Read Phoenix in My Fortune (A Monster Haven Story Book 6) for Free Online Page B

condescending tone. “Yes. Two of us. We’ve been through this impossible-type scenario a few months ago when the zombie portal opened without Mom and me being dead. The Last Hidden—Shadow Man—doesn’t play by the rules.” I pressed my lips together to keep from adding how he hadn’t lifted a finger to help, though part of the problem had been his own parishioners gone rogue.
    Twitch. Nostril flare. Sniff. “This isn’t natural. If this Shadow Man really is the Last Hidden, he’s forced himself into the world prematurely.” Under the desk, the pastor’s foot bounced in a frenetic pattern. The laces on his dress shoe bounced and flailed.
    I lowered my mental shields a bit and reached my empath ability toward him. Nervous energy pelted me like bits of gravel, and fear oozed down his legs and into the drab brown carpet. He took a deep breath and went still.
    The elf sat staring at us for so long, I thought he’d fallen asleep with his eyes open. He shifted, then rested his chin on steepled fingers. “Whatever this creature is, Final Hidden or pretender, you’re concerned that those lost sheep who followed his voice four months ago are following his flesh now. Correct?”
    His fear was still there. I could taste it at the back of my throat. But it was different now—a subtle change to the quality of his fear. He was afraid for others, not for himself. “Yes. That’s correct. If the cult is still in existence, then Shadow Man has minions he can rely on to do some of his dirty work.” I paused. “Do you know that yesterday he kidnapped six children who were on a field trip?”
    Sniff. Flare. Sniff. Twitch. He sighed and dropped his hands to his lap. “Look. I can’t believe I’m even considering telling you this.” Sniff-flare. “I need to know I can trust you two. I want no police action taken. Promise me before I continue.”
    That didn’t sit well with me. Whatever was going on, I wanted the local Oversight and General Rule Enforcement (O.G.R.E.) squad available as backup. The team was fairly new, but this time, I’d screened them all myself—and I hadn’t held back on using my empath powers to check them out—so I knew I could trust their honesty, if not their capabilities. The last squad had been run by a priest of the same cult we were hunting. That hadn’t gone well at all. But things were good now. Safe. Giving up that safety net for information I didn’t yet have was difficult.
    I glanced at Riley, and he gave me an encouraging smile. Apparently, he had confidence either in the pastor’s forthcoming information or in his own ability to keep us safe. I didn’t feel anything hostile or sneaky from the elf, only his concern and fear for the wellbeing of those he was protecting.
    “Okay,” I said. “I’ll agree. No O.G.R.E. involvement.” I tilted my head and glared to show I meant business. “Provided our silence doesn’t put anyone else in danger.”
    Lip twitch-sniff-sniff-flare. The guy had enough tics his face was almost like performance art. “After the regrettable events of four months ago, the lost souls who went astray came home. Not all at once, mind you, and I admit, one never returned. But the rest came to me, one by one and in groups, contrite, afraid and broken. I’ve been working closely with them ever since.”
    I knew who hadn’t come back. Pansy, Maurice’s gargoyle ex-wife, had sort of been the ringleader at first, until we sat her down and had a long talk. “Your missing girl is safe,” I said. “She changed her tune and ran off with her bridge troll lover.”
    He lifted his chin. “Ah. That explains it.” He shuffled some papers and tapped them against his desk to neaten the pile. “I’m afraid that’s really all I have for you. I apologize for the secrecy, but those people came to me for help. I couldn’t risk you bringing in the police and charging them for their past crimes. By church law, they are absolved and doing good works to make amends. I