A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

Shadow’s
shoulder, but he retreated nonetheless, as though her unspoken warning
mattered.
    I wasn’t just any vampire but an established
bounty hunter and a member of the Lore court. That job title didn’t matter much
during the Interracial Race, but at least they wouldn’t dare attack me openly.
Not here, not now. I could sense their weapons, daggers and the likes, no
matter how much they tried to hide them from plain sight. They reeked of
vampire blood. What was Clare thinking, bringing our worst enemies to the
meeting? They wouldn’t help; more likely, they’d try to find a way to screw us
over and dispose of our dead bodies without the court’s knowing. At least, Amber
was safe because Shadows didn’t kill humans. Or so legends said.
    “Remind me again why Beelzebub’s here,”
Kieran said to Clare. “Is she coming up for a breath of fresh air? I know how
stuffy and humid hell can be.”
    Cass glared at him. “Call me that again and
you’ll see what I can do with a pitchfork.”
    Kieran grinned. “You look good when you’re
angry. Now say the pitchfork line again with more oomph.”
    “I thought she could help,” Clare said.
    “I should’ve left you at home.” I shook my
head. My brother was a loose cannon, always making things worse by opening his
mouth, and sweet Clare wouldn’t notice someone’s ulterior motives if her life
depended on it.
    “And miss out on all the fun?” Kieran
glanced at Connor and Devon. “It’s a fact, Rebecca did steal the book from you.
But how can you blame Aidan for her treachery? She wasn’t his beloved; She just
had the luck and good brains to turn us. She couldn’t have picked a better
bunch. Young, attractive, clever, and I’m only mentioning a couple of my
qualities.”
    Clare elbowed him. “Stop antagonizing them.
This is serious.”
    “I am serious. Look at—”
    “Okay, enough,” I interrupted my brother.
If he didn’t stop his endless chatter soon, we’d still be here at sunrise. From
the corner of my eye, I peered at Devon and Connor who didn’t even pretend not
to be eavesdropping on our conversation. “Cass, what do you want?”
    “I can help. In exchange for a favor, of
course,” Cass said.
    Kieran smirked. “What could we possibly
offer you that Daddy can’t get you anyway?”
    Cass narrowed her eyes to tiny slits, gaze blazing.
“Why don’t you turn into a bat and fly away?”
    “She wants a position with the Lore
Council,” Clare said.
    Kieran laughed. “All that fire has fried
your brain.”
    “What would a princess need that for?” I
asked. Kieran didn’t call Cassandra Beelzebub for nothing. Her father was the
Dark Prince himself. Why Cass walked on Earth, mingling with Lore folks and
humans was beyond me.
    “I have nowhere to go but up. The flames
don’t do my skin justice, not to mention they wreak havoc with my hair. You
know how I hate dry split ends.” Cass raised her chin defiantly. “You get me
the job, and in exchange I’ll volunteer a few soul hunters and demon guardians.”
    I scowled. What a load of crap. She had to have
an ulterior motive. But what? “I don’t trust demons.”
    “You don’t need to trust them. Clare trusts
me. The demon guardians will do as I order,” Cass said.
    Kieran snorted. “That’s so reassuring.”
    Clare beamed up at me. “Sounds like a deal
to me.”
    The whole bunch turned to face me, waiting
for my answer. As usual. I groaned inwardly. I had brought Amber along because
I thought I could keep her away from any chaos until I figured out how to teach
her to control the prize. Throw in Lucifer’s spawn, a bunch of demons and the
insufferable Shadows and bedlam would be knocking on my door within seconds. So
much for my plan to woo her while searching the Lore court for a way to save
her from the fate she’d unknowingly called upon herself.
    “We need the book. Without it, we can’t
perform a certain ritual,” Devon said. “We want it back.”
    I shot him a sarcastic look. “You don’t
say. And I care why? So you can’t start a fire with a flick of your hand. Big
deal. Get a lighter.” Usually, I wasn’t one to belittle someone else’s
abilities, but the guy really irritated me. Playing friend one moment, and
stabbing me in the back the next. I wasn’t stupid.
    “I understand the mortal’s under your—”
Devon hesitated “—protection. You need our help if she’s to learn to
control the prize.”
    “No way.” I shook my head.
    “You’re getting