timeline my superiors designate. All of you, excluding the ghost, may travel.” She lifts her gaze to Kodi, and my gut churns with dread. “Your soul cannot travel safely.”

“No,” I snarl. “I won’t leave him.”

Dark brown eyes meet mine, but they seem strangely hollow. I can’t sense her emotions or character. “Then you must stay too,” she says matter-of-factly. “A strange magic supports his survival in this time and place. If he leaves, he’ll be lost.”

I’m silent as I contemplate her words. As much as I hate her decree, it makes sense. The library rises for the first time all day, barely there but soothing. She doesn’t use words, but she validates the Timekeeper’s words and reassures me that Kodi will be safe while I’m gone. It’s possible, however, that I imagine all of this because I desperately want it to be true.

“There must be a price,” Garrett grunts. He and the others don’t react to the library’s touch, and I start to doubt its presence.

“Your timeline is important.” The Timekeeper’s gaze slides to Bren and away again. Earlier, he’d asked if our timeline was the original one; this seemed important to him. Is she answering his question in a different way? “The one designated for extraction is already considered nonviable. Removing a key player will simply hasten its demise. I’ve seen other timelines die when akey player dies unexpectedly or the libraries don’t have a proper caretaker.”

“Does the Cronos Corporation seek to aid the libraries?” My question is deliberately blunt. I still know very little about the Eastern Library because we’ve been focused on our crises. Is it a sentient being with similar ancient magic? Are its caretakers, the book dragons, also struggling?

“The Cronos Corporation is dedicated to the populations of Gaia, Pangaea, and the lost world. Its primary goal is creating a thriving future alongside the magical libraries.” The quickly spoken words remind me of a retail worker sayingcustomer satisfaction is number onewhen prodded because it increases sales.

The Timekeeper’s expression adopts the first real emotion I’ve seen – alarm – when the tablet emits a mechanical beep. “The time slip will close soon, and your options are limited. I will hold the anomaly in place to facilitate your return, but using the ghost as your anchor will also help. Will you accept our help?” An edge of frantic impatience has entered the messenger’s voice.

My head whips to each side as I evaluate my men. Avery is cautious but hesitantly acceptant. Garrett is suspicious and Bren is excited, but I’m still concerned about Kodi. What if we’re separated again? For good this time?

Kodi’s lips firm into a thin line as his eyes meet mine. “It’s the best option to get that bastard, so don’t refuse because of me. I’ll be right here waiting for you.”

I hold my best friend’s gaze for a few precious seconds, relaying how much I love him in the brief time we have. He nods, understanding, and I whip my head back around. “If I am separated from any of my mates, Cronos will pay,” I snarl ferociously at the messenger. She is innocent, as far as I can tell, but she’s the only one here to receive my threat.

The nameless Timekeeper nods, but she still isn’t afraid of me. She’s either immortal or carries no interest in the length of her mortality. Instead of addressing my threat, she extracts four silver devices from her tablet. It might be a clever sleight of hand or illusion that they emerge from the smooth surface, but the trick reminds me so much of the library’s materialization magic that I shiver.

“Place these behind your ears. They will protect you during your travel through time and space. As for you, they will also offer you sight,” she adds as an aside to Avery. “The substitute Addington already has one for travel to this timeline. When you are ready to return, simply press the device once, wait two seconds, then remove it.” The Timekeeper doesn’t have these instructions memorized. She reads every word from the tablet as if referencing a manual.

She hands the devices to us, and Garrett brushes aside my hair to find the proper spot on my sphinx head. It feels cold and metallic against my scalp. With no more time to waste and Garrett assisting me again, we depress the center of the small buttons. I’m dubious that such a small device could protect us or facilitate time travel in any way, but the world shifts before me.

The blue fog lifts almost instantly as my stomach flips. I’ve heard others talk about this sensation during exhilarating, thrill-seeking moments, but I’ve never experienced it before. I stumble and barely prevent myself from vomiting my small lunch, wondering why anyone would purposefully pursue the horrible experience.

When my guts settle back into place, I’m struck by Kodi’s absence. Although he’s still included in the mate bond, I can’t access his presence or emotions. I feel … disconnected, and it’s more devastating than the physical symptoms of travel.

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