Page 4 of Saving Destiny

Lacking fingers to play with my hair like I usually do when I’m anxious, my tail reacts. It sweeps across the floor behind me. At the same time, my wings rustle and my ears twitch. My wings are the easiest of all three to control.

Avery doesn’t reply just yet. I think he senses that I’m not done.

“I am grateful you’re here, Avery, but I don’t want you to settle for me, forthis, just because it’s better than what you had. I might have broken your contract to that jerk you calledMaster, but I won’t take his place. I should have given you more time to think about your future. I didn't give you much choice, and that makes me no better than Dighit.”

I’ve expressed these worries to him before, but the point repeats through my mind. Out of everything that has happened over the past week, this affects me the most. The waves of destiny are helplessly carrying me forward, and I’m worried that I’m dragging things along with me. However, my guardians aren'tthings. They're people with free will, and I refuse to coerce them into helping me without their full understanding or consent.

Avery’s perfectly shaped lips tilt down at the edges, but it doesn't make him less beautiful. His allure is ethereal and more beguiling than the few Fae I’ve met. He couldn’t be ugly if he tried, and I doubt he ever struggles with bad hair days or acne. He appears too perfect for this world, and I can't believe he'd choose to be chained to my side.

“I’m not here out of gratitude or ignorance, Zosia Abram. When I entered the library that day, you broke my indentured bond to Dighit. I’d known my life was about to change forever. I could have walked away in the time between the severing of the old contract and signing the new one. I possessed an endless amount of time to contemplate my actions, and I did so with great consideration. I took everything into account and made an educated choice.” He speaks without regret or censure. Although my insecurities nag at me, I believe him. The goblins told us we’d have difficulty lying after we signed our names in the book. I struggle to believe in magic that powerful, but I can't deny what I hear and see.

“I don’t understand,” I mumble, and my ears twitch with confusion. My recollection of that day is different because I remember him signing his name within seconds after I'd broken Dighit's hold.

Avery shrugs his slim shoulders, and the motion pulls at the tailored suit jacket he’s wearing. He’s paired the garment with black jeans, but the casual and formal combo would suit the red carpet or a runway. The jacket and white dress shirt emphasize his lean torso and narrow hips while making him seem professional. Meanwhile, the jeans make him appear more approachable than a full suit might.

“From my conversations with others, I have realized that time moves differently for me," Avery explains patiently. "Although I’m uncertain whether my traits include immortality, I believe I will live longer than a standard lifetime. The few accounts I've read haven't promised this, but born vampires like me are abused, hunted, and killed before they die naturally. While supernatural humans live longer than magicless humans, that doesn’t mean immortality. True, turned vampires can achieve immortality if they are cautious and powerful. However, I have organs that will fail; they do not.” He pauses to shake his head and chuckle. The sound is surprisingly sensual, and my ears flick toward him in response.

“Forgive me. I am rambling instead of answering your question. As I was saying, there are moments in time that seem shorter or longer for me than the sun or a clock claims. The moment in which you terminated an unfair bond by advocating for me and arguing against the injustice of my indenture was one of those times. You removed an invisible tether that had been placed around my neck. You also lifted a burden I've carried since my birth. Although mere minutes passed for you before I signed, each minute seemed like a day inside my mind. I had more than enough time to make my decision. I didn’t choose to accept the contract because it was my only available option or just because it was better than my previous situation.”

I can’t fathom the time shift he’s describing, but I can tell he believes every word he says. “Why did you sign, then? Why choose this life? You could have done anything, been anyone, or gone anywhere.” My voice breaks halfway through the first question.

Avery’s frown turns into a smile, and it reminds me of his mouth on mine. Heat tingles against my spine, but I quench my desire. I have too many figurative fires to extinguish; I can't attend to the literal flames of lust right now.

“I don’t want to do anything else, be anyone else, or be anywhere but here. I want to be with you … all of you. I may not possess Bren’s power of foresight, but I know where I belong. I’ve been Dighit’s servant and lived on Apocrypha’s campus for over a decade, Zosia. My only moments of freedom were within these walls. As a younger, more impulsive vampire, I was disciplined harshly for extending the tasks that brought me here. The worlds inside the books enchanted me, and I spent hours roaming the stacks. Sometimes, I'd just brush my fingers over the titles, which the library turned into braille just for me. I loved bounding up and down the stairs and losing myself in a story while I hid in a reading nook. When I was sad, I would recall the scent of leather, paper, and ink. When the world was cruel, I looked for escape among the pages. Every punishment I endured for loitering here was worth it.”

I can’t stop a smile from stretching across my face because this is the type of magic that I understand. Books have always provided an escape, and libraries have always felt like sanctuaries. All libraries possess magic, even if the magicless libraries define theirs differently. Among them all, this library is special. It overflows with a power that touches every soul who enters.

“The building isn’t the only reason I signed the contract, Zosia.” Avery’s bright, unnaturally colored eyes fix on mine. The directness makes me squirm with discomfort, even though he can’t discern the details of my face or body.

“Because I need you?” I hazard a guess when I realize he’s waiting for one.

"No." The vampire shakes his head. Sunlight glimmers on the silver and white strands of his hair. “I signed because I need you.”

“Huh? Why?” My response resembles mangled protests of disbelief more than comprehensible language. Why in the world would this beautiful man need me? In addition to all of the luxuries I mentioned before, he couldbewith anyone.

“My heart and soul need you, Zosia Abram. You bring light to the shadows I see. I’ve never met anyone who shines more brightly than you, and I fear that I'd live in endless night without your star to guide me.”

I gape at him, glad that he can’t see my jaw resting on the floor. If anyone but the lovely vampire spoke such poetic words, I'd assume they were mocking me, but not Avery. The statement suits his formal mannerisms and archaic speech. He brings to mind several of the historical romance novels I’ve read.

I can’t deny that his words are flattering, but they’re difficult to accept. I’ve spent most of my life not knowing or believing my worth. This didn’t change suddenly when I rediscovered my sphinx. I need time … and perhaps therapy … before I believe I’m worthy of love, desire, or affection from attractive men.

I don’t know how to respond, but the moment is stolen from us before the silence becomes too awkward. Pain seizes my chest so abruptly that it draws a strange noise from me that's half-snarl and half-whimper. Through the tears clouding my vision, I see Avery’s expression tense. He raises his hand to his sternum as if he feels the same agony as me.

“Kodi.” I gasp for breath, trying to draw air into my lungs, and inspect my furry chest. I almost expect to find a knife protruding from my heart or blood pouring from a wound. Of course, there’s no physical reason for the excruciating, twisting pain.

Moments ago, my ghostly friend had been casually floating away from the library. His departure had caused discomfort, but this is different. Now, I feel as if a necessary organ is being ripped from the center of my being.

Chapter 3

Garrett

The pain begins as a strange ache. As a healthy shifter, I’ve never experienced the sting of heartburn or intestinal cramps caused by spoiled food. For a second, I wonder if I’ve been poisoned, but all of my food has been provided by the library. I doubt the sentient building would choose poison if she decided to kill her guardians; there were more creative ways to accomplish that goal.

I stretch my pectorals and probe my sternum with my fingers, but I haven’t been wounded. The pain also isn’t the familiar strain of overworked muscles. I haven’t lifted a single barbell in the last day, which is very unlike me.

For the past hour, I’ve done nothing but pace back and forth while we waited for Zosia to return. Duggar, the male goblin who loves to boss us around, told us the trespassers had gone. When the librarian didn’t come back right away, my brother and I agreed that the vampire should check on her.

I hate relying on others, and I’m still pissed I couldn’t go myself. Even though I'm no longer under his roof, my father continues to ruin everything. This also includes the way that the gorgeous sphinx sees me.

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