The Conduit The Gryphon Series - By Stacey Rourke Page 0,48

where the Seeker was. Gabe had him engaged in a bloody, toothy battle. If that changed, I would know. I could get down the street and around the corner to her quicker than the panther could get within threat range. As much as I hated to admit it, a short visit probably couldn’t hurt.

“You have half an hour.” I stated. “After that I won’t hesitate to find you and drag you home by your stupid, perfect hair. Understood?”

“You’re the best, Cee!” She gushed. Then, flitted down the stairs and pranced toward town.

With her gone, I did my best to relax. I got myself a glass of sweet tea and returned to the porch to watch the sunset. I thought the picturesque scene would help calm my frazzled nerves. It failed tragically. As soon as I lost sight of Keni I began to rethink my decision to let her go. I had put too much confidence in my new, untested and therefore unreliable, ability. I glanced through the screen door at the wall clock inside. She had been gone for ten minutes. I would be true to my word. She had twenty minutes left, then I was going after her. I gazed back at the beautiful pink, purple and gold shades that decorated the horizon and hoped for the best.

It occurred to me that there was a simple solution to calm my tension. The icky parts between Gabe and the Seeker were most likely over. I just needed to tune back in. Once I felt Gabe’s sense of satisfaction I would know it was safe and everything was okay. I closed my eyes and sought him out. What I found instead was deep disappointment and revisited frustration.

Wait, what does that mean?

I frantically calculated situations in my head that would lead him to those emotions. Only one made sense. The Seeker had gotten away. Panic shoved its way in and I desperately tried to keep it at bay.

That doesn’t mean Kendall’s in danger. I internally reasoned. Gabe saw the Seeker in the mountains. You have time. Get a grip, so you can calmly go get her.

As I rose to do just that, the game drastically changed. I heard a door creak open and instinctively glanced up. My breath caught in my throat. Keith moseyed casually from his house to the garage. The same Keith that was supposed to be at the library with Kendall right then. My legs were already in motion while my brain tried to put the pieces together. I made it across the street in a flash and roughly grabbed the scrawny boy by his forearms.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded.

“I…I live here.” He stammered his eyes as big as saucers.

“You told Kendall to meet you at the library!” I screamed, terrified because I suspected what his response would be.

“No…I…I didn’t.”

Releasing the frightened boy, I spun and ran with every ounce of strength in my body.

“Is she okay?” He yelled after me.

No, she‘s not. And it’s my fault.

CHAPTER 22

My bare feet slapped against the blistering black top made each step more excruciating than the last. My lungs ached and I had a stitch in my side, yet I ran on. I had to.

As I sprinted into town I opened up my direct line to Gabe. I shoved my panicked, urgent feelings out to him. Please, please let him get here in time. I pleaded to the heavens.

My foot found a pothole on Gore Avenue and my ankle wrenched to the side. I caught myself with my hands as I fell. My ankle throbbed and my palms were bloody. I righted myself as quickly as I could and hobbled on.

The library came into view, spurring me to limp-run even faster. My eyes scoured the yellow building for a glimpse of her. No movement, no people, nothing. They couldn’t be inside, the library closed at five.

Evil, malignant beings don’t really care about closing times or locked doors, my inner voice corrected. If he wanted in, he got in.

I yanked and shook the doors with all my might. They were padlocked with a thick, steel chain and determined not to budge. I cupped my hands around my eyes and looked inside. I saw nothing but books. If he took her somewhere else, I had no way to find her.

Or do I?

My chest tightened. Opening myself up to that, knowing there was nothing I could do to help her, would be agony. But I had to find her. I braced myself for