A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

said.
    “Remind me later.” I stormed out of the
library, leaving the house through the kitchen so the others wouldn’t pick up
on the turmoil inside me. Since Rebecca’s death I had barely touched a mortal,
let alone kill them. Having Amber around was more than I could endure. As my
mate, her blood’s call was too strong. I fought a constant battle not to feed
from her.
    Why did she have to be in the woods that
night? How did she stumble across the jewels when no mortal knew about the Interracial
Race? It must’ve been a lucky shot or, in Amber’s case, a not so lucky one. So
many questions when I knew I couldn’t just barge into her room and force the
answers out of her. Not when she had yet to fall in love with me. My mood
deteriorated at the prospect of courting her with half the paranormal world
hunting us.
    The air smelled of autumn leaves and imminent
rain. I lowered myself onto the bench, staring at the empty space Amber had occupied
less than an hour ago. Funny how Fate would always play tricks on me. I thought
after Rebecca’s betrayal, I’d never trust a girl again. Several hundred years
later, I glimpsed Amber in a crowd in London during a work assignment, and I
knew she was the one—my bonded mate given to me by the Fates. With the
paranormal race about to begin and my enemies watching my every step, I
couldn’t risk drawing their attention to her so I came up with a plan to lure
her to Scotland, where she’d be safe while we got to know each other. She
needed the money, and I could do with a housekeeper because I was sick of Greta
roaming the mansion, pretending to clean while snooping around. So I made sure
Amber’s brother found out about the job. I should’ve delayed flying Amber over from
London until after the race, but I just couldn’t bear being away from her now
that I knew who she was. Besides, this race was special. According to the
prophecy its outcome would eventually lead to a war destroying the world. I had to have her by my side by then. Our
bond would take care of her feelings and attraction for me for the time being,
until I sorted out the mess the paranormal world was in.
    Fate expected me to protect her, but how
could I protect her from the most dangerous predator—myself? With her
sweet blood beckoning to me more than any other mortal, it was only a matter of
time until I turned into a killer, unless I killed myself. But then someone else
would go after her to get the prize. She’d turned from mere mortal into
priceless commodity overnight. I groaned inwardly, only then noticing Clare
standing behind me.
    “I know what’s going on.” She sat down next
to me so I couldn’t pretend she didn’t exist.
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Of course you wouldn’t just admit it.” The
slightest hint of annoyance crossed her perfectly arched eyebrows. In my early
years, I had thought—hoped—she’d be the one, but my senses never
sharpened when I was around her.
    “What do you want, Clare? You’re annoying
the hell out of me today, and that’s not a good thing.”
    She inhaled loudly, irritated. “It’s not
about what I want, but rather what you want. I’ve noticed the look in your
eyes. You see her when she’s not present. It’s painful to watch.”
    “Then don’t watch.”
    “I want to help you,” Clare said.
    “Why?” I turned to face her.
    She placed her cold palms on my cheeks. A
single silver tear glittered in her eye as she whispered, “Because I want to
see you happy. It’s something that I’ll never be.”
    “Your mate’s somewhere out there,” I said.
    Clare shook her head. “He’s not because he
died a long time ago, and I did nothing to save him.” She smiled, bitterly. “I
assume you have a plan.”
    “I’m still considering my options.”
    “You don’t have much time. Other people are
interested in the book. You know, they won’t hesitate to use her.”
    I hated when she was right. I lowered my
head, inhaling the freezing air to shake off Amber’s unmistakable scent. It
didn’t work. “I know that. I’ll come up with a plan soon.”
    “There’s someone who could help us.”
Something in her tone made me look up. She lifted a finger to my lips and lowered
her voice. “If you lead Amber to the threshold of death, he can help her find
the way back.”
    My anger flared up. The threshold meant
certain death. No one had come back from that place. “Who said I’d ever let
Amber do that?”
    “You don’t have a