The Egg (Return of the Ancients Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

inside my heart, too.
    Not to mention Grace, Al, and Betty.
    My eyes misted.
    And Jareth.
    Somehow, I guess I’d been opening up these past few months. I’d grown to love each of them in their own way. Rafael had been right when he’d told me there were many shades of love. Love seemed a bit contagious as well. I hadn’t known I could care for so many people at the same time.
    I glanced down at the temperamental Doberman holding still beneath my hand. I hadn’t even been conscious of the fact I was still petting him. It was surprising but even more so that he was letting me. I think we both realized the marvel at the same time because he growled. I knew it wasn’t a real growl. But I stood up anyway, pretending to be scared even though we both knew I was only indulging him.
    “Let’s go,” I said, suddenly wanting to be anywhere else.
    I guess Ajax wanted to go, too, because he jumped down from the bed at once, leaving his precious collection of tennis balls behind. He padded softly down the hall after me as we made our way back to the kitchen.
    Rounding the boxes stacked into the hallway, we ran right into Betty.
    “I just got my PayPal money, so I’m off to the grocery store. I’ll be back soon.” She smiled in greeting as she zipped her jacket. After rummaging in her purse for the car keys, she suddenly paused to send me a stern look. Well, for Betty I guess it was stern. For anyone else, it was just a warm, concerned smile. “Don’t let Al turn the house into a chicken coop while I’m gone,” she warned. “And I’ll pick you up some soup. You just go rest on the couch, honey.”
    I smiled and nodded. Betty warmed me down to the toes. She made me feel like I was wrapped in a soft fuzzy blanket and that everything was just going to work out and be OK in the end. But I guess that is what good moms do.
    After closing the door behind her, I headed for the kitchen to pour myself a glass of milk. While pouring it, I watched through the kitchen window as Betty backed Al’s truck out of the driveway. She’d scarcely pulled out of the cul-de-sac when suddenly the Fae appeared, popping into the kitchen in poofs of mist. And even though you’d think I’d be used to Fae surprises by now, I almost dropped my milk just the same.
    I turned to find Rafael’s tall frame leaning against the countertop near the sink, his arms crossed and his handsome face pale. I’d half expected to see him in a new outfit and with his thick blond hair fashionably styled, but he was wearing the same clothes from the coffee shop and there was hardly any eyeliner ringing his eyes.
    “What is it?” I asked. Clearly, there was a new crisis of some kind.
    Rafael’s intense eyes searched mine. He looked like he wanted to tell me something. His lips parted, but then glancing over my shoulder at the Fae Protectors still popping into the kitchen, he seemed to change his mind.
    “It’s Melody,” he said, clearing his throat. “She’s disappeared again. She obviously has allies.”
    I could tell it wasn’t what he’d wanted to say, and it wasn’t particularly surprising news. Al’s army boots thudded across the vinyl tiles, and I looked up at the frown lines indented between his brows.
    “What about the GPS tracker I slapped on her back?” he boomed at Rafael. “Where did it end up?”
    “GPS?” Rafael repeated, blinking in surprise. Exchanging a quick glance with me, he turned to the Fae Protectors and ordered, “Recalibrate the locators. Doubtless, she wouldn’t think of such primitive signals either.”
    Several of the Fae Protectors vanished in a poof, apparently to detect GPS signals, as the others took out their trions and murmured into them with soft words.
    If Al was insulted by his GPS tracker being called primitive , he certainly didn’t show it. “I’ve got some equipment that might help you boys out,” he offered, nodding his head at the cupboard that held his spy gear.
    My foster father looked tired, drained.