A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

head. No. Taking
a sharp breath, I opened my mouth to speak, beg her if need be, but she turned
away.
    “Please, just trust me,” I whispered. The
chanting around us grew louder. Deidre raised her arm and signaled me to begin.
The time had come. I placed a soft kiss on Amber’s neck and ran my tongue over
the spot where her blood pumped the hardest, then waited. She shuddered under my
touch, her heart hammering in her chest. Intertwining my fingers with hers, I
dared take a deep breath and let her scent invade my nostrils. She smelled of
lavender and honey, of warm summer nights and rainy skies, of the home I always
wanted to build and treasure.
    The hunger inside me stirred, growing in
intensity until I could barely restrain my vampire nature. My fangs connected
with her skin, piercing the fragile barrier, and her blood, sweeter than any
nectar, flooded my mouth, robbing me of my last ounce of control.
    “Don’t kill her.” My brother’s voice echoed
from somewhere behind me, but I could scarcely make out the words. It wasn’t
right to drink from my mate and enjoy it so much, but Amber was
different—in a way she was mine like no other had ever been before. I
couldn’t slow down.
    Amber groaned and stirred beneath me. Her
soft hand moved to the nape of my neck. To hold me in place? To push me away? I
had no idea because her hand just lingered there. I could feel her heart
racing, pumping harder to make up for the loss of blood. The color was slowly
draining from her cheeks as she grew weaker. It wasn’t enough; she hadn’t
reached the threshold yet. And then her pulse slowed down to a mere whisper,
barely audible in my ears, and her hand let go.
    “That’s enough.” Deidre put her child-like
hand on my arm to stop me. I turned on her, snarling like a crazed animal
trapped in a cage. For a moment, my human side switched off and I almost
pounced, ready to shred to pieces whoever lingered between me and my prey. Strong
hands grabbed my shoulders and pulled me away, holding me down until
understanding kicked in and my human side returned.
    Cass glared at me. “That love bite was more
than just a nibble. You took it a step too far, mate. And you think I’m nuts?”
    “What’s wrong with you? You could’ve killed
her,” Kieran hissed in my ear. Was he talking about Deidre or Amber? Amber. With a gasp, I turned to face my
mate, lying on the altar, pale as the dead. I struggled against my brother’s
iron grip, listening for Amber’s pulse, but I couldn’t hear it.
    “Get him out of here until he calms down,” Deidre
said, annoyed.
    “Yeah, you heard Queenie, kick his butt to
the curb,” Cass said.
    I shook my head. I didn’t want to leave.
Not before someone assured me my mate was all right. I took a deep breath to
steady myself and clear my mind. “I’m good.” I took another look at Amber’s
motionless shape, so small and helpless between the candles. For her sake, I’d
be strong. But just standing here and not doing anything felt wrong.
    “You sure?” Kieran asked, skeptically.
    I nodded.
    “Let’s hurry then. We don’t have much time.”
Devon kneeled at Amber’s head and placed his palms on her temples. The
incantations commenced again, barely more than a soft murmur compared to Devon’s
booming voice. “Amber, can you hear me?” She didn’t respond, but the pinkie on
her left hand twitched.
    “Can she hear us?” I asked. She simply had
to, otherwise—
    “Be quiet,” Devon whispered. “Let her
focus.”
    Deidre stepped in the middle of the circle
and raised her arms. “Tonight, this gifted soul shall enter the realm of the
otherworld, and we are here to guide her.”
    The chorus of voices rose near the wall. “Dark
Lords, let us serve this congregation through our queen.”
    Deidre bowed her head, her voice echoing
from the walls. “Amber, listen to the voice that is no servant of the power,
but power itself. I pledge that I shall act as a bridge between you and the
souls that will assist you on your journey in this dim hour so long as your pledge
remains finding the book.”
    The strong wind outside shook the door in
its hinges; the candles started to flicker, but didn’t go out. Somewhere in the
distance, glass shattered, and birds cawed. The Shadows’ murmurs filled the air,
sending shivers down my spine.
    “Amber, can you feel the power that is
present to guide you?” Devon asked. I watched my mate’s eyes move beneath
closed lids. A heavy weight settled