Sacrifice (Gryphon Series) by Stacey Rourke Read Free Book Online Page A

hits, but not our Cal. He gave as good as he got and remained esthetically pleasing all the while … for the most part.” Waves of golden hair poked out from under a grey and blue knit beanie cap I recognized as one of the extras Grams knitted while she watched her stories.
    A grunt and wheeze behind us made Rowan’s head swivel around. “ What in blazes did you do to him? ”
    Cronus —who will always be Bat-bull to me—was sprawled on the ground, covered in feathers. He lifted his head, arms, and legs maybe an inch off the ground as he snorted, grunted, and strained, but couldn’t budge beyond that.
    “ It would seem Keni’s feathers are like a force field to him.”
    “ Celeste ripped a bunch out by the handful!” Keni pouted and rubbed the bald spot on the tip of her right wing.
    “Oh, they’ll grow back , ya big baby. It was that or let him gore us to death. I think it was pretty fast thinking!”
    “And I think I’m gonna shave your head in your sleep and see how you like being bald.”
    “Yeah, cause that’s the same!”
    “Ladies!” Gabe yelled, chills racking his mammoth frame. “Can we please have this conversation at home? When I have pants on?”
    Rowan held up one hand to shield his eyes . “Lots of holes in that blanket, mate. Just so ya know.”
    Gabe’s complexion went from blu e to purple and he readjusted his blankie.
    “We should scurry along though. Your soon-to-be bride and that angry little wee man are both in quite a tizzy.”
    All I wanted to do was get home and see Caleb alive and in one piece. But my sacred duty made it mandatory for me to ask, “About what?”
    Rowan stared at me like I just had a sudden flare up of stupid. “I didn’t ask. That would imply caring, which we’ve established I do not .”
    I smacked my forehead with the palm of my hand. “That’s right. How could I forget for even a split second what a major tool you are? Well come on Cap’n Sensitivity, let’s get us home so you can go back to spreading your charm the world over.”
    “So we’re not gonna be BFFs after this?” Rowan said with a mock pout. “I was so looking for ward to the slumber parties and pillow fights.”
    “Me too.” I tightened my afghan around my shoulders as w e three Garrett kids circled our proverbial supernatural taxicab. “Spoiler alert; there was a brick in mine.”
    “What about him?” Gabe jerked a thumb at Cronus.
    I stared over my shoulder at the flutter-kicking monster. “We’ll tell Bernard about him. If the Countess doesn’t come and claim him maybe the Council will have an idea of what to do. Otherwise we come back tomorrow and have Keni hug him into submission so we can move him.”
    A second before we dissipated in a cloud of smoke Keni raised her hand in the air. “I vote we leave him here and make him a New York tourist attraction.”

     
     
    CHAPTER SIX
     
                  Bernard, Alaina, and Grams—who came home from her boyfriend’s in light of the chaos—all tried to intercept me when I walked in the door. Each chattered away at top speed.
    I didn’t even pretend to listen, just silenced them with a raised hand and stern look. “Where is he?”
    Grams pressed her pink painted lips together and pointed toward her bedroom. I pushed past them and bee-lined it down the hall. If they voiced a complaint I didn’t bother to listen—or care.
    My hand closed around the doorknob. I took a deep breath to prepare myself for the worst and then pushed it open. One glance was all it took to steal a shocked gasp from my parted lips. He lay on the bed uncovered and still as a corpse. Gram’s white orchard print comforter was folded at his feet, probably because even the light touch of it would’ve been rough against his vast burns and abrasions. His chest rose and fell with a movement so faint I had to step closer and stare hard to confirm he was breathing. Grey shadows circled his sunken eyes. All color had been sucked from his