Page 31 of Broken Destiny

“So if I…” I start uneasily. I’m sure my cheeks are bright pink.

“If you’re horny, you have to look toward your three strapping guards?” Kodi finishes for me, an edge to his voice that I can’t ignore. “That’s right, Princess.” His pompous amusement makes me want to throw it back in his face.

“Four strapping guards,” I correct him, pleased when his eyes widen.

“Sorry to break it to you, but I’m not going to be much satisfaction.” He sounds disappointed, but I don’t pursue that thought. I’m enjoying messing with him; it takes away some of the lingering embarrassment.

“You’re nice to look at, Boo,” I point out. I’m not lying. When he was in full color, he’s just as attractive as my other guards. Even in monochrome, he’s easy on the eyes. Most of all, though, he’s my friend. I trust him and we share an ease that’s not there with the others. “And you were fairly solid this morning,” I add.

“Do you think you can make me hard again?” The ghost’s lips tilt and I know the euphemism is intentional. Pleasure shivers through me at the innuendo. He and I have never explored this extension to our relationship, but it feels natural and right.

“I plan to try.” The look of happiness on his face is one I want to see again, regardless of other, more selfish motives.

He frowns suddenly, suggesting fun time might be over. “Zo…I saw something.”

My brows draw together as I echo his more serious expression. “What do you mean? In the library?”

He shakes his head, the grayness that suffuses him rippling in the air. “When I was solid. For that moment, I had a memory. Zo, I think I knew you when I was alive.”

I stare at him in shocked silence, a million questions tripping over my tongue. “Like as a child? You knew me when I was younger? Like how young? I think I would remember you.”

He looks away from me, his gaze searching the corners of the room. “It’s from the time when you don’t remember.”

“Were you a prisoner like me?” I breathe. “Is that how you found me after you died?”

Kodi shakes his head again. The anger in his clenched fists and set expression surprises me. “No. I don’t know. I didn’t see enough.” I think he’s lying, but it’s a lie of omission. He’s not ready to share the entirety of what he saw.

I allow the silence to settle between us, regaining the stability and space we both need. “Well then, we need to make you solid again for certain. It might be the key to remembering my own memories.”

Do I really want to know, though? My fear resonates in my friend’s eyes. “I’m scared, Zo. What if I did something bad? What if I was helping them hurt you?”

“Why would you think that? Besides, you were probably much younger than you are now. Maybe you didn’t have a choice.”

“There’s always a choice!” Kodi yells. His anger shocks me into rearing back against the fabric of my wheelchair. His face instantly softens. “I’m sorry, Zo; I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m worried. What if it’s bad?”

I force myself to shrug even as I choke down my own uneasiness and fear. “I’m scared to know too. But if there’s anything that this place has taught me, it’s that secrets are dangerous. We’ll both remember. After we’ve recovered our memories, we’ll deal with whatever is revealed.” A yawn catches me unaware as I finish my sentence, and Kodi offers a small smile that doesn’t hide the sadness behind his eyes.

“You’re still tired from destroying my slave collar, great breaker of chains,” he teases. I used to read those books to him at night until they depressed me so badly I just stopped. He loved the Khaleesi, though, mooning about her as if she were the perfect woman. To be honest, I’d been a little jealous of the fictional character. “You need sleep,” he says, rousing me from the memories of reading to him into the late hours.

“Whatever happens, Kodi, whatever you find out, it doesn’t matter. You’ve been there for me since the moment I entered the orphanage. Surely that makes up for anything you might have done, willingly or not, when you were alive.”

My oldest friend’s face softens. If he could cry, a tear would probably escape him. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Princess. Now sleep.”

He floats up and away, leaving me alone again. I stare around the small apartment. Its initial perfection has faded. I hate how the space echoes with loneliness. I’m used to hearing kids stomping up and down the stairs, yelling, arguing, and making noise at all times of the day and night. How can I have four people tied so closely to me and yet feel so alone?

Chapter Sixteen

Kodi

Zo’s longing follows me from the room as I float through the walls into the main library. It took me a while to get the hang of my non-corporeal body. It’s bizarre being aware but not alive. I still breathe sometimes, even though I don’t have to and no air is exchanged. I still feel tired even though I can’t sleep. I still lust after my beautiful friend, although my body never reacts to the arousing ideas in my imagination.

Back in the main library, I hover and study the scene. The huge, arrogant shifter is just entering the library again, and Bren and Avery both seem to have lost their hard-ons. I would have sprung one if I could have too. Watching Zo while she watched them? Hotter than fuck. Instead, we’re all frustrated. Unless they went at it while I was gone? Probably not enough time, but they certainly don’t look like they hate being around each other. This is one time I can blame my body. My brain is confusing, but if my cock had reacted to the thought of the vampire and Bren together, I might have started to question my predicted sexuality. It’s not like I remember, so I just had to guess. I assumed I was straight because I was enamored with Zo’s beauty.

“How is Zosia?”

I jump when I realize the vampire is talking to me. I think I like him, but I haven’t decided yet. He cares about Zo, and I don’t know if it’s just gratitude for releasing him from servitude or lust, but it doesn’t matter. The only important thing is that he’s looking out for her and guarding her with a body that he can actually place between her and her enemies.

All the eyes are suddenly directed to me. The big guy’s presence bothers me. Why would he give away a chance at being a hot-shot alpha to be stuck here for the rest of his life? He didn’t seem at all happy about the contract that he didn’t read. I wonder if the brute has any brains.

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