Page 22 of Broken Destiny

My hands shake slightly as I slip into the chair. Although I love the new apartment I’ve been assigned, I don’t want to be alone right now. If Kodi’s hovering is any indication, he feels the same. The sleeping woman in the other room remains brighter in my awareness than any other living being, or dead, I amend for the ghost’s sake. I know the magic ties us together, and Duggar’s words remind me of the contract I signed with my own blood.

“That contract said I am to be available for all of Zosia’s needs,” I begin tentatively.

“Entering into the library’s employ should not be taken lightly,” Duggar begins, and I imagine he’s repeating a speech he’s recited before. “The goblins have served the librarians for centuries, and we’ve seen similar events happen over and over. First of all, only women can be librarians. Not everyone knows this, but there are no male sphinxes. When female sphinx bear children, their first is always female and always a sphinx. They might have more children after that, but they’ll likely take after their father. There can’t be too many sphinxes in the world at the same time. For this reason, they often form their own pride made up of different supernaturals. They’re drawn to many kinds of magic because it fuels their desire for knowledge.”

“What about the library in China? Isn’t there another one like this?” Kodi asks eagerly. I’d heard the rumors as well but wasn’t sure how many were correct. The secrets of the library are not just hidden within. It’s a mystery in the supernatural world where so many things are unknown.

“There is. Our sister location is ruled by a book dragon, not a sphinx.”

Shocked silence echoes between Kodi’s nonexistent form and my own. If it weren’t for the strange, wispy nature of his energy, I might consider him a normal being. Now that Zosia has removed his tether, his aura is not lesser because he’s a ghost. To my strange and limited sight, he appears as real to me as the goblins.

“A book dragon,” the ghost echoes.

Duggar chuckles. It’s an earthy sound, like rocks rubbing together. I don’t know what he looks like, but he flew up the stairs beside me, so I know he has wings. I am curious as to whether our librarian can shift, but I haven’t sensed her aura expanding in the customary way of shifters when they switch forms. She’s one of the few beings who will still retain her human voice in beast form.

“Yes, of course. Book dragons are similar to their Western cousins, except that they hoard books. And are quite possessive of them, of course.”

“And the needs we must fulfill?” I press. The words have been echoing in the back of my mind since my fingers trailed over the dots on the page.

“Anything that the librarian needs, she should attempt to get from her guardians first,” Duggar says slowly, leaving no doubt in my mind that I wasn’t mistaken about the hidden meaning behind the words. “Looking for lovers outside the library could be dangerous for her, or for you.” I shift in my seat as I sense his stare directed fully upon me, but I hold up my hands in surrender. I might seek out a woman from time to time. More often, they seek me out and I comply if I’m interested, but the scent of this particular woman is all that entices me at the moment. I don’t know when or if that will change. Vampires don’t have fated mates, but I realized long ago that standard vampire regulations don’t apply to my existence. Born vampires are meant to break the rules.

Kodi snorts, a strange sound that has no air behind it, but I’m used to it because turned vampires don’t breathe or have blood running through their veins. “You don’t have to worry about that for me. It’s not like I can touch anyone else.”

“Can every supernatural see you?” I ask hesitantly, fully aware of how rude my question is.

“No, actually, which is surprising. With that damned magical collar that the Master of the House of Others put upon me, they could. Without it, I am just as invisible as I was before.”

My lips quirk. “That will come in handy when you are guarding. Often the unseen is the most frightening.” My words remind me of Zosia’s while we were in her room. “You have protected her before?”

“I have,” Kodi answers after a shiver which might have been a nod that he amended when he realized I couldn’t see it. “From the moment she first indicated she could see me, I’ve felt that it’s my duty. She brought me here, and I don’t blame her for that. I’d have been lost without her.” He trails off like he hadn’t meant to be so forthcoming, but I’m not one of those men who will make him feel sorry for displaying emotions. He seems young, and I wonder when he died. Asking that question would be undeniably rude, though.

“She needs you,” I say simply and pause. “What does she look like?” The breath catches in my throat. Usually, scent, sound, and the impression of an aura are enough until I can feel a female’s softness under my hands, but I find myself needing to picture the image of this particular woman in my mind.

“What does she feel like?” Kodi retorts.

I nod my head in reply. Turnabout is fair play, and again I wonder who struggles with the most significant disadvantage. I’ve decided it must be him. I would go insane being able to see her but unable to touch. She has considerable power within her. It’s evident in the tone of her voice and the strength of her convictions. I wish she could see that same strength. Whoever filled her with such horrible insecurities needs to be taught a lesson.

Duggar moves away, allowing us some privacy, but my cheeks still burn with heat. It feels wrong to discuss her like this, but I can’t deny my curiosity or Kodi’s longing. “She’s warm, but I’ve only touched her for a moment. Her skin is soft, her hair even softer. She smells like a shifter, wild power with a touch of strawberries and books.”

There’s a smile in the ghost’s voice when he responds. “She’s always reading. Even before she came here, she would hide books under her bed at the orphanage. She reads so fast that she can finish a full-length novel in an hour or two. She could never find enough books.” He chuckles, and his voice moves with him as I imagine him looking around the library. “She won’t have that problem here. This is heaven for her, I believe. No wonder she belongs here.” He pauses, and I’m worried he’s not going to answer my specific question until he does. “What does she look like? She’s beautiful. She glows with inner strength. Her eyes are the lightest blue with dark flecks of gold and her hair is golden brown like the color of a lion’s mane. I can’t wait to see her shift. I’m sure it will be magnificent.”

“And her ability to walk?” I ask softly. This question isn’t about her appearance; it’s crucial information if I’m to guard her. Maybe Kodi senses that because he doesn’t fault me for asking.

“Her legs were broken as a kid. They healed improperly. She can’t stand or walk without the forearm crutches. She also can’t sit for extended periods because the long bone in her right thigh healed crookedly. She alternates between the chair and crutches, depending on her levels of pain and fatigue. There are scars upon her back, great jagged lines. It looks like someone tried to cut out her wings.” His voice trembles with anger and empathetic pain. A growl rises in me completely unbidden. My gums ache as my teeth lengthen, and I’m certain my eyes flash red as I’ve been told they do when my passions are aroused.

“Do you know if that person has paid for their crime?” I ask when I regain enough control to form the words.

“I don’t know. She doesn’t remember much, but I’m assuming it’s a psychological defense mechanism. Ansel knows more.”

“Then I shall ask,” I respond with a firm nod. I need to be informed of any threats so that I may better defend her.

“Will there be more guards?” Kodi asks.

“Two more,” I respond, relaying what the male goblin told me. That’s also an unknown threat, and I wonder if Kodi feels the same. I trust the library to only provide Zosia with trustworthy guards, but men are fickle creatures no matter the race. The bright presence in the other room stirs, and Kodi’s aura jerks.

“I’ll go see if she’s awake.”

I’m almost jealous that he can safeguard her in a way I can’t…yet. Soon, maybe she’ll trust me enough that I can stay and feel her sleeping breath next to me.

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