Read The Guardians Crown (The Guardians Book 5) for Free Online Page B

driveway, pushing the bike as fast as it would go. When he made it through the front gates he barely slowed, only enough to allow himself to leap from the bike, causing it to spin out across the gravel behind him.
    There were a couple shrieks as a result, but Gabe didn’t stop, he walked with speed and determination towards Michael’s office, worried he had made a terrible mistake.
    Sophie’s safety zone should have put her back at Iron Gate long before him. Especially considering his mode of transportation. Something must have gone wrong.
    Gabe didn’t knock, he burst into Michael’s office, the doors flying open, startling everyone in the room.
    “Gabe, Peter just called and said you were back,” Michael said.
    Gabe searched the room, looking for Sophie’s face, hoping that in fact Peter had been mistaken. His eyes shifted, Uri, Haim, Damon, Rachel, Dina, and Michael. There was no Sophie. “Has anyone heard from her?” Gabe inquired.
    Instantly they knew whom he spoke of. Uri stood and shook his head. “We were hoping maybe she was with you.”
    “No, we have to go back!” Gabe exclaimed.
    “Wait, hold on—” Michael began.
    “Something must have gone wrong, we have to go back, now,” Gabe commanded.
    Michael raised a hand, attempting to calm the panicked young man, “Let’s not jump to any conclusions.”
    Gabe rushed up to his mentor; he needed him to understand the situation Sophie was in and how dire it appeared to be. “When I was leaving Rampart a tracker must have sensed me. It got in my way and wouldn’t let me by. I think it was about to figure out my cloaking spell when Sophie distracted it. It took off towards her, but she immediately disappeared. There was nothing I could do, she was already gone by the time it registered what was happening.”
    “What?!” Damon shouted, jumping to his feet. “Are you telling me you knew she was being hunted by some demon, and you just bailed on her?”
    “Hey, look kid, there was nothing I could do,” Gabe argued. “Besides, Sophie knows how to handle herself.”
    “Apparently not,” Damon snapped back angrily.
    Gabe glared at Rachel’s brother in an attempt to intimidate him. “How about you sit down, be quiet, and let the professionals handle this?”
    “Wow, Sophie was right about you. I guess you got exactly what you wanted, didn’t you?” Damon’s nostrils flared as he refused to back down.
    “Excuse me? Just who do you think you are?” Gabe was now yelling.
    Rachel quickly moved in between the two, trying to diffuse the situation. “Damon, I’m sure if there was anything Gabe could have done, he would have. And besides, we don’t know anything is wrong yet, maybe Sophie’s just being careful.”
    “He’s a coward sis, can’t you see that? He doesn’t care about Sophie! He doesn’t care about anyone, but himself,” Damon argued with his sister.
    “I’d watch what you say kid,” Uri warned, no longer willing to stand by and watch his best friend’s character be attacked.
    Damon shifted into an even more aggressive posture, “Why is that? You guys can’t stand hearing the truth, can you? Sophie told me all about Gabe and how he ran out on all of you. He’s a coward and I seem to be the only one not afraid to say it.”
    A loud slap echoed through the room as Rachel’s hand met Damon’s cheek. “He’s my husband and you will respect him. Do you understand me?” Her voice trembled with anger as she spoke.
    Damon’s jaw dropped, a shocked look on his face as he cradled his stinging face. He looked around the room, all eyes fixed on him, “Screw this.”
    The room watched as Damon exited hastily. Gabe placed his arm around Rachel, “Are you okay?”
    Shifting her eyes up to him she nodded, but from the look on her face she was far from okay.
    “Gabe, man, we know you wouldn’t have left Sophie if you thought she were in any kind of real trouble,” Haim interjected, attempting to disperse the awkwardness in the