Read Online The Inner Circle (Return of the Ancients Book 3) by Carmen Caine, Madison Adler - Free Book Online Page A

cause.
    But Jareth didn’t laugh at my pitiful attempt of a joke. His face was pale and strained.
    “Breaking my mirror would be like dying,” he finally said. “It would be like giving up my soul, what I really am, everything I’ve ever had and all of my dreams.”
    It sounded worse than bad luck. “Sorry,” I said, “Bad joke.”
    He shuddered.
    There was a stilted silence.
    Suddenly, he said, “I’m hungry.”
    And with that, he strode out of my room and headed for the kitchen.
    I followed.
    Jareth began to hum as he rifled through the kitchen cabinets in search of a snack.
    I decided to get directly to the point. “So, what are you going to do next?” I asked him. “What are you going to do about Rafael and the Inner Circle?”
    He scowled a little but helped himself to a couple of potato chips. Deciding he didn’t like them, he moved to the refrigerator.
    “And what about all of those Mesmers? There must’ve been a couple of dozen of them tonight,” I continued, closing the potato chip bag and putting it away. “What if they all come here at once?”
    Jareth took out some milk and opening it up, sniffed it before drinking it right out of the carton.
    “And do you know what they’re all up to—” I began.
    “Just drink,” he scowled, thrusting the milk carton into my face. “You’re noisy tonight. You’re giving me a headache.”
    I scowled at him.
    He gave me a crooked grin in response. “I guess I’m not good company right now,” he said.
    “Are you ever?” I couldn’t resist asking, but I wasn’t really mad at him.
    With a mocking lift of his brow, he laughed. “You called me, didn’t you? I came.”
    “True enough,” I admitted. “But I just wanted to get some ideas before you left me in the lurch again.”
    Jareth swung his leg over a stool and sat down heavily. “This is a matter for the Fae, Sydney,” he said in a sincere tone. “They have to know the truth. And they have to know what the Inner Circle is up to. I’ve already informed the Fae that should know. There are others working on these problems right now. Not something for you to worry about.”
    “And just what is the Inner Circle up to?” I asked stubbornly, leaning against the countertop.
    He sent me an exasperated look.
    But then, we heard Al’s truck pull into the driveway.
    “I’ll take you to work tomorrow,” Jareth offered. “We can talk more then.”
    And before I could even respond, he disappeared.
    I heaved a sigh, wishing I could disappear any time I felt like it.
    Betty and Al arrived and after bidding me goodnight, went straight to bed.
    A few minutes later, Grace came in. I watched her stumble tiredly down the hall.
    I knew there was no way to avoid it. I had to go back to my room. With a deep breath, I trudged down the hall.
    Tigger was still snoring.
    Looking out my bedroom window with the night-vision goggles, I could still see Rafael standing there with Ajax on the edge of the greenbelt.
    And even though it wasn’t supposed to, it made me feel safer. But then after crawling into bed, I still covered my head with the blankets.
    The night passed, again in fits and starts. And I rose at dawn, relieved the ordeal was finally over.
    Al was already in the kitchen. I could hear him singing as he helped Betty make some toast and coffee. And as I stumbled to the table rubbing my tired eyes, I heard Betty say, “And why would the government care about my doings?”
    “Maybe it was those Alarming Clocks you bought, Mom,” Grace snorted from the hallway. “The ones that fly off the dresser when they go off? Maybe they were really spy devices.”
    Betty just sent her a fond smile, but Al’s expression was deadly serious as he eyed the microwave hanging over the stove.
    “But microwaves are dangerous, Betty,” he insisted. “Jack swears they can be used as mind-control devices. It might explain your missing time.”
    “I can explain my missing time, honey,” she said, reaching up to give him a