Page 40 of Broken Destiny

“Um, hi.” I offer an awkward greeting when I reach him. He rubs the top of his head, the short hair springing back from his touch. “I was hoping to talk to you for a minute if that’s okay.”

He nods, appearing to shore himself up for something. What does he have to worry about? Out of all of us, he’s the one that doesn’t feel as if he belongs immediately. The rest of us? We’re misfits. We would never be accepted into the ranks of the students at Hidden Academy, regardless of how powerful we are. Garrett? It seems like he had the world at his feet and left it there for this. Why?

“Why did you sign the book?” The question escapes my mouth before I can stop it, and I immediately follow with a shake of my head. “Sorry. That wasn’t actually the question I was going to ask you.” I gnaw on my lip, shifting from foot to foot to ease the ache of standing in one place. His gaze is drawn to my movement. He gestures me forward, toward a cozy nook buried just inside the stacks. It has a loveseat in front of a long, narrow table, and it looks perfect for curling up with a book. I can’t wait to explore every inch of this story wonderland.

“Sit,” he demands gruffly. I bristle immediately, irritated at being bossed around. He sighs when I don’t move. “Would it be more comfortable for you to have this conversation while seated?”

I nod shortly. I could lie, but it doesn’t make sense, and the library is still influencing our interactions. He’d know I was lying just to be obstinate.

“Then, please sit,” the shifter repeats. The word sounds foreign on his tongue, and I’m sure he’s accustomed to getting his way. I lower myself onto the soft leather, setting my crutches to the side. The furniture is impossibly comfortable. I don’t know if I expected Garrett to sit next to me, but I’m not surprised when he starts pacing on the other side of the table.

“There’s another reason I waited to attend the academy,” he begins deliberately, “a reason other than my brother.”

I sit patiently, even though his pacing is starting to annoy me. The movement makes every muscle ripple and flex under his tight clothing. The beast waits just underneath his skin. I don’t know what he shifts into, but I can feel his animal as clearly as I feel Bren’s power and Avery’s hunger.

“I can’t read,” he blurts suddenly. My brows fly into my hairline. “Well, I can, but not very well. Dyslexia is what the tutor told my father. That tutor didn’t live to tell anyone else, and my father expected me to grow out of it or something.” He shrugs his massive shoulders, and I suddenly understand why he’s so naturally protective. He was raised by a tyrant. I could only imagine how such a man would treat Bren, who is so wonderfully different. “If you need help with the books...” His words trail away.

“I’ll tell you what I told Avery, Garrett. Your perceived limitations do not limit your abilities to be my guardian. The books are my responsibility, mine and the goblins’. You’re simply required to protect me and hopefully help represent the library on the OSC because my knowledge is woefully inadequate in areas of politics and current affairs.”

He studies my face as if searching for a lie. When he sees nothing but the truth, he grunts with a nod. That must be alpha-shifter speak for “fine.” I better understand why he’s here and his swift perusal of the contract makes more sense now, but his so-called disability doesn’t change my view of him. He’s still immensely powerful, and I doubt his inability to read would have affected his bid for top shifter. Intelligence definitely isn’t the first requirement for the position.

“You wanted to speak about something else, though?” he asks.

I nod, bringing myself back to why I’d sought him out. “Yes, but sit down. You’re making me dizzy.”

He mutters under his breath, but takes the seat next to me, and I almost wish he would start pacing again. I’d forgotten how big he was. He takes up more than half of the loveseat. He’s so close; only inches separate us.

I force myself to inhale deeply, steeling myself against his nearness. He’s like one of the gargoyles perched on the roof: stone, immovable, powerful. I want to know what kind of shifter he is, but I keep getting distracted.

“I’ve said this to the others in some way or another, but I wanted to speak to you. I’m sorry if you felt trapped into accepting this position. I didn’t mean for it to happen that way.”

There’s a moment of silence before he sighs heavily. “I may act like I’m put out, but I’m not. Every second I’m here, it feels more like home. And I’m speaking of a home that should be, not the home that was.”

I nod, understanding perfectly. For those of us that have grown up with less than ideal childhoods, home means something different than the place we live or where we were raised.

“And although I couldn’t read the contract in its entirety, I knew exactly what I was getting into. I understood every nuance. There are still some…issues…I need to work through,” he adds with a subtle clearing of his throat but continues before I can ask what they are. I’m certain he’s speaking of the needs that were mentioned, though. I doubt I’m the kind of woman he actually wants to be tied to for eternity. “My brother and I are meant to be here, Zosia. I’ve had plans of vengeance for years, but they’ll just have to be modified to suit this new arrangement. I don’t feel trapped.”

“Good,” I murmur. “If you need to go elsewhere for your… needs…” My voice breaks. I want to offer him an out, but I can’t. The words stick in my throat. Just like Avery, the thought of him going somewhere else, to someone else, makes my chest burn and my mind rebel.

Garrett leans closer to me and the breath stalls in my lungs. He’s so big. His rugged attractiveness nearly takes my breath away. Most wouldn’t consider him handsome. He’s too much. His jaw is too strong, his eyes are too intense, and his body is too intimidating, but I find the combination intoxicating.

“I may be a shifter, Zosia, but I’m not an animal. I can control myself and my needs. If my desires become too much to bear before you’re ready, then we’ll talk. But otherwise, let’s not worry about it.” His eyes flicker to my legs. “I am slightly worried about hurting you.”

I can’t decide if he’s trying to let me off the hook easily or being sincere, but I can reply to his worry. “I’m not fragile. I may not be perfectly formed, but I’m strong and healthy. I’m probably not what you typically want in a woman...” My words lag, and I’m again aggravated that my mouth likes to speak without the permission of my mind. I came over here to ask him how to shift, not drag him into my bed.

A squeak that sounds suspiciously like a mewling kitten escapes me when his firm lips press against mine. It’s only a second of time, but it’s enough to effectively shut me up. When he pulls back, his dark eyes glitter. “You’re not a typical woman, but there’s nothing wrong with you. In fact, it might be everything right about you. Don’t talk poorly of yourself, especially not when you’re in my presence. I’ll have to shut you up every time, and a kiss seems to do the trick.”

It did. My brain is still mushy. His kiss was so different from Avery’s soft caress, but both lit my body on fire. My nerve endings spark with arousal and interest. I have to shake my head to clear it of what I want to do, which is to see how a deeper kiss would affect me.

“I was hoping you could give me pointers on how to shift,” I sputter finally.

Garrett nods formally, but his gaze is still on my lips like he wants to kiss me again. My stomach flutters. I wish we weren’t in a time crunch. I wouldn’t mind more time to get to know my men, my guardians, I mean. Thinking of them as mine almost makes me as corrupt as the masters who tether their slaves.

“You’ve never shifted?” he clarifies. I shake my head. “A shifter should feel the need to shift, like a need to stretch upon waking. It’s almost reflexive.”

I duck my head. “I don’t feel it. I think the reflexes are hidden behind the repressed memories. Just another reason why…”

His lips descend to mine again, harder this time. The kiss lasts longer than a second, and his hand is cradling my cheek when he draws back with a fierce light in his eyes. “You were doing it again,” he murmurs.

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