Page 37 of Griffin Food

A small hand slips into mine. “Rafe, I’m s-scared.”

I yank Violet aside just in time as a hunk of tree crashes down, blocking the route to the small path we entered.

Violet screams.

A massive, russet griffin head shoves through the gap in the canopy. The branches rock beneath his weight. It clacks its beak, strange golden eyes whirling before it issues a deafening scream.

“Get behind us!”

Lark and I are seamless, placing her behind us in the shadow of the rock face.

Another sharp cry to our left heralds a second griffin forcing his way through the branches, this one gray. The trees shudder. More leaves and torn branches pelt down. And then, with a thud and an ear-splitting cry, the russet one drops into the clearing before us.

“Gods,” Lark mutters.

It is huge. Bigger than a bear shifter. Dreadful to behold, yet hauntingly beautiful.

Another crash, and the gray one lands with a thump that rocks the ground. The third one is right behind him, dropping in an ungainly heap before he rolls and rights himself, shaking out feathers and lashing his tail from side to side.

Griffins. Umber brown. Dark charcoal gray. Deep russet red. They form a semicircle, hemming us in.

The gray, and largest of the trio, locks his whirling eyes on me. He opens his beak and issues a mighty screech. His talon lashes out. I raise my sword, but he bats it from my hand like it’s a twig, sending it flying.

The other two lunge. Lark’s cry is high and wounded, but I don’t dare take my eyes off the big gray bastard whose giant talon is coming for Violet. Menacing. The size of my chest.

I have nothing to defend myself or the woman I love. Not a fucking hope. But I’m the one thing between them and her, so I issue a roar and lunge to block his path.

The outstretched talon curls into a giant fist and knocks me off my feet, sending me crashing to the ground.

The red one is on me. His talons pin my arms to the earth before he opens his beak and roars in my face.

Violet screams.

Heedless of the pain, I fight for freedom. The sharp claws lacerate my arms as I struggle, but the pain means nothing when I need to reach her. I have to protect her.

Another mighty screech. A balled claw comes for my face. My head rocks from the blow. Sparkling lights blur my vision before I fall limp and senseless. I’m plucked from the ground. Massive wings beat the air, snapping branches as we rise. I’m nothing but a battered mass of pain and misery hanging in a talon, clinging to consciousness by sheer will.

That they bested me with such ease leaves an aftertaste of bitter shame.

I blink, watching the ground grow smaller.

Two griffins are rising beside us. The gray one carries Violet, and beyond him, the brown one has Lark.

The wind is icy cold. My body shudders. Pain and hopelessness drag me under into darkness. My last fleeting thought is that I have failed.

Violet

The ground drops away as we soar into the darkening sky. My mind is gripped by the terror of the scene that just unfolded, of being airborne, and the unknown fate that lies ahead.

Shivers wrack my body, my teeth chattering furiously. I screw my eyes shut, my fingers gripping the huge claws that hold me securely but with gentleness.

Atlas. The Pride Leader has me in his grasp. Having seen his image in Master Pugstone’s book, I recognized him instantly when he dropped through the forest canopy into the clearing.

The memory of Lark’s prone body—and the blood—is fresh and raw, counters all sense of nobility I hoped to find. There is no gentleness here, nor a hint of honorable intent. These are unfeeling beasts, and my foolish quest has delivered two men I love into their clutches.

I never told them I loved them. And how tragic is that? Why did I wait? Why did I chase this stupid dream when I had a dream right in front of me? They have cared for me for all this time, loved me, and loved my body, and I didn’t even know. Why is it only now, when it is all too late, so obvious?

A deafening screech—my eyes pop open to find a craggy peak looming. I brace for impact, but the landing is surprisingly soft before I’m lowered to my feet.