A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

and I exited, grabbing my bags as I thanked Harry.
    “If you need anything, just ring. It can
get lonely here,” he called before putting the van in gear and speeding off.
    “I will.” I walked around the back to the
kitchen. It was almost three p.m. but the house was quiet. I grabbed a bottle
of water and an empty glass, and returned to my room, sinking into my soft sheets
as soon as I shrugged out of my boots and coat.
    The woman with the buggy had been there, I
knew it. There could be many explanations why Harry didn’t see her. Maybe his
sight failed him. Maybe something obstructed his view and the woman jumped to
the side on time, unhurt. But how did she disappear so quickly?
    I sat up and poured myself a glass of
water, emptying it in one big gulp, then pressed the cool glass against my feverish
temple, hoping I hadn’t caught a cold on my first day out. I closed my eyes and
fell asleep, the image of the woman in black still lingering at the back of my mind.
When I woke up, darkness had descended. My joints felt stiff, as though I’d
slept in the same position for too long, but my upset stomach felt a little
better already. Grunting, I stirred and pushed the covers aside. Dizziness
washed over me, making me want to stay in bed. I held on to the bedside table
until it passed, then stood on shaky feet.
    Somewhere a clock struck seven times. I had
slept for four hours. The lack of sleep from last night must’ve caught up with
me. I changed into a black V-neck shirt and headed for the kitchen when I heard
laughter coming from the library. Stopping mid-stride, I held my breath to
listen.
    A woman laughed. Was it Clare? “Looks like
you can try again to win the prize in five hundred years. I can’t believe you
let that pretty little thing beat you.”
    “She didn’t,” Aidan said. I could hear the
irritation in his voice. “I was just too busy to notice her slip in and snatch
it from under everyone’s nose.”

Chapter 6

 
    A door opened, startling me. I turned to
bolt back up the stairs. Halfway up, I stopped, reconsidering. I might make it
before someone saw me, but the stairs would creak, betraying my presence.
Besides, I didn’t mind a bit of company, particularly since I barely knew
anyone and really needed another human’s presence before I turned completely
bonkers.
    Heaving a sigh I spun, staring straight
into pale blue eyes. For a moment I thought it was Aidan McAllister standing
before me, until I realized the guy was about the same age but a bit bulkier.
He smiled and held out a hand with pale, long fingers, scanning me up and down,
his eyes lingering on my throat a tad too long. “I’m Kieran.” Even his voice
sounded like Aidan’s.
    I shook his hand, a freezing sensation charging
through me. “I’m Amber.”
    “Aidan didn’t say you were this—” he
gestured with his hand and laughed “—tasty.”
    One word flashed through my mind—Clare.
Why would Aidan brag about a hamburger when he had filet mignon on his plate? I
curled my lips into a forced smile. “Thank you.” What did it matter if Aidan found
me attractive anyway? Cameron and I were only taking a break.
    “Would you care to join us in the library?”
Standing a little too close for comfort, Kieran grabbed my hand and guided me toward
the other voices without waiting for my answer. He didn’t drop my hand when we
stepped through the large oak door. All eyes turned on me as Kieran said, “I
found this delightful creature sneaking off to bed without so much as a single
goodnight. My dear brother’s been keeping her all to himself. Remember what
Mother always said, it’s nice to share.”
    Sibling rivalry? I had no idea what to make
of it, but being the center of attention made me feel awkward. I decided to
ignore Kieran’s comment as I peered around. I had been inside the library to clean,
but I hadn’t inspected the room too closely because my thoughts had been preoccupied
with Dallas’s plan. Taking it in for the first time, I realized the room was
spacious with scarce but heavy furniture. Heavy brocade drapes in the color of
rusty leaves covered the large bay window. Three leather sofas were set in the
middle; mahogany bookcases covered the walls up to the ceiling. Aidan sat on
the armchair to the right, dressed in black from head to toe, his pale blue
eyes staring at me as though I was some sort of freak. Behind him, a soft fire
burned in the fireplace, the crackling of wood carrying through the