Page 26 of Broken Destiny

Zosia

I’d sensed someone coming, but I still can’t contain my shock when the drool-worthy man drops to his knees in front of me. He’s not looking at me. His head is bowed, revealing dark, silky hair that looks so soft, my fingers twitch to run through it. It’s inky black, a tousled mess on top and tapered around the sides. Words stick in my throat and silence stretches through the library.

Avery is nearby. He steps from behind a bookshelf, and Kodi hovers just out of sight. I haven’t talked to the ghost since he left in a hurry that morning. I don’t want to greet potential guards in my chair, but my legs still ache from the activity yesterday. I’m also plagued by bone-deep fatigue from breaking the collar last night if Gilly is right in assessing my health. When I’m tired or sick, I can’t control the crutches as well and am more likely to stumble. The last thing I need is an injury right now.

The guy at my feet, who can’t be much older than me, looks up. His shocking, pale green eyes pierce through the fringe falling over them. Heat spreads through me as I find myself locked in that gaze. I’ve never found myself so immediately attracted to anyone before. Even Avery didn’t have such a profound effect on my body. It’s leaving me unsettled, especially when he’s so far out of my league. He’s so hot, he’s gorgeous, and his sheer perfection makes my heart flutter with anxiety.

“I’m…” I start slowly when he doesn’t say anything more than the confusing words he uttered upon his entry.

The man at my feet nods as if in answer to something I said and lifts his head entirely. “You don’t know me yet, but you will. I’m to be your third guardian. Bren Addington, at your service. My half-brother is also meant to be one of your guardians, but he may need more convincing.” A slight smile lifts the left side of his full lips, revealing a dimple. I’m so captivated with him that his words take several minutes to penetrate the haze that’s clouded my mind.

“How did you?” I falter, decide speaking isn’t really important, and glance behind him instead. The two men might share a parent, but their differences are clearly visible. Whereas Bren is smooth beauty, the perfect poster boy, the other man is a rugged, rough-hewn mountain of muscle whose sheer size makes my mouth dry. He leans insolently just inside the doorway of the library, watching his brother’s actions with his thick arms crossed over his chest. Arrogance oozes from him, but I sense surprise and confusion, courtesy of the library’s assistance. The more time I spend here, the more I feel her influence. She lends me insight into the people currently here, telling me Kodi has been sad and angry all morning, and Avery is suspicious of the larger man. Did the library welcome him as my guardian, or was he admitted via Bren like Dighit was with Ansel?

I shake my head. Loose hair flies around my face, and I sweep it back impatiently. I’d been too tired to do anything about it this morning. “I’m sorry, but how do you know you’re my guardian? And please, do stand up.” My cheeks grow warmer every second the man remains on his knees before me. Images from the many romance novels I’d sneaked into the orphanage flood my mind and make my imagination work overtime. Lust makes me clench my thighs with sudden need.

The man at the door, Garrett, shuffles his feet and draws my attention. His nostrils flare, and realization pummels me. He’s a shifter; he can smell my arousal. How embarrassing. As Bren stands, I carefully wheel away from him toward the table I was headed to when they barreled into our sanctuary. There’s food on the table, and my stomach wants to growl embarrassingly.

“I’m your guardian because I’ve seen it,” the handsome man says as he pulls out a chair next to me. He’s sitting so close, my butt shifts in my chair as awareness seeps into my senses. He smells wild, like a free wind capable of soothing or gusting like a hurricane. Magic fills him, but it’s not a steady source. It’s unpredictable.

“You’ve seen it? As in a vision?” The question comes from Avery as he follows just a step behind me. He’s on guard as if one of these men might attack me. I’m not so sure about Garrett, so I’m grateful for the comfort he provides, although I don’t believe any harm could come to me while I’m in the library.

“Ah, the blind-born vampire. Hello, fellow guardian.” Bren waves at Avery before craning his neck to search the building. “Where’s the ghost?”

The food is forgotten as I gape at Bren. Either he’s telling the truth and he’s a very talented seer, or we have a spy in our midst. That seems impossible considering the amount of time we’ve spent here without seeing anyone else. His actions are so out of tune with his appearance. There’s none of the smug arrogance which accompanies men who know they could have anything they wanted. I narrow my eyes as I study his open, earnest face and he returns his gaze to mine. Intelligence greets me.

“Bren.” The growl makes me jump as the statue in the doorway finally moves, stalking toward our table like he’s a lion on the hunt. His muscles ripple and bunch with each movement, and I find myself captivated for a very different reason than his brother. He’s immensely powerful. Strength exudes from every pore. Avery steps in front of me as the man approaches.

“He won’t hurt her. He may look and act like a beast most of the time, but he won’t hurt her.”

Bren’s words seem to surprise even Garrett. He looks vaguely confused as he switches his attention from his brother to me. I tug on Avery’s sleeve, settling my hand over his wrist to convey my wishes. “It’s ok, Avery.” I hope, I add mentally.

The vampire shifts, but he doesn’t leave me. He places his warm hand over mine on his forearm and remains by my side.

Garrett takes a rallying breath, revealing that he’s just a man under the aura of supreme confidence. “Bren. What is going on?”

“This is why we’re here, brother. It’s her. She’s the one I’ve seen.” At that, Bren hops up from beside me and peers down the nearest aisle. “I’d like to meet the ghost.”

I’m certain this amuses Kodi, but he doesn’t show himself yet. Bren seems unconcerned, though. He walks toward Avery and holds out his hand. “I’m Bren. It’s important that we get along because we’ll be sharing the same woman.”

Shock courses through me, and I choke on my own saliva as I jerk back from Avery. “What?” I squeal. Avery glances at me briefly, his silver eyes sparking. Even though he can’t see my expression, I’m sure my outburst clearly conveys my emotions.

“You mean we’ll be sharing protection detail over the same woman, right?” Avery asks, his face turning away from mine.

Bren squints at him as the vampire holds out his hand, waiting for Bren to take hold of it and shake it. After a second, in which I swear the two men are communicating wordlessly, Bren nods. “Of course,” he replies with a shrug. “Where’s the book? I want to sign.”

Bren’s brother snaps abruptly. He growls again, irritation crossing his face. It frustrates me that I find his growl sexy. He’s kind of an ass from what I can tell so far. “Bren. Seriously. We came here to go to school. I have plans.”

“Don’t you see, brother? This is the best way. The libraries of Alexandria hold more power over the supernatural community than any business or delegation position. The librarian can be a powerful ally, one of the best. This is what I’m meant to do.” Bren’s tone is filled with conviction as I try to decipher the hidden meaning behind his words. Garrett stares at his brother like he’s seeing him for the first time. “Your path is not necessarily predestined like mine, Rett. You know the school won’t teach me. You can still choose.”

Except that he can’t. My stomach tugs with a fierce sense of protest when I think of Garrett walking out of those doors and never returning. I felt the same with Avery, and I recognize it with Bren now that the shock of his presence has worn off. He’s meant to be here; they both are. But I’m not telling the scary muscle man that. He needs control, even if it’s an illusion.

Several minutes pass. I practically hold my breath as I wait, wondering what Garrett will do. When he turns to me, I know the decision isn’t made, but I’m satisfied that he hasn’t walked out yet. I must be crazy for wanting him to stay. I don’t think I even like him, but it would make Bren happy. And he’s intimidating as fuck. With one of my guards non-corporeal and two others lean and unimposing aside from their good looks and magic, Garrett would make an excellent addition. He reminds me of the gargoyles perching on my walls. His body looks hard as a rock, straining against a thin tee and black jeans. His face is rugged and has its own beauty, once I get past the intimidation factor.

“Who are you? And what is my fool brother talking about?”

Bren makes a pleased sound in the back of his throat and skips off to the nearest bookshelf as if his brother has just declared his undying allegiance. As he’s scanning the books, I swallow and return Garrett Addington’s fierce look.

“My name is Zosia Abrams. I’m the new librarian. I have two guardians currently, but I’m supposed to have four. That’s about all I know.” I shrug. “I’ve only been here a couple of days.” I glance toward Bren. “Your brother is meant to be one of my guardians.”

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