Chapter 41
Zosia
T he return of the bond overwhelms any strange physical sensations on our return trip. Kodi is solid and has his arms around my neck, and I’m so grateful to feel the bond again that I barely notice anything else. When I finally come back to myself, I realize the blue miasma has faded, the Timekeeper is gone, and Garrett has J under control.
“I missed you,” he whispers.
“I missed you more,” I argue. I know he was still there the entire time, but he felt further away. His joking nature, cynicism, and love have carried me through the darkest times. I would have failed our mission if I thought he was truly gone.
He rolls his eyes but retains solidity long enough to place a kiss on my lips. It’s the first time he’s achieved corporeal form since he was surprised by the destructive spell, and I’m relieved that he still has the ability.
When he pulls back, a devilish smile crinkles the corners of his eyes. “I just kissed a cat,” he gasps dramatically.
I ignore him and force myself to concentrate on the next step. “Did anything happen?”
“Were we really gone?” Bren whispers excitedly.
Kodi is a ghost again, but his facial expressions are easy to read. His emotions grow stronger every day. His eyes widen, but I nudge Bren with my shoulder. “Let’s wait for that discussion,” I tell him.
The mage’s excitement falters, but he nods with understanding.
“Um …,” Kodi begins. “You were gone less than ten minutes, but I spent the time chatting with our residential Timekeeper. I think I gave her something to think about.”
Appreciation and love saturate the bond. “How did you know that’s exactly what I wanted you to do?” I tease. “I didn’t even know.”
“I have spent the majority of my existence in your company,” Kodi replies in an equally playful tone. “I know you pretty well. Ever since I read that one book to you, you’ve hated organizations that give the common people no choice. They’re required to obey and comply out of desperation. I’m not sure that applies here, however. I don’t think the Timekeeper realizes there’s an alternative. Maybe there’s not.”
I nod absently as I gnaw on my bottom lip. I'm as antsy as Bren is to uncover the mystery behind Cronos and its employees, but we need to deal with our captive first. Garrett has him contained near the stairwell door, which presents another problem. I’d rather throw J off the roof than deliver him into my library, but that will negate the trouble we went through to get him.
I almost run into the wall of Garrett’s back when he stops abruptly at the door to the stairs. Avery bumps into Bren and mutters an apology, his cheeks burning so brightly that my tail reacts. The wayward appendage strokes his arm as if it was another hand, and I’m shocked at the soothing motion. So far, my tail has only been good for thumping the floor.
“What’s …?” I start but Garrett clears his throat and steps forward again. He doesn’t have to answer because his movement reveals an elevator instead of the stairwell I’m accustomed to seeing.
The others might be just as surprised, but they sense my desire to distance J from the library’s vast collection. It’s also a sign that the library isn’t dormant any longer, despite her continued silence.
“So this is Addington’s double?” Kodi drawls once we’re all packed into the elevator. He hovers above me in ghost form to save room. The man in question faces my ghost mate’s hard stare with a look of awe. It seems that ghosts are rare in most worlds. “Why are you taking the fall for something you didn’t do?”
J’s expression shutters. “You know Cronos.”
“Actually, we don’t,” I drawl in a similar tone as my tail flicks behind me with interest. “We’d never heard of them before one of its representatives appeared on our rooftop.”
J’s eyes widen. Although we’re trapped in a small box with our sworn enemy, this imitation doesn’t evoke the fear that Addington inspires – in person and in my memories. Fiction might depict villains as caricatures, but humans aren’t necessarily all bad or all good . The Addington in our world probably believes that has probably fooled himself into thinking that his actions benefit the supernatural community, but he’s hurt so many people. His motives and reasons no longer matter.
“Your world must be different,” J murmurs almost to himself before he begins speaking rapidly. “The Cronos Corporation is the bogeyman we are taught to fear when we are still in our cribs. Magicless or supernatural – it makes no difference. We’re told they can manipulate time. Cronos places its employees into key leadership positions, but they also see everything and hear every spoken word.”
His words are ominous, but I’ve already guessed as much. He glances around furtively, his nostrils flaring, before he continues. “Your library is different. I might be a shifter, but I can smell power. I want to believe this power prevents Cronos from spying inside it, but I can’t say. My fate is already determined, so I’ll say my piece. If Cronos is unknown in your world but has revealed its presence to offer you help, their assistance will cost you.”
The man sinks against the elevator wall with a heavy sigh. “I betrayed the love of my life because the corporation offered me an ultimatum. It was a temptation and a threat. I might be answering to crimes I didn’t commit, but losing Karasi, my family, and my friends hurts far worse.” J’s voice conveys clear remorse. I sense the brothers’ struggle to reconcile this man with their father, and my heart aches for them. It must be difficult to see the man you’ve sworn to hate display a softer side.
M y lips thin. “It’s not like we could have denied their help,” I retort. “We didn’t have any other options or the opportunity to ask questions. The Timekeeper seemed ignorant.”
J nods. “That is the way they operate. I couldn’t really fight their ultimatum either time it was presented to me either. They control time, which means they control the people who live according to time.”
The elevator has stopped moving, but the doors remain shut. Sage must want to hear what J has to say about this shady organization as well.
“No one can control time,” Bren argues.
J studies Bren, his gaze softer than our world’s Addington could produce. My mate fidgets under that stare, and I press my body into his side, offering comfort. His hand sinks into the thick fur at my shoulders. “You might be right, but imagine the power to replace any person with someone indistinguishable – even down to that person’s DNA. Then, imagine that this replacement has no choice but to follow their orders.”
The dread that fills my chest is multiplied by five. Although I’d reached a rough understanding of Cronos’ power, I haven’t had the time to absorb the full implications. J’s words permit this, and the resulting horror nearly cripples me.
“Why am I here? If I don’t comply, my children and Karasi will suffer. I may not be with them, but it doesn’t matter. Karasi drove the darkness from my soul when I thought all hope had vanished. She loved me and chose to trust me even though I’d betrayed her once already. Because of her forgiveness, I was able to be a father to my sons. Karasi saved me, and this is how I am repaying her.”
Garrett exhales forcefully, scrubbing his hand across his shorn hair. “No one is going to believe this is Addington,” he mutters.
Surprisingly, Kodi chuckles. “I thought all those poems and songs about love changing a man were bullshit. Maybe it’s not as crazy as I thought.”
J regards Kodi thoughtfully. “Cronos must despise the anomaly you present. They can’t replace a ghost.”
Kodi’s chest puffs out, even though there’s no air in his lungs. “That Timekeeper did say I am one of a kind,” he boasts.
The man cocks his head, uncertain about my ghost, and glances at the man who looks nothing like his son. “I will play the part that’s required of me,” J reassures us with more arrogance than he’s displayed thus far. “I know what must be done to protect my family, and I’ve been given all of the details. I know the location of your Addington’s dungeon and his secret files. I’ve also memorized the identities of his accomplices and the lengthy list of people he’s bribed and blackmailed. The crimes shall be settled.”
“How do we fight Cronos?” I ask. “The Timekeeper said their goal was protecting the three libraries. We only know of two – the Eastern one and ours. Do you know the location of the third?”
“I’ve heard rumors of other inhabited planets in our solar system, but Cronos usually shuts them down before they are confirmed. As for their desire to protect the libraries ….” His voice trails away but his gaze is intense. Although I project an aura of calm, it’s difficult to look into his hazel eyes and not see my childhood captor. “Their protection will not help the common people or the librarians. They will only grow more powerful if they gain control of the libraries.”
I shiver. I think I’d know if they replaced any of my mates, but what if they try a different tactic? Will we live our entire lives in fear of their interference and retribution? I’d hoped that once we’d rid ourselves of Addington that we’d be able to live the rest of our lives in peace. But how do we fight something we don’t understand? Cronos claims to be on our side and possesses a strange magic to replace people, if this man is telling the truth.
“You’re not alone,” Avery reminds me along our mental link. His hand gently soothes the agitated fur on my spine. “We’ll figure it out together.”
The others nod and offer reassurances, but my mind is still uneasy when the elevator doors finally slide open. I’ll feel better after we find answers; they must exist. Avery’s right, though. I’m not alone anymore. With my mates at my side, we will succeed.