Read Online The Inner Circle, Book 3 of the Glass Wall ( A YA Urban Fantasy Romance ) by Carmen Caine, Madison Adler - Free Book Online

And dashing to my room, I dove under the covers and
clutched Jareth’s protection rune tightly in my hands.
    Somehow, that felt safer.
    I passed the time thinking of Rafael, trying
not to think of his kiss. After all, he was probably a jerk. But
that really didn’t do anything to stop me from reliving the moment
again and again, all the while grinning like a fool.
    I guess the stress finally caught up with me.
Gradually, I got drowsier and eventually fell asleep.
    The next thing I knew, I was waking up
groggily and unable to shake the vague, disquieting feeling that
something was in the room with me.
    For a brief moment, I could have sworn that I
saw the mutant tulpa in the corner of the room near the ceiling.
But by the time I’d focused my eyes, the shadowy image had
disappeared, leaving me to doubt my sanity.
    I shuddered involuntarily.
    Darting out of my room, I headed straight for
the kitchen.
    It was late. Everyone should have been home
by now. But by the time I began to freak out on all the possible
things that could have happened to them, I saw the light blinking
on the answering machine.
    The first message was from Grace saying
they’d decided to watch a double-feature. The second message was
from Al and Betty, saying they’d be late.
    Relieved that they were safe, I checked the
locks on the windows and doors. And then since we were out of
hotdogs, I had to physically lug Tigger from the kitchen into my
bedroom. It took a lot of effort. He kept falling asleep along the
way. But finally, I had him installed in my room.
    After giving me a gentle lick on the hand, he
curled up with a contented sigh and promptly fell asleep.
    I felt better with him next to me.
    Jerry was awake, sitting in the corner of the
cage. I gave him a few seeds and stared into his little black eyes.
He looked so old and wise. He never failed to make me feel
loved.
    A little calmer now, I returned to my bed,
but still awake and wide-eyed.
    I stayed that way for some time, but again, I
must have drifted off at some point, because I woke up to the sound
of Tigger barking.
    Instinctively, I thought of Jareth’s
numbers.
    This time, about two seconds later, Jareth
appeared with his trion at the ready.
    “What is it?” he asked, scanning the
room.
    I glanced around. I didn’t see anything.
Jareth’s rune was cool in my pocket.
    Tucking his trion away with a little flip, he
looked down at me. “You look a little … unhinged.”
    “Tigger barked a warning,” I explained,
clearing my throat a bit uneasily. “Do you think it was the
Mesmers?”
    Arching a cynical brow, he leaned over and
prodded Tigger with his foot.
    Tigger snored in response.
    “The only reason that hound ever barks is for
food,” he said with a dry chuckle. “He’s probably dreaming of
hotdogs.”
    And then he moved to peer out of the window
and frowned.
    As his scowl deepened, I asked him with
growing panic, “What is it? Are they here?”
    When he didn’t answer, I crept up behind him
and looked out myself.
    I didn’t see anything.
    “He’s out there,” Jareth said softly.
    “He?” I asked, a shiver running down my
spine.
    “Rafael,” he said the name reluctantly.
    I squinted into the darkness, but I only saw
the outline of the tall fir trees against the dark wintry sky. But
then remembering Al’s night-vision goggles, I ran to the kitchen
drawer and dug them out.
    I returned to find Jareth standing right
where I’d left him with his arms folded, glaring out of the window.
Adjusting the night-vision goggles, I peeked over his shoulder.
    I didn’t see Rafael. But then I saw Ajax,
staring straight at me from the edge of the greenbelt. I nearly
dropped the goggles.
    Soon I saw Rafael’s tall form moving behind
him.
    He was watching me. He was looking
directly our way.
    “What is he doing out there?” I asked
breathlessly.
    “He knows they’ll never leave him without a
shred of protection,” Jareth grumbled. “That’s probably why he’s
wandering