The Conduit The Gryphon Series

CHAPTER 20

My tires screeched as I whipped into Grams’ driveway. The sun hung low in the sky. Before the truck came to a complete stop Gabe flew out the door.

“I’ll check around back.” He called as he raced around the side of the house.

Kendall and I jumped out, then scanned the street to make sure we weren’t followed. If a battle was going to take place, we didn’t want it to happen here. Here there were innocent bystanders, like our much adored Grams, that could get hurt. Regret gnawed at me. We shouldn’t have doubted ourselves. We should’ve stayed in the mountains and squared off with the Seeker. Our hesitation may have endangered lives.

Gabe rounded the house in an easy jog. “There’s nothing back there. I can’t sense him anywhere nearby. I think we’re okay for now.”

“Sense him?” I asked. “Is that another cat thing?”

He wiped the sweat from his forehead. I guessed it was from the muggy night and not the exertion from the run, because he wasn’t even winded. “It’s like a prickly feeling at the back of my neck, telling me there’s another predator around. Plus I can hear and smell him miles away. The panther won’t be able to sneak up on us now that I’ve changed.”

“As long as he comes in panther form.” I pulled my hair up off my damp neck.

“What?”

“He can shape shift, remember? The lion will detect the panther, but not a human.”

Gabe thought on that so hard it looked physically painful for him. “We need to find him before he finds us. First thing tomorrow I’m gonna go up into the mountains and try to draw him to me. Then, I’ll take care of this once and for all.”

“Once and for all?” Kendall cringed.

“Yes, Kendall. I will kill him.” He stated firmly. “Because if I don’t, an entire army is going to show up on our doorstep wanting Celeste’s head on a platter. I personally would like to avoid that, wouldn’t you?”

Keni emphasized her agreement with a series of vigorous nods.

“I’m also a fan of avoiding the whole head on a platter thing.” I offered. “Especially with it being my head in question.”

“As for tonight,” Gabe’s eyes were shaded by his heavy brow as he peered at the house. “We’ll take turns as look-out. That way we can each get some sleep. When I go tomorrow, you two sit tight here. Keep each other and Grams safe. I’ll handle the panther. Should be a piece of cake. The guy can’t be too tough if he got darted in the butt.”

His cavalier attitude would’ve been more believable if we didn’t have axes of death and mayhem dangling over our heads. But there was no point in arguing. “Sounds like a plan.”

“Good. I’ll take first shift. Keni, you get second. You’ll be last, Cee.”

Big shocker, I got the last shift-sunrise. The least likely time for an attack. My own insignificance in the face of adversity ground into me like a dull knife. However at that moment emotional pain wasn’t exclusive to me. Across the street Keith dragged garbage cans out of his parents’ garage and down the driveway. Kendall’s turquoise eyes brightened, her cheeks flushed to a rosy hue.

“Keith!” She took a couple of eager steps toward him.

Her crush glanced up, then quickly lowered his gaze and stared at the ground for the duration of his task.

“Keith?”

He disappeared back inside without acknowledging her at all.

Kendall’s chin quivered. I wrapped my arm around her and stroked her hair the way I’d seen Mom do a thousand times.

Leave it to Gabe—a.k.a. Mr. Insensitive—to take the tough love approach. “Get your head in the game, Keni. After we save the world you can worry about that mushy stuff.”

She blinked back tears and managed a nod. My heart broke for her.

“Let’s call it a night, guys.” I jerked my head in the direction of the house. I didn’t have to tap into her emotions to know Keni needed a little girl talk.

Halfway up Grams’ meticulously landscaped walkway, I halted. Despite the heat I got an unmistakable chill. We were being watched. I rubbed at the goose bumps that had popped up on my arms and glanced around into the impending darkness. I saw nothing, but couldn’t shake that foreboding feeling.