Page 15 of Broken Destiny

He doesn’t use a cane, and I wonder if his magic allows him the ability to see in some fashion because he stops about a foot from the counter and looks directly at me. Those silver eyes are ethereal and set in a distinguished, artistic face of almost delicate angles and a long, thin nose. Combined with the waist-length white hair that’s plaited in a rope over his shoulder, I’d say he’s beautiful. When he smiles and reveals sharp canines, I amend my assessment. Dangerous and beautiful.

He sketches an elegant bow that makes me realize he’d be more suited for the seventeenth century, especially with the tailored suit that displays his lean form perfectly. I’m glad he’s blind because I might be drooling a little.

“Librarian,” he greets simply. The label doesn’t feel wrong, but it really should. I’ve never been addressed by any sort of title before - nothing respectable anyway. “I’ve been instructed to deliver this package.” There’s an undertone in his voice, one I recognize immediately. He doesn’t like admitting that he’s been told to do something. Has he been relegated to the same status as Kodi because of his supposed impairment? What kind of academy is this?

“What is it?” I ask, not realizing how rude I sound until the words come out of my mouth. “Sorry, that didn’t come out right. Hi, thank you for delivering whatever that is…” I falter and realize that Gilly moved farther away at some point. She acts like she isn’t paying any attention, but her pointed ears twitch and her wings flutter.

The beautiful man grins again, flashing his sharp canines. I know in a moment of insight what he is even though I’ve never seen one before. A vampire…walking during the day. My brows draw together. Maybe not a vampire? I’m ridiculously unprepared for this new world.

“Maybe we can start over. My name is Avery duClair. I’m here to deliver this package on behalf of my boss, Master Dighit.”

I wince. The idea of this proud, beautiful man at the whim of that insufferable ass rankles. Gilly said he was to be my guardian… I’m silent as I consider how to broach the subject. What if he doesn’t want to? What if he can’t? I don’t know whether slavery is a real thing in this world, but it sure seems like it. I do have the might of the library behind me. Ansel made it sound like that meant something.

“Miss?” he asks uncertainly. He can’t see the flickering indecision on my face and has no idea what’s happening.

“Sorry, I was just thinking. I met Dighit this morning, actually. Quite a…character.” My words trail off, and Avery’s mouth twitches. My eyes catch on those full lips. They look pink next to paler skin a shade darker than his white hair.

“Master Dighit is a perfectionist, so when he meets someone who is not as perfect as he’d like, he isn’t as amenable.” His words are both a statement and a question. I realize he knows, in that second, that I’m not perfect or I would have received the friendly version of his boss.

I squint as my fingers tap on the desk. Taking a deep breath, I blurt out the first words that come to mind. “Can you see me? I’m sorry. I know how rude that sounds, but the question has a purpose, I promise.” I groan and hang my head. “Actually, that makes it sound worse. I know I hate it when people ask about my…” I trail off, my face coloring. Fuck. I just had to go and point it out.

Avery has more manners than I do. “It’s quite alright, Librarian. I can see you in a fashion. You’re very bright. Your aura is beautiful if you don’t mind me saying.” He pauses, and his sightless eyes flicker toward where my legs are hidden under the desk. He’s too much of a gentleman to say anything, but I instinctively know my aura tells him something is wrong with that part of my body. So I look different to a blind man too; so much for impressions based solely on my sparkling personality.

“Please, call me Zo.”

His eyebrows lift. “I can’t possibly do that. My master would be very upset with me if I were to be so bold.”

My mouth tightens into a firm line, and my words escape without censor, as per usual. “Well, your master is an ass. No man, or woman for that matter, should be forced to utter the words ‘my master.’ Tell me, Avery, how would you like to be one of the library’s new guardians?”

A moment of tense silence pours between us while I chew on my lip and Gilly titters behind me. His eyes are wide and his expression surprised. “What?” he asks slowly. I get the impression he’s not usually at a loss for words.

“I need guardians now that I’ve taken over my new position here, and the library has tasked me with finding some.”

Avery hangs his head just slightly. “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I’d make a poor guardian.”

The self-recrimination and doubt in his voice reminds me so much of me that my chest clenches. He hides it better than I do, but it’s still at the core of his being. “Nonsense. You can sense lifeforms, right? You can see their auras? Can any hide from you?”

Avery shakes his head. “No one has ever hidden from my strange sight. There is one behind you who is blurry. I imagine it to be some kind of magical creature, perhaps protected by the library, but I hear heartbeats even when I can’t see auras.”

“And am I correct in assuming you can walk during the day?”

“Yes. My unfortunate position as a born vampire allows me certain…oddities.”

I barely restrain my shocked gasp. I don’t know much about the magical world, but I know this. Born vampires are extremely rare, created by unions between male vamps and female humans or supernaturals. They’re different than created vampires - lesser - if every created vamp was to offer their opinion, but they’re also gifted with certain immunities, such as day-walking.

“I believe those oddities, as you call them, are perfect advantages in this position. Shall I send word to Dighit? Do you accept?” I’m being pushy, but it’s suddenly imperative to me that he be mine, well, my guardian, I mean. When my eyes travel down his lean form again, I remind myself that this is a working relationship. He’s not mine in any other sense, but I know he’ll make a fantastic guardian.

Avery smiles, stealing the breath from my lungs. He’s beautiful without smiling, but with it? My heart just leaped from my chest. I’m selfish for wanting him around just so I can look at him.

“Yes. I would love to accept. I don’t know if Dighit will agree, but I would be extremely honored to accept a position as one of your guardians.”

My cheeks color again. “Well, the library’s guardians,” I mutter, but he doesn’t respond.

“Excellent. Gilly, how do I go about doing this?” I ask the little goblin behind me as Avery waits patiently. “By the way, Gilly, this is Avery. Avery, Gilly is one of the library goblins tasked with protecting and honoring the library’s wishes.”

The vampire bows again. “Pleased to meet you, Mistress Gilly.”

“Just Gilly to you or my husbands might get jealous, young man. You’ve chosen well for your first,” the goblin tells me, and I bite my lip again. The way she says it makes it sound like she means something else, and I’m glad Avery can’t see my facial expressions. I’m not usually a shy blusher, but he makes me feel like some kind of nodding flower. The vampire smirks like he knows exactly what I’m thinking, and I shift on my chair as the heat spreads from my face down to my core. Damn. Maybe it’s not such a good idea to have him as a guardian, but I can’t imagine changing my mind. He belongs here as much as I do. I can feel it.

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