The Brotherhood of the Snake (Return of the Ancients Book 2) by Carmen Caine, Madison Adler Read Free Book Online

grumbled.
    My eyes fell on a display of pink rhinestone collars on the end-cap of the next aisle.
    I grinned.
    Catching my expression, Ajax followed my gaze.
    His dark eyes narrowed immediately and he straightened, lifting his lip to reveal a single tooth—the one closest to me.
    “Fine,” I muttered, quickly changing my mind about the collar. Snagging a bone, I pushed it into his mouth. At least it would keep his teeth busy.
    He followed me then, preoccupied with his bone and affording me some time to replay the day’s events in my head. But my thoughts were disjointed and I was scarcely able to concentrate on anything for longer than a few seconds.
    I was totally exhausted. Soon, I’d probably tip into hysteria.
    Deciding to clear my mind of all thoughts instead, I wandered aimlessly down the aisles, looking for the Paunchy Poodle Pills a good fifteen minutes before accidentally stumbling across them. I browsed a little more, selecting some honey treats for Jerry and then paid for all of it and left with Ajax following contently, still carrying his bone.
    “See, I’m not all bad, Ajax,” I attempted to persuade him as I stood outside the store, tucking the bag and the rest of Betty’s money in my sweatshirt pocket. “I got you that bone, didn’t I?” I felt it necessary to point that fact out.
    Ajax growled.
    I glowered, prepared to let him know just how ungrateful I thought he was when I realized he wasn’t even looking at me.
    The bone dropped from his mouth. It landed on the sidewalk with a thud as the silky black fur rose along his spine.
    He was looking at Al’s truck.
    Goosebumps instantly covered my arms, and with a sense of oncoming disaster, I leaned forward and squinted.
    Al was walking across the parking lot towards his truck, carrying a large plastic bag and several white PVC pipes. His mouth was moving, and I could tell he was singing to himself.
    Nothing looked out of the ordinary, and I was about to tell that to Ajax when I saw it.
    A shadow slithered behind Al. Something about the size of a large cat trailed about twenty feet behind him, skittering under the cars.
    Suddenly, I heard Rafael’s dulcet tones behind me. “I’m here, Sydney.”
    I whirled to find him standing at my side. He’d styled his blond hair, rimmed his gray eyes in fresh eyeliner, and changed into designer stressed jeans with a long-sleeved t-shirt. Around him swirled the telltale mist announcing he’d just shifted.
    It was bad news.
    He wouldn’t have done that if it hadn’t been an emergency.
    Evidently, Ajax thought we were in danger.
    I glanced back at Al who had paused in the middle of the parking lot to look at his receipt with his pocket flashlight.
    I held my breath, wondering if the moving shadow had been my imagination. I’d almost convinced myself I’d made it up when I saw it again, crawling up the side of Al’s truck and slipping over the edge into the bed.
    I made a garbled, strangled sound.
    “It’s nothing for you to concern yourself with, Sydney.” Jareth’s distinctive voice broke my concentration.
    He swaggered my way in the perfect rock star strut, wearing sunglasses, carrying an iced mocha, and visibly crunching a mouthful of ice. He’d pulled his dark hair into a top knot and had changed into another dramatic leather outfit, complete with pink shirt and studded jacket.
    I didn’t understand why he’d bothered with the sunglasses. They only drew more attention since the sun had set hours ago.
    Glaring at him, I pointed to Al’s truck. “Something’s there. You can’t let Al get hurt!”
    “How can he possibly get hurt when I’m here?” Jareth shrugged, tipping his mocha back and devouring another mouthful of ice. “Really! You’re quite insulting, Sydney.”
    I frowned, but felt strangely better. Jareth didn’t seem to the think Al was in imminent danger. But inching closer to Rafael, I still whispered, “Is Al safe? Is it the lizard people?”
    Rafael gave me an encouraging