Read Ascension (The Gryphon Series) for Free Online Page A

Grand Councilwoman. She hated me, and I wanted to pinch her head off her shoulders. Ours was a relationship based on mutual distaste. “Today, a new Spirit Guide must be found for the Conduit of the Gryphon, as well as her Guardian and Protector.”
    “Because the last one tried to gut me like a fish and that’s not a desirable trait in a guide,” I muttered behind my hand to Gabe.
    Grams and Alaina had been seated in high back chairs in the first row, right at the middle marker of the arena. Even from this distance I could see the frowns of unease that creased their faces. I beamed and gave them an exuberant wave of reassurance.
    “ For the first time we have the luxury of the subjects being present for the choosing of their Guide. Seeing as the Garretts require …” the haughty woman cleared her throat, “… special care, the Council has decided to find the Guide whose fighting style best fits their needs from a selection of our very finest warriors.”
    Gabe’s chest shuddered as he huffed a dry laugh. “ Only that woman could make ‘special’ sound like a four letter word.”
    “Let us begin.” The Councilwoman’s bony arms flung out in a wide V. “Open the doors!”
    The twirling acrobats a ssumed a respectable stoicism as they marched by twos to the four sets of double doors. A dramatic pause to build suspense, then they flung the doors open wide. Our opponents’ grand entrance was met with thunderous applause.
    “Bum, bum, buuummmm, ” I sang the ominous theme music, then giggled at my own joke.
    Big Mike and three dudes, who matched him in size and frighteningly intimidating exteriors, emerged from all four sides, surrounding us. Black tribal ink decorated their bare torsos, and one guy’s face … which, quite honestly, made him look like a serial killer. Big Mike puffed his chest, his wings arched up wide behind him. With a loud crack the caramel skinned cohort to his left uncoiled a whip holstered at his hip. Yellow eyes flashed from the other two party-goers, signaling they were moments from shifting into something scary.
    “Whoa! It just got real up in here!” I laughed and clapped my hands together.
    Gabe’s back rounded. The bones of his face snapped and popped to form his muzzle. “What’s the plan, oh wise Chosen One?”
    “ From the looks of these guys I think the plan is to take a first class butt kickin’! We are about to be on the receiving end of a monumental smack down. Epic amounts of pain, headed our way!”
    Keni gulped at my lively declaration.
    Gabe ’s topaz eyes narrowed. “The novelty of you on musssssse juice hasssss officially worn off.” His clawed hands encircled mine and Keni’s wrists as he yanked us behind him. “Keep a tight formation!”
    I nudged my brother in the ribs with my elbow as hair exploded on him like an overzealous Chia Pet . “Way to take a leadership role! Good for you!”
    “ Shhhhhut up and punch things,” he growled.
    The two shifters fell into their battle forms; one a magnificent white leopard, the other a fine-boned cheetah with hungry eyes. I winced as Gabe’s skeletal system slurped and thunked beside me. The impending threat spurred his change into overdrive. Unfortunately, before he could complete the transformation, the cheetah took advantage of his momentarily weakened state. It darted across the arena in a wide gait, with the leopard close behind, pumping its legs to keep up. Gabe forcefully shoved Keni and me out of the way just as the cheetah sprang into a pounce. Its front paws connected with Gabe’s barrel chest and he rode my brother straight into the ground. The air left Gabe’s lungs with a pained wheeze under the weight of the powerful cat. Adrenaline forced him feline. Our Gabe-lion rolled to the side, easily flipping the cheetah off him. He bound to his feet in time to intercept the panther in a violent collision of teeth and claws. The cheetah gave an annoyed snort as it fought to regain its footing, then threw