Read Online Ascension (The Gryphon Series) by Stacey Rourke - Free Book Online
Authors: Stacey Rourke
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all the help we can get.”
I jumped in to redirect the conversation before Gabe could reconsider opting out of violence. “So, what’s the plan?”
“The plan is to keep you alive above all else ,” Big Mike stated in no uncertain terms.
“I like this plan. It’s a good one.”
“ Kendall’s gone and you could lose your powers at any moment.” Big Mike clasped his hands behind his back and paced along the perimeter of our sparring square. “But, that’s not gonna stop demon’s from coming at you. You need to learn to protect yourself without relying on your feathered shield. And don’t count on me. I could die at any moment, just as easily as you could.”
“Ah, the power of positive thinking …”
Big Mike ignored my snarky jab and pressed on, his tone stern and serious. “We’re going to spar. I want you to focus on nothing but defense. Do you understand?”
I puffed up my cheeks and tried to blow out all my tension and frustration as I nodded my agreement. I didn’t want to do this, but, it was probably more productive than my alternate plan of going inside and moping whilst eating my body weight in Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey.
Mike gave me a snort of approval then jabbed his index finger in Gabe’s direction. “You love your sister?” He didn’t ask this with any kind of accusation, just a straight up honest inquiry.
“ I don’t always like her, but I love her,” Gabe smirked and mussed my hair. I ducked under his arm and swatted it away.
“ Good.” Big Mike pulled himself up to full height and stared down his nose at both of us. Dark fury churned in his slate eyes. “Then do not hold back.”
“Here we go ,” I muttered under my breath and stepped to the center of the room.
Gabe fell on all fours. One sensory extravaganza later and our lion emerged.
Big Mike stormed at me in a mad fury. I could still feel the sting across my neck from our earlier encounter and acted fast to avoid a repeat performance. My arm flew up to block his jab. An effective upper cut to his ribs seemed the perfect counter.
“ Huunh! Don’t hit, block !” he sputtered and fought to reclaim the breath I’d knocked out of him.
“Sorry, Mikey, pure instinct. I’m not a big fan of getting hit.” Despite my protest, I did my best to adhere to his guideline.
I kept my arms up to deflect each slam of his sledge hammer-sized fists. Not one hit landed. Until … the hair on the back of my neck rose. Gabe-lion stalked behind me. I could sense him. His belly skimmed the ground as he crept closer. His lurking presence distracted me enough to fall for Big Mike’s faked jab. My forearm rose to block the nonexistent swing, allowing him the perfect opportunity to seize my wrist and spin me around, my own arm wrapped tight around my throat in a constricting choke hold. Gabe picked that moment to lunge. Flesh shredding claws swiped across my midsection. Had I not instinctively sucked in my gut it would’ve been more than my shirt reduced to ribbons.
“ Dammit !” I yelped and clasped Big Mike’s giant mitt with my free hand. Channeling my strength, I kicked my legs up and propelled free of my winged captor. Convenient timing allowed my feet to connect with Gabe’s chest, hard enough to send the hefty lion careening backward into the wall where the outside tools hung. His potent thud shook the tiny garage. Together we disproved the myth of cats always landing on their feet as he fell in a heap of shovels, racks, and lion— oh my .
“ Good move.” Mike glowered. His broad chest glistened with a sheen of sweat. “You forgot one thing, though.”
I danced on the balls of my feet in a swell of cocky bravado. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“ Waaatcchhhhh yooouuuurrrr backkkk,” Gabe roared and leapt into the air.
I ducked my head and rounded my back. Just as the spongy pads of his paws brushed over my shoulders, I lurched up and used Gabe’s momentum against him to launch him over my head. Mid-flip
I jumped in to redirect the conversation before Gabe could reconsider opting out of violence. “So, what’s the plan?”
“The plan is to keep you alive above all else ,” Big Mike stated in no uncertain terms.
“I like this plan. It’s a good one.”
“ Kendall’s gone and you could lose your powers at any moment.” Big Mike clasped his hands behind his back and paced along the perimeter of our sparring square. “But, that’s not gonna stop demon’s from coming at you. You need to learn to protect yourself without relying on your feathered shield. And don’t count on me. I could die at any moment, just as easily as you could.”
“Ah, the power of positive thinking …”
Big Mike ignored my snarky jab and pressed on, his tone stern and serious. “We’re going to spar. I want you to focus on nothing but defense. Do you understand?”
I puffed up my cheeks and tried to blow out all my tension and frustration as I nodded my agreement. I didn’t want to do this, but, it was probably more productive than my alternate plan of going inside and moping whilst eating my body weight in Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey.
Mike gave me a snort of approval then jabbed his index finger in Gabe’s direction. “You love your sister?” He didn’t ask this with any kind of accusation, just a straight up honest inquiry.
“ I don’t always like her, but I love her,” Gabe smirked and mussed my hair. I ducked under his arm and swatted it away.
“ Good.” Big Mike pulled himself up to full height and stared down his nose at both of us. Dark fury churned in his slate eyes. “Then do not hold back.”
“Here we go ,” I muttered under my breath and stepped to the center of the room.
Gabe fell on all fours. One sensory extravaganza later and our lion emerged.
Big Mike stormed at me in a mad fury. I could still feel the sting across my neck from our earlier encounter and acted fast to avoid a repeat performance. My arm flew up to block his jab. An effective upper cut to his ribs seemed the perfect counter.
“ Huunh! Don’t hit, block !” he sputtered and fought to reclaim the breath I’d knocked out of him.
“Sorry, Mikey, pure instinct. I’m not a big fan of getting hit.” Despite my protest, I did my best to adhere to his guideline.
I kept my arms up to deflect each slam of his sledge hammer-sized fists. Not one hit landed. Until … the hair on the back of my neck rose. Gabe-lion stalked behind me. I could sense him. His belly skimmed the ground as he crept closer. His lurking presence distracted me enough to fall for Big Mike’s faked jab. My forearm rose to block the nonexistent swing, allowing him the perfect opportunity to seize my wrist and spin me around, my own arm wrapped tight around my throat in a constricting choke hold. Gabe picked that moment to lunge. Flesh shredding claws swiped across my midsection. Had I not instinctively sucked in my gut it would’ve been more than my shirt reduced to ribbons.
“ Dammit !” I yelped and clasped Big Mike’s giant mitt with my free hand. Channeling my strength, I kicked my legs up and propelled free of my winged captor. Convenient timing allowed my feet to connect with Gabe’s chest, hard enough to send the hefty lion careening backward into the wall where the outside tools hung. His potent thud shook the tiny garage. Together we disproved the myth of cats always landing on their feet as he fell in a heap of shovels, racks, and lion— oh my .
“ Good move.” Mike glowered. His broad chest glistened with a sheen of sweat. “You forgot one thing, though.”
I danced on the balls of my feet in a swell of cocky bravado. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“ Waaatcchhhhh yooouuuurrrr backkkk,” Gabe roared and leapt into the air.
I ducked my head and rounded my back. Just as the spongy pads of his paws brushed over my shoulders, I lurched up and used Gabe’s momentum against him to launch him over my head. Mid-flip
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