Sacrifice (The Gryphon Series Book 3)

by Stacey Rourke

Gabe huffed, but relented. He kept his weight on the demon until I stepped up, put my foot on its throat and called on my telekinesis to pin its body to the ground. A nod to Gabe and he slunk off to scour the darkness for any further threats.

  I tilted my head and peered down at my captive. FYI, Kepac demons? Not cute. They’re known for their lower lip that’s roughly the size of a dinner plate and has a rhinoceros tusk jutting out of it. That’s a hard flaw to look past.

  Its ghostly pallor went from red to purple. I eased the pressure a bit and it hungrily gulped the air. Panic widened his solid black eyes.

  “Celeste, you need to … ”

  I purposely cut off my mind gnome’s anticipated words. “Do you know about the new force rising?”

  Saliva dripped from the corners of its wide fish mouth. “People vanishing. New demons being made.”

  “No idea who’s behind it? Or where to find them?” I had a very good idea … Alec. But my efforts to keep him safe relied on the Dark Army not figuring that out.

  He shook his head as much as he was able. “None. The Countess is searching. She wants whoever’s behind it dead. Immediately.”

  I fought to keep my expression neutral despite my alarm that Alec had put himself on the Countess’s radar. To keep him alive and cure him of whatever evil infected him, I had to find him before she did. Unfortunately, I had run out of places to look.

  I shifted my foot slightly to dig the tread of my shoe in a little more. “And what about me? What new form of torment does your boss have on the docket?”

  Its eyes bulged with terror. It wasn’t fear of me that prompted this reaction but the idea of betraying a woman viewed to have endless power and resources.

  I squatted down and rocked a bit more of my weight on the foot that held him. It struggled to suck in a breath as its coloring transitioned to blue.

  “Because of the Countess I lost the man that I love,” I whispered. “She’s not the only one you should fear. I’m six degrees of angry and would love a violent outlet for it. However, unlike her, I can show mercy. If you cooperate. If you don’t … ”

  I let my words trail off with the obvious threat, and then rose to my feet and eased the pressure. I gave it time to suck in a few breaths before staring down with an expectant stare.

  “Your … inner … circle … has … been … breached,” the Kepac gasped. “Don’t trust … ”

  I hadn’t moved or flinched, but suddenly the demon omitted a choked gurgle. Its black eyes rolled back in its head, leaving only white voids. I released it completely and took a step back. The creature’s body jerked spastically, flopping against the ground like a fish out of water. Foamy spittle bubbled on his lips. One final shudder and it went limp.

  Keni stepped up beside me. Her nose crinkled as the demon turned to ooze. “That’s one way to shut up a minion.”

  I spun around as my lion sentry trotted up and gave a nod that the perimeter was secured. “She keeps a tight watch on her soldiers. The puppet was about to say something its master didn’t like. Still didn’t hurt to ask though.” I glanced back over my shoulder at the tar-like substance that had recently been a living, breathing creature with an unfortunate lip condition. “Well, didn’t hurt us to ask … ”

  “So are we done here?” Keni clapped her hands. Her blue eyes were sparkling with delight. “I want to head home and get some sleep. Grams is taking us to Bed, Bath, and Beyond in the morning, and she’s going to let me decorate the guest room for when Mom gets into town!”

  “Bernie?” I knew I looked crazy talking to myself, but at least my siblings knew it to be magic related and not a mental health issue. “Kepacs have been eliminated, no further threat in sight.”

  Even in my head, a mouthful of berries garbled his words. “Great job, Celeste. Very impressive. Feel free to head home and rest up.”

  A sizzle of static indicated he severed the connection. He left me with only the sound of my inner monologue in my head.

  I paused for a moment, nodded, and gave an, “Okay, will do,” to no one. I met my brother and sister’s inquiring gazes directly and didn’t bat an eye as the lie left my tongue. “Bernard said you two can head home. He wants me to do one more quick sweep.”

  

  Astride Caleb’s motorcycle I rode at break neck speeds, zooming around the few cars that cruised along the highway this late at night. The bike purred beneath me as the highway lights blurred past.

  About thirty minutes after the battle, I eased the bike into the gravel driveway, my urgency grew with every second that ticked by. I parked, yanked off my helmet and raced up the stairs in a blur of superhuman speed.

  Rowan met me at the door. The tight-lipped smile he wore in no way hid his annoyance. He gestured for me to enter with a grand wave of his arm.

  “Bad time?” I didn’t really care, but it seemed polite to ask.

  One corner of his mouth pulled back in a wry grin. “No, Mo Chroi. After the incident with the cheerleader I’ve learned not to have visitors or plans of any kind this time of night.”

  Mo Chroi, his fun little nickname for me. Gaelic for my burden. Caleb had taught it to him years ago. The irony of it wasn’t lost on me.

  “It’s not my fault she couldn’t take a joke.” I stepped into the apartment and closed the door behind me.

  “Of course.” He raked a hand through his messy hair. I must’ve gotten him out of bed; he was dressed in a fitted white t-shirt and black cotton pajama pants. “Because ‘sorry your date with the football team got cancelled’ couldn’t be taken as anything but a joke.”

  Normally I would’ve had a witty comeback for that, yet that persistent ache in my gut made it impossible for me to think of anything except my need for relief.

  “Do you mind?” I nodded toward his bedroom.

  Concern seeped into his turquoise eyes and his lips pressed together in a firm line. “You didn’t even attempt to fall asleep alone tonight did you?”

  I stared at my tennis shoes and shook my head.

  He opened his mouth to say something, and then reconsidered with a shrug. “Beautiful woman wants to climb into my bed? Who am I to refuse her?”

  With that he turned and strode down the hallway to his room.

  I kicked off my shoes and followed him. For just a moment I paused outside Caleb’s door. Many times I had tortured myself by sitting on his bed, surrounded by the possessions he left behind—just like me. No good came of that. Tonight I forced myself to keep walking, straight down the hall to Rowan’s room.

  I entered to find Rowan throwing back the covers of his rumpled, unmade bed. He stood back, giving me a silent invitation to settle in.

  I climbed onto the bed and rolled toward the door with my knees curled up to my chest. My teeth chattered in anticipation. Anxiously I fiddled with the ring that still adorned my left hand. Soon, relief would come.

  Rowan pulled the covers over me and scooted up beside me. His hand hovered over the surface of my skin—wandering over my hand, up to my elbow, back down to my wrist, and up again—but he hesitated to touch me. I tilted my face toward him to see what the hold-up was. Was that a flicker of uncertainty? For a moment he looked almost … vulnerable. The moment disappeared as fast as it appeared. His go-to expression of detached arrogance returned and he slapped his hand down on my shoulder.

  I nestled back onto the pillow that smelled of his citrus shampoo. The effects of his touch were instantaneous. Waves of relaxation washed over me; seeping into the hole that burned in me and temporarily patching my wounds. A blanket of calming energy settled over me.

  “Do you need me to give it back?” Even I heard the audible drowsiness in the slow drag of my words.

  “No. Not tonight.” Rowan eased himself down on the pillow beside me, but didn’t break his hold.

  My blinks became longer. “Will you teleport me home if I fall asleep?”

  “I always do, Mo Chroi.”

  “Rowan? Do you miss it?”

  “M
iss what?”

  I yawned. “The pirate life.”

  “Aye. I miss the sea. She holds a powerful draw.” Deep longing crept into his voice. He stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought—undoubtedly transported by memory to far off lands that I never even imagined. “When there’s nothin’ before ya but sky, water, and endless possibility. It’s a freedom only the sea provides. A true freedom. One that beckons to me every second of every day.”

  “Sounds amazing,” I murmured as I fell asleep, longing for that kind of freedom.

  CHAPTER Fourteen

  Most people would quit a job after their arch nemesis masqueraded as their boss and tried to kill their entire family. Unfortunately, since being the Chosen One only pays in emotional scars and a killer right jab, I held onto my job at the Neighborhood Café. Odds were slim the Dark Army would try the same trick twice. However, I still intended to watch the staff carefully for signs of odd “oops I just got possessed by an evil sorceress” type behavior—just in case.

  The quaint little shop sat across the street from Nashville Community College—where I formerly studied art—and it fulfilled the co-eds needs for caffeine and an inexpensive dining option. Business was booming thanks to the new manager, my friend Sophia. Sophia happened to be a muse originally sent by the Council to motivate me to date. Yep, I’m that kind of pathetic. Unfortunately she took the blame for me falling for a half-demon and they terminated her position. Thanks to the muse trait of always taking things in stride, Sophia simply redirected her energies into motivating the café customers to buy stuff. Now the place bustled with activity from open to close.

  I wiped off one of our bistro style tables and seated the next customers. With their order fresh on my pad, I rounded the counter and handed it to Sophia to fill.

  “You’re out early tonight, right?” She poured a cup of coffee and set it on my tray. “To get stuff ready for your Mom’s visit?”

  “Yep.” I grabbed a napkin and swabbed up the droplets of coffee she’d spilt on the counter. “She comes into town tomorrow.”

  She grabbed two chocolate chip cookies with a plastic gloved hand and plated them for my customers. “Why don’t you sound more excited? When’s the last time you saw her?”

  “Christmas, and I am excited, just not looking forward to running supernatural interference.”

  Sophia’s almond-shaped brown eyes sparked with interest. “Want me to distract her for you? She’s not seeing anyone, is she? ‘Cause I could arrange … ”

  My eyebrows shot up and I raised one finger. “Ah! None of that! I don’t want you … inspiring her in any way, shape, or form. Got it? That’s my mom. You encouraging her to get freaky is icky.”

  Her full lips drooped into a pout. She flipped her head and whipped her long, mahogany braid over her shoulder. “Party pooper.”

  We both glanced up when the door chimed yet again. Instead of a customer, it turned out to be a rosy cheeked Kendall whose hair was a wind-blown mess. “Hey, Cee!”

  “Uh … Keni, how did you get here?” I had a feeling I already knew the answer, but sincerely hoped I was wrong.

  She glanced around at the crowded room then mouthed the words. “I flew.”

  I leaned over the counter, ready to grab her and deliver a much needed head-butt. “Kendall, it’s the middle of the day!” Even she couldn’t misconstrue the urgency of my hissed whisper.

  Her ocean blue eyes rolled. “Chillax, Cee. I totally stayed out of sight! After all this time I know enough to fly just below the clouds so no one sees me.”

  Sophia and I exchanged matching wide-eyed, tight-lipped expressions.

  Mentally I counted to ten. “Just below the clouds?”

  “Yeah!” Her blonde locks bobbed as she nodded. “Then no one can see me because I’m blocked by the—” the sudden understanding made her cheerful expression drop like a lead weight, “—ohhhhh.”

  I ran a hand over my face and tried to think of a plausible explanation to give Bernard about a possible outbreak of angel sightings.

  Sophia laid a comforting hand on my shoulder and addressed Keni with a warm smile. “What was it you needed, honey?”

  “Gabe took Grams’ Buick to get the brakes fixed. So we need to borrow the truck to go get the supplies to make the centerpieces. I’m gonna decoupage the crap out of some stuff.” Keni bounced on the balls of her feet and clapped in excitement … over arts and crafts. How did we come from the same womb?

  I snatched my purse from my cubby below the counter, all the while biting the inside of my cheek to suppress the snarky comments that wanted so badly to leap from my mouth. I managed to keep them at bay as I dug my keys out then dangled them from my index finger. When Keni reached for them I yanked them away from her hand. “From now on we fly … ”

  She tsked. “Just above the clouds.”

  “And what don’t we do in my truck?”

  Keni jammed one fist onto her cocked hip. “Come on, Cee! Seriously?”

  She could give me that look all she wanted. It was my truck. Whining would get her nowhere but walking. “What don’t we do?”

  “We don’t drive and text.” She harrumphed.

  Reluctantly, I handed over my keys. “Actually I was going for we don’t mess with my radio but yeah, don’t do that either.”

  “Hurry home and you can be in charge of gluing!” Keni promised—or threatened—then bounced out the door.

  An amused smile curled Sophia’s lips as she watched Keni go. “Bet you’ll be happy when all this wedding stuff is over.” Back on task, she slid the tea on my tray to complete the order. “Only one more week of bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners, and hall decorating before the main attraction.”

  An image flashed through my mind of a certain wedding on a beach that would never be.

  “The sooner it’s over the better,” I mumbled, then balanced the tray on my hand and weaved my way to the table to deliver it. I was reaching down, handing a long-haired student with Buddy Holly glasses his coffee, when the bell over the door chimed again.

  I glanced up, my smile fixed, ready to utter the customary, “Hi, we’ll be right with you.” Those words lodged in my throat at the sight of ebony hair that cast faint shades of blue under the café lights. A green flannel shirt peeked out from under a black leather jacket.

  He found his way back. He remembers.

  The coffee cup slipped from my hand, bounced off the table, and crashed to the floor. Hot, brown liquid sloshed everywhere. I swiped the napkins off my tray and bent down to swab up the mess. All the café patrons turned at the commotion I’d caused, but I couldn’t pry my gaze from one in particular. His head swiveled around—brown eyes, olive skin, and most definitely not Caleb. Disappointment burned though me like acid poured on a gaping wound.

  “I’m so sorry.” My voice quaked with emotion as I handed the customer some extra napkins for the splatter that found its way onto his lap. “I’ll clean this up and get you a fresh cup.”

  Sophia met me at the counter and snatched the tray full of soiled napkins from my hands. “Melissa will take care of this. Go on a break.” She jerked her head in the direction of the back room.

  “Yeah, because Melissa isn’t doing anything,” Melissa grumbled and deposited the dishes she’d just cleared from two tables in the sink. She paused to wipe the sweat from her mocha brow with the back of her hand then noticed Sophia’s glare. Her shoulders slumped and she relented, “I’ll get right on it.”

  “I’m fine,” I lied and reached over the stack of dirty dishes to wash the coffee from my hands. They shook so severely I clasped them firmly together and turned my shoulder before Sophia noticed. “We’re slammed today and can’t afford to be shorthanded.”

  “Yes, we can. Take a break, Celeste. You need it. Besides, you’ve got company.”

  I turned and glanced out the glass front wall of the shop. Rowan cruised across the parking lot on Caleb’s bike.

  Sophia’s crimson lips pursed. “Did you call him?
”

  “No.” I shook my head and shifted my gaze away to hide my guilt.

  “Then it’s just a coincidence that the one guy on the planet that can ease those bothersome feelings you’re having just happened to pick this precise moment to bring that motorcycle back to you?”

  I fiddled with my ring, flipping the emerald framed diamond around on my finger. “He had to bring it back to me. The timing is just … lucky.”

  Sophia’s eyes narrowed. “You know, sometimes when two mystical beings are tuned in to each other they can begin to pick up on each other’s feelings without even trying. It’s rare, but I’ve seen it happen between kindred spirits.”

  “Hah! We’re far from kindred spirits.” I felt the weight of her stare drilling into my back even as I busied myself throwing ingredients into the blender. “We’re just two people helping each other through a difficult time.”

  She stepped in close enough to whisper in my ear, “I know that’s what it started as, but are you sure that’s what it still is? Maybe things have changed for him? You’re an empathe, there’s a very easy way to find out … ”

  I hit blend to drown her out. When the machine finished I poured the foam beverage in a to-go cup and snapped on a lid. “I don’t need to use my ability, because there’s nothing there. The guy can barely tolerate me, he just feels the need to help me because of the bond he had with Caleb. We’re performing a service for each other. That’s it. Plus, he’s as untrustworthy as they come. He’d stab me in the back in a heartbeat if there were something in it for him. Honestly, I wouldn’t even go so far as to call him my friend.”

  “Oh, yeah?” One scarlet painted nail jabbed in the direction of my hand. “You give free Vanilla Bean Frappucinos with extra whip cream to all your non-friends?”

  I glanced from the cup to her and back again. “Oh, shut up.”

  

  Sometimes muttering like a crazy person is mandatory and this was one of those times. “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. We’re two people helping each other cope. That’s it. Sure, he doesn’t ask me to give it back to him as much as he used to, but that’s because he has a heart the size of a pea that emotions in general are foreign to. Not because of any new, weird, incredibly inappropriate, and insanely unwanted feelings that have developed on his part.”