A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

could return to Amber. Visiting Layla hadn’t been worth the effort, but at least tried. Time to move on to plan B.
    Chains wrapped around my ankles and wrists as
soon as I left the throne room. The fire whip dropped to the floor as I
struggled to break free from the invisible bonds that kept me glued to the
spot. Summoning my strength, I tore through the chains and grabbed hold of the
whip, but the bonds snapped back in place, impairing my movement.
    Damn
her and her little games. I had no time for this. “Any
particular reason why you’re not letting me go?” I yelled, tugging harder at
the chains. “Having a bit of separation anxiety, are we?”
    Layla appeared beside me, a malicious smile spreading across her lips. “Did
you really believe I wouldn’t smell her on you? Oh, the stupidity of men never
fails to amaze me.”
    Groaning, I tugged at the chains, even
though I knew I stood no chance unless Layla decided
to release me. “I’m a member of the Lore council. You’re breaking the rules,” I
hissed, anger choking me.
    “And aren’t you breaking the rules by
dating a mortal? Come on, don’t be cross. You surely knew you wouldn’t get away
with it.” Layla laughed and summoned a nearby group
of succubi to take me away. Countless hands lifted me
up like I weighed nothing and carried me into complete darkness where they
dropped me onto the naked ground. I landed on my back, pain rippling through my
immortal body as the chains tightened, cutting into my skin like hundreds of
razorblades. I opened my mouth, then closed it again because I wouldn’t give Layla the satisfaction of hearing me cry for help. I didn’t
care what happened to me. But if anything happened to Amber I’d kill them all, Layla , the Shadows, the Lore court members. One by one, I’d
rip their throats and leave them bleeding to death.

Chapter 13

 
    I peered out the door just in time to see
Aidan disappear into thin air. Now I knew for sure he wasn’t quite like any of
my former crushes. My cheeks burned. I had let him kiss me once again. Seduced
by the rich kid, only to be pushed away when he had enough of me. Apparently
taking care of business in the middle of the night was more important than finding
out whether the attraction between us was real. Getting closer to him was a big
mistake, especially after what Cass told me. How did I think this’d turn out?
That Dracula and I would live in his big, old mansion happily ever after? I had
been fooling myself all along.
    Aidan said he’d never hurt me. Maybe he
wouldn’t do it on purpose, but vampires drink blood. Sooner or later, he’d want
a midnight snack. Well, no one would mess with my red blood cells. Even if he
could restrain his hunger, others were looking for me because I solved the
riddle and scooped that stupid prize. I needed to snap out of this fantasy world
and get my old life back by leaving Scotland that instant.
    Wherever Dallas went, trouble followed, and
now it started to rub off on me. Only I could get tangled in a mess like this
with a real vampire. I rubbed my neck, my head throbbing like it was going to
explode any minute. It was time to get the heck out of here, and fast, before
Aidan came back and stopped me. Just because I felt madly attracted to his dark
curls and pale blue eyes didn’t make him trustworthy material. I should be
hiding far away from here where no one would ever find me—not even Aidan
with his fancy tracking skills he bragged about.
    I sighed and quickened my steps down the
stairs, ready to call a taxi and make a dash for the airport when Kieran
stopped me in midstride, his hand squeezing my elbow.
    “Go away.” I struggled to free my arm when
Kieran let go with a shrug.
    “Late for a hot date?”
    For a moment I just stared at him as realization
kicked in. Goose bumps covered my arms. Was he a vampire too? My gaze studying
his chalky pale complexion, I remembered his cold touch the day we met and Cass’s
words came back to haunt me. A vampire’s sexy as hell. I must’ve been blind not
to realize anyone looking so perfect couldn’t be human. Maybe I should’ve
strung a necklace of garlic before walking among them. Okay, that was a stupid
myth, but I was grasping at straws.
    Did Aidan’s brother really think he could
stop me? Eyeing the door, I set my jaw. If need be, I’d kick him where it
counted. Vampire or not, he’d go down like everyone else.
    Kieran traced his fingertips up my arm, his
lips curled into a smug