Shimmer: The Rephaim Book 3 Read Online Free Page B

my pocket. I hate that I have to drag my best friend back into this shitty mess. But what choice do I have?
    I’m not letting any more people I care about get hurt.

GATHERING CLOUDS
    On Nathaniel’s signal the Sanctuary Rephaim file out of the chapterhouse, resentful. I sit on the pew and cradle my phone. It’s cold and lifeless, or maybe the phone’s fine and it’s me. Daisy and Micah both catch my eye before they leave; both take one last look at Jude.
    ‘You may follow Brother Stephen,’ Nathaniel says to the Outcasts, and gestures to the monk waiting by the door. His head is bowed, his gnarled hands folded over his brown robe. Magda has already left.
    ‘We’ll wait for Gabe,’ Ez says.
    Nathaniel tilts his chin a fraction as if he’s considering a tricky question. ‘As you wish.’ He makes no move to leave. Daniel, Uri and Calista stay in position as well; the Outcasts hold their line. Nathaniel’s attention flicks to them, frequently. Another gust of wind outside. The draught brushes past my ear, shifts a stray hair clinging to my neck.
    Mya lets out her breath, incapable of hiding her frustration. ‘We know the way to our rooms. There’s no need to babysit us.’
    ‘You think we kept your rooms?’ Calista says. ‘Honestly, Mya, your delusion knows no bounds.’
    Malachi lifts the tip of his sword in Mya’s direction. His eyes are hard, his skin washed out under the jet-black goatee.
    ‘This is your fault.’
    Mya smiles, dangerous. ‘How do you figure that?’
    ‘You caused the split: you kept Gabe and Jude apart. Whatever they did a year ago wouldn’t have happened if they’d both still been here. This attack today wouldn’t have happened.’
    Whatever they did a year ago.
    ‘I’m not the one who led Zarael straight to them and got a bunch of rednecks butchered,’ Mya snaps.
    ‘No, you’re the one who keeps putting people I care about in danger—’
    ‘Enough.’ Ez steps between them, her plait swinging across her back. ‘We’re not doing this now.’
    Jude picks up the other blanket and turns his back to the others. ‘Better make that call before this turns ugly again.’
    I check my watch. It’s been forty-seven minutes since the attack. I try not to think of all the things Zarael could do to Rafa in forty-seven minutes. My breath shortens again. Jude grips my elbow.
    ‘You don’t know what’s going on at the farmhouse, and imagining the worst doesn’t change that. All it does is paralyse you, which helps nobody.’
    He’s right, I know he is. But the fear is deep in my bones now. A part of me. And then the realisation hits: I know how I can find out exactly what’s happening in that room. I take a deep breath and tap in Maggie’s number. I need to hear her voice before I talk to Jason. Her phone rings six times. It’s about to go to voicemail—
    ‘Gaby.’ Her voice is bright, warm. I can hear soft music in the background, tinkling glasses. I close my eyes and wish I didn’t have to take this moment from her.
    ‘Mags…’
    ‘What is it?’ Her fear is instant. ‘What happened with the Butlers?’
    I focus on the worn pew so I don’t have to see everyone watching me deliver the news. I stall. ‘Is Jason with you?’
    ‘Of course.’
    ‘Are you still in Melbourne?’
    ‘Yes—babe, where are you?’
    ‘The Sanctuary.’
    I hear her intake of breath. ‘Why? Is everything okay? Is Jude—’
    ‘Jude’s fine.’ I dig my fingernail into a gouge in the timber, remember that three of the Five are still in the room. ‘Zarael attacked. He got Taya and…and Rafa.’ I bite the inside of my lip. Jude takes the phone from me.
    ‘Hey, hey. It’s okay, Maggie, they’re alive.’ He pauses, taps his thumb on his thigh. A glance at Daniel. ‘Yeah, he and Taya followed us up there. He reckons the demons took them as leverage. Or bait.’ He listens for a moment. ‘Simon’s okay. He’s here with us. So are the brothers and their mates. They’re a bit knocked