Chapter 44
Garrett
A lthough my griffin is me and I am him, I am less present while in animal form. My actions are instinctual and I lack the ability to interact with words or gestures. The sphinx is special in her ability to do both of these things.
When my griffin senses the threat to my mate and the library, he takes control. It’s only after the real Addington is restrained that I process the situation. Fear glitters in my father’s eyes as my talons pierce the fabric of his clothes and begin to sink into his flesh. I can’t say that I don’t enjoy it, and I’m surprised and a little disappointed when he draws short of making the man bleed.
Addington’s doppelganger, J, had expressed a range of emotions besides rage and greed. The experience had prompted me to imagine a father who wasn’t a loathsome tyrant. The other Garrett had been weak though and he didn’t have a griffin inside him.
The people we’d met had been strange versions of ourselves and made me admit that this horrible man had made us into what we are. My griffin is as much a part of my identity as my compulsion to make my human body a weapon. When Bren used his magic to make Addington spill important secrets, I’d been so proud. This man broke us, but we forged ourselves into something stronger. This isn’t always the case. Sometimes, things – and people – just break.
My griffin can’t wait until Addington is in the detective’s hands. The alpha is restrained already and the threat is neutralized, but we still insist on seeing the handoff and not leaving one of our pack alone to deal with him. After the detective takes custody and disguises Addington from curious onlookers with a special spell, however, my griffin automatically launches back into the air.
My beast ignores my attempts to regain control of my body. He has waited days to greet his mate in her sphinx form. When we reach the landing, our mate is just rising from a kiss with my brother. My beast inflates his chest and twists his head around to ensure all of his feathers are properly preened, his patience waning.
A whiff of Addington’s foul scent still clings to our talons. With a grunt, we lift them into the thick mass of feathers at our nape and cover them with our natural scent. One of our claws strikes the ancient wood plank and draws the others’ attention.
The sphinx turns to look at me – or us – I don’t know which pronoun is correct. Me feels misleading when I’m barely in control, but my griffin is still me.
Bren’s eyes twinkle. Although he still looks exhausted from the expenditure of his magic, Zosia’s kiss has rejuvenated him. He rises to his feet with a knowing smirk. “I’ll just go make sure that Avery has the situation downstairs handled. It looks like someone is impatient.”
I’m uncertain if our mate hears him because she doesn’t acknowledge him. Instead, she is studying me and my beast’s chest puffs out even more. He can smell her appreciation. My brother skips away while we stand motionless and just stare at each other.
Tentatively, I attempt the mental link. I’m uncertain if it will work, but mating with a magical hybrid has altered the way my beast and I interact. “He’s actually been quite patient,” I tell Zosia as my beast waits for our mate to come to us. “He’s wanted to do this from the moment he met you.”
“Do what?” the mental query rings in my mind as our mate takes a cautious step forward. My griffin enjoys the way the sphinx hides behind Zosia’s human face. He senses the wild within her.
“We both desire you and consider you our mate, but my griffin has primitive instincts and needs that are hard to describe. He’s waiting for you to come to him, though. He might acknowledge you as an equal, but he’s proud in this.”
“It’s so strange hearing you talk about your griffin as if he’s separate,” she responds quietly and takes another step forward. Her movements are slow, but we don’t smell fear. Her sphinx is also proud and doesn’t want to give in too easily. The tilt of her chin and the way her feathers fluff and settle lend a coy nature to her courtship.
The human in me wants to nod but my beast doesn’t copy the motion. “I feel more connected to him now,” I admit. “I believe it’s because my human and beast agree on our choice of mate. We have similar goals and desires now.”
The sphinx cocks her head to the side, and my griffin must deem her close enough to begin his display. He tilts his head up and extends his wings as far as possible in the limited space. It’s only half of their full extension, but he must consider the room sufficient. He tilts his wings up and down, displaying the full range of the tawny colors on the tops and undersides. His beak opens, and he releases a distinctive cry that combines a lion’s roar and an avian predator’s shriek.
The sound is loud, and Zosia’s sensitive cat ears twitch cutely upon her human head. Her gaze is bold and direct as her sphinx communicates equal dominance to my griffin. Her reply is a pleasing roar fused with a rumbling purr. Zosia appears surprised by the sound, but my griffin is innately satisfied with his mate’s answering call.
Now that she is closer, my griffin lowers his head and nudges her flank before prancing in a tight circle around her smaller form. I roll my eyes inwardly as he rubs against her with wings and fur, coating his mate in his scent. In between strokes, his head bobs, his wings fold and unfold, and his tail swishes. His actions are completely his own as he completes what he considers a necessary courtship ritual despite already being mated. I’m so grateful no one can see us ….
Familiar laughter disturbs the thought. Zosia’s ghost is on the sidelines, doubled over with laughter and clutching his stomach as if he feels pain. Our mate ignores the ghost and endures the treatment with a mix of amusement and pleasure that must combine her animal and human aspects.
After my griffin has completed two full circles, he returns to his position in front of her. I can’t see his face, but I’m certain he perfects avian smugness. I rarely see my shifted reflection because my beast hates mirrors. I think he sees his image as a rival because he attacks and breaks any reflective surface that confronts him.
Without warning, my griffin releases another roaring screech. The shocked look on the ghost’s face is sufficient payback for his laughter. I think he might have pissed himself if he were alive.
Our mate responds with a rumbling growl as she pads forward and rests her cheek on my griffin’s feathered chest. “Mine,” she whispers.
Our wings enfold her. The gesture is more human than animal, but it feels natural. He breathes in her scent and revels in the mate-bond for several minutes before he deems himself satisfied. Taking a step back, I shift into human form before he develops more crazy urges.
My human skin always feels tight when I return to it, but I stretch while studying the sphinx still sitting in front of me. “Thank you for indulging us. He’s wanted to do that since he met you.”
Zosia smiles. “You don’t have to apologize, Garrett. The instincts are a part of you. My sphinx craved something similar, but I didn’t know how to translate the vague impulse to rub against you. I just attributed it to desire.” Her wings flutter in an animalistic shrug.
“And you,” she narrows her eyes at the ghost still hovering nearby.
“He laughed at me when I got stuck in my shirt,” Kodi protests like a petulant child.
I laugh again as his words refresh my memory. “That was hilarious,” I agree.
“So we’re even.”
We might have been if the ghost had left it at that, but he doesn’t. He tucks his hands into his armpits, flaps his arms like wings, and juts his chin forward in a poor attempt at a chicken dance. His attempts to squawk are remarkably pitiful. I consider being offended, but he only succeeds in looking like a fool.
“I’m going to kick you out of my bed,” Zosia warns the ghost. He stops immediately and his brow creases with worry as he grumbles an apology. I love it when my mate exerts her dominance over the others. “How did the prisoner exchange go?”
“The detective has questions,” Kodi answers, relieved to change the subject. “He agreed to save them for later, though, and took the three men to their holding cells at the Bureau. He also managed to procure another vehicle to keep the two Addingtons separate.”
Zosia sighs. “I’m not sure if I can answer the detective’s questions. I’m still confused about how we ended up with two Addingtons. That wasn’t the plan.” Her gaze is thoughtful as the sound of footsteps alerts me to Bren’s return. Avery is with him, but the vampire doesn’t make any noise.
“We don’t owe Cronos anything if we don’t need their Addington,” I grumble. My dislike of this shadowy corporation is deeper than I can describe. We can’t fight an entity we don’t understand, and I especially despise owing anyone outside the library a favor. “Especially since it sounds like they were working with Addington all along. It seems like a trick.”
The rage that my griffin had been restraining rebuilds inside my chest. That man was in our library . Sensing my emotions, Zosia glances toward the book that’s still lying on the floor. She’s been in sphinx form most of the day, but she seems as comfortable in fur and feathers as in skin. I don’t sense any pain or discomfort emanating from her, and I hope this is partially due to the completion of the last bond.
When my brother became her mate and closed the loop, I’d been flooded with powerful sensations of relief, comfort, and security. Shortly after it happened, though, our knowledge of the world had been upended. I haven’t had a second to enjoy the new emotions.
I study my brother. He has engaged in more social interaction than he’s accustomed to, but I might not have to worry about the violent explosions of magic any longer. He appears tired, but I don’t see any traces of blue magic on his skin or in his eyes. The library and Zosia are soothing him and refilling the magic he expended. The two of us aren’t alone against the world – or the worlds ….
“Is everything mostly settled?” Zosia asks Avery and Bren. They’ve only been separated for a few minutes, but concern still tightens her expression.
“All three men will be held and questioned, but I believe the Timekeeper either didn’t tell us or didn’t know ….” Avery pauses, considering his words. “When Addington emerged from the library, I could observe the auras of both him and the imposter more closely. I sense an interaction between them that doesn’t strike me as healthy.”
Although it’s been a long day, the vampire appears as unflappable as ever. He’s still wearing his suit jacket from that morning, and I can’t spy a single wrinkle. Although I would never feel comfortable in his clothes, I envy his style. His speaking manner is another matter entirely. “What do you mean?” I grunt.
Bren answers. “Remember one of those time-travel movies we watched? The one with the car? When the guy went forward in time, he couldn’t encounter himself without endangering space-time or erasing himself or some other asinine outcome. Regardless of the science, it appears that two Addingtons coexisting in this world might become a problem. I don’t know if either will live long.”
The vampire nods. “Yes. It was not a healthy give and take between their energies; it was more like they were canceling each other.”
“Hmm,” Zosia murmurs. In her current form, it emerges as a rumble. “I can’t say this upsets me,” she finishes after considering it a moment. “Bren, thank you for the truth extraction.”
“The library helped as well,” he replies shyly, pleased by our mates’ pride. “She helped me pull from the truth magic that binds us. I wasn’t sure it would work, but Addington wouldn’t have answered anything without it.”
I nod and clasp my brother’s shoulder when he takes a position next to me. “You are right about that, brother, and thank you. Watching that man squirm was extremely satisfying to both me and my griffin.”
Bren glances at me, and I’ve never been more grateful that he is who he is. His unconventional behaviors and nervous tics have caused me grief over the years, but I prefer them over a dumbass like his double.
“And thank Destiny you’re not like the Brennan we met in that place,” I add.
Zosia nods her head violently. “Agreed.”
“Aww,” Kodi whines. “I want to know what you saw.”
“I can tell you what our others were like, but the nature of our journey can wait until later.” I’m uncertain whether Zosia is indulging him or giving us a moment to talk, but she tells him about the people we met. “
“A lot has happened today. How are you dealing?” I ask my brother.
As usual, Bren considers his answer carefully. “Remarkably well. The bond feels natural and the situation with our father has concluded favorably. I know you hate Cronos, but the only other option was to kill Addington. No matter how badly he deserves it, none of us should become a murderer. In each of my visions, he will die while imprisoned by the BSP.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. As long as Addington lives, he remains a threat. Bren’s words are exactly what I needed to hear. “Your foresight is back to normal, then?”
Bren frowns. “Yes and no. My magic is calmer and no longer interferes with my control. I can tap into the visions or push them away, and I’ve learned how to differentiate possible simulated copies from the true future.”
“Simulations?” Kodi asks with a raised eyebrow. The sudden silence has warned me that the others started listening, but I don’t mind. I’m no longer my brother’s only confidant.
“That would veer into the nature of our journey,” Bren hedges, looking at Zosia. She ruffles her wings.
“Right. That discussion is for later. First, I want Sage to reassure us that we aren’t being overheard within her walls.”
The four of us nod, even though Kodi is still confused. I don’t blame him. I experienced it firsthand, and it wasn’t any less confusing.
“Your aura has shifted,” Avery remarks, easily changing the subject as his eerie silver eyes examine my brother. “You used to spark with magic – too much.”
“You’re right. I’d been holding too much magic for too long. My hatred for our father and his demands led me to store my magic inside me. I became an overcharged battery, which is the real reason behind the storms I caused. Now that I’ve bonded with the library, she skims off the excess before it builds up and takes on a mind of its own. It doesn’t require any conscious effort on my part.”
“Does that mean …?” Kodi does his best impression of a sad puppy. “Will you not have any extra for me?”
“Do you have anything on your mind other than sex?” I chastise the ghost.
Kodi concentrates so hard on the question that my lips twitch involuntarily. “Yes and no. What would you think about if you couldn’t eat, sleep, or work out?”
The thought horrifies me because those three things – and sex – occupy my mind ninety percent of the time. I offer him a nod. “Point taken.”
“Zosia can give you her excess magic now, Kodi,” Bren says, ignoring our brief exchange. “Once she learns how to take it from the library and channel it through her instead of absorbing it.”
“Speaking of giving, where’s your mate mark?” The ghost changes subjects so rapidly that my head spins. “You got one right?” He studies Bren and Zosia as if he could undress them and find it himself.
The subjects of his scrutiny widen their eyes and share confused glances. It’s clear that they haven’t considered this matter yet. “Did we?” Zosia whispers.
My brother closes his eyes briefly before grinning widely. Lifting the ragged hem of his t-shirt, he reveals a tight band of black script on the upper part of his right ribcage. I marched closer to squint at the words.
“Destiny is a matter of choice, not chance,” Kodi reads aloud as he joins me. The ghost snorts. “Of course you’d get a quote.”
Bren nods, considering, as we look toward our mate. Still in sphinx form, she unfurls her wings. I expect the same quote, but hers are different. Scrawled neatly upon the inside ridge of her right wing are the words, “Our history is not our destiny.”
It’s fitting, but my mind questions the mechanics of Destiny. Is it the same as Fate, which is considered predetermined? A stinging pain makes me lift my shirt and inspect my ribcage. “The stars may hold our destiny, but we decide to accept it,” I read. It’s a fitting answer to my mental question, and I don’t mind the additional ink. It will be a good reminder if I ever falter.
“Ooh. I get another one, too, right?” Kodi asks as he bounces up and down. His face contorts like he’s on the toilet before he flickers into solidity and lifts his shirt. His original mate mark covers every inch of his chest. His expression falls but Avery clears his throat. The damn vampire is far too silent. I’d forgotten he was there.
“Check your right forearm,” Avery advises. “I see a spark of new magic.”
Kodi drops his shirt and twists his arm to look at the underside. “Death transforms life into Destiny.” He repeats the words again before pumping his fist in the air. “I love it!”
“And if someone could please read mine,” Avery says after Kodi is finished preening. He bares his upper rib while Zosia moves closer. The script on his white skin looks like molten gold.
“Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life while alone,” she recites.
“How true.” Avery’s tone is syrupy sweet as he follows his observation up with a kiss.
“So, brother? Are you upset that the quotes aren’t credited to the original speaker?”
Bren considers my question before shaking his head. “I’m not. I believe we’ve earned the right to each of ours. Besides, most aren’t verbatim.”
“Screw the credit,” Kodi snorts. “Do you feel robbed because you only got one tattoo, and we each have two now?”
Zosia turns back to us. “I don’t think I have room for more,” she jokes. “Pretty soon, I’ll be covered.”
“I have another,” Bren says so quietly that his words are nearly lost in the ruffle of Zosia’s wings. My brother turns and points to a small symbol behind his left ear. It looks familiar, but I don’t have to search my memory for its meaning.
“Ah,” the vampire hums. Zosia must be sharing her sight with him. “The crown chakra symbol symbolizes understanding and enlightenment through a greater connection to the universe.”
“And inside it is the Aum symbol, which dates back to the very first known civilizations. Scholars have debated its meaning for centuries, but I personally like that it symbolizes infinite knowledge,” Zosia finishes as she researches the nearly infinite information stored within her mind. She pads over to Bren with a shy smile and he reveals the same symbol behind the cat ear upon her head. In human form, it will be in the same place as hers.
“Is it okay?” Bren asks quietly.
“It’s perfect.” Her honest answer is accompanied by an adoring look that Bren returns.
While Kodi teases Zosia about being more tattooed than a punk rocker, I lean against the wall and fold my arms over my chest. A profound sense of rightness and belonging settles deep within me.
When we first arrived, I felt like I didn’t belong. Now, I know that my presence is vital to the team. Zosia is a gift from Destiny itself, but that gift includes this place and my fellow guardians. I knew this with certainty when I saw how different I could have been. I was meant to be here. I have found my home and family for the duration of my unnaturally long life.
I inhale, and the scent of ink, leather, and old parchment fills my nostrils. Books have always filled me with trepidation and a sense of inferiority because of my learning disability. Now, I consider them an opportunity. Outside of here, I am judged by my physical abilities and shifter status. I am more than that, though, and I can learn and grow in every way while I’m here.
I owe everything to my brother and the sphinx I never knew I needed until I met her. She still has occasional doubts regarding her worth, but we will convince her. The arrival of Cronos indicates our troubles aren’t over yet, but we will succeed together.