A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

making a run for the hills? You know the
usual excuse, going to buy milk, cigarettes, or whatever, and never bothering
to come back.”
    “What?”
    “Oh, goodness,” Cass said. “I see I hit a
soft spot. Didn’t mean too. Who’s Cameron?”
    I grimaced. “Somebody I never want to see
again.”
    “I was just messing with you, mate. Want me
to send out a few demons to track Aidan down?”
    “No need. Don’t ask me how, but I think I
know where he is.” I ignored the demon remark. Nothing surprised me any more.
Besides, no mortal I knew could read thoughts and carried two horns on the
head. “At the beach house, I met two Shadows.”
    “Connor and Devon,” Cass said. “You’re
playing with fire, mate.”
    I peered at her intently. The girl was
strange, no doubt about it, but she also had something likeable about her.
Could she keep her scattered mind to herself so the others wouldn’t find out
about my plan?
    Cass clapped her hands excitedly. “Try me,
try me, try me.”
    Oh, sod it. I had nothing to lose. “I want
to meet them.”
    “Wow, Aidan’s gone, like, five minutes, and
the next guy’s already peeping around the corner? Naughty.” She shook her
finger, laughing. The next instant, the smile disappeared and she looked
embarrassed. “Sorry. It’s not my style being rude and all. I just can’t keep it
in. It’s my—” She shook her head. “There’s this—never mind.”
    “I have a plan, but Clare & co. mustn’t
know,” I whispered.
    “You want me to keep this a secret from the
others.” She leaned closer, eyes gleaming, her cheeks turning a pink shade. “That’s
a good one. Pure chaos. Even better than chocolate. I like you.”
    It seemed as though I was making a pact
with the devil herself. Was that good or bad?
    “Definitely good.” Cass winked. “I could be
your go between. Aidan’s hooking me up with this cool ambassador gig. Yeah, I’ll
be a diplomat.” Her eyes lit up again. “Who would’ve guessed, right? I’ll make
you my first mission.”
    “Promise you won’t tell anyone,” I said.
    Cass raised her right arm to her chest. “I
promise I’ll keep the secret as long as my scattered brain can keep it in. After
that, it’s pure chaos.”
    I sensed that was about all I’d get. “I’m
going to strike a pact with them to help me save Aidan.”
    “You’re really into him. Going after Layla with the Shadows’ help.” Cass literally glowed. “That’s
going to be major drama. Hope Aidan got me my ambassador position so I can
watch it all live.”
    “Let’s do this thing now . Do you know how to get in touch with them?” I didn’t want to
sound impatient, but something told me Cass could chat for hours.
    Tucking her legs under her, Cass pursed her
lips and straightened. She closed her eyes and started rocking back and forth,
murmuring something that sounded like an incantation. I stared at her. Clearly,
the rich kids had other ways to get in touch than pigeons.
    “You’re just too gullible, mate. You’ve got
to meet my dad. He’d love you.” She pulled a silver phone out of her oversized
bag and dialed, her gaze fixed on me as she spoke, “Hey babes, it’s me, listen—”
she paused and tapped her chewed fingernails on her thigh “—all set?
Aidan’s girl wants to talk to you. Pop over now before she changes her mind.
You owe me. Cheerio.”
    “What did they say? Are they coming?” They
simply had to. Aidan’s life depended on it.
    Cass nodded. “They’ll be here in a flash.
Do you want me to negotiate? I’m quite good at it. Always get the best deal, or
so Dad says.”
    I shook my head. “It’s a tempting offer,
but I have to do this myself.”
    Cass shrugged and jumped up. “Got it. Just
a word of advice since we’re now chums and all, stay within the gates. That
gift of yours is quite handy. Some people would kill for it—literally. So
try to stay out of the fire, okay?”
    “You were right about the vampire thing,” I
said.
    “You didn’t believe me?” Cass shook her
head, laughing. “Do you see angel wings on my back? I’m far from
perfect—maybe beautifully flawed—but I don’t lie.”
    “Thanks for filling me in. If it weren’t
for you I’d still be in the dark.”
    “Us girls have to stick together,” Cass
said.
    Okay, I had to ask, now or never. “You’re
not one of them. What are you?”
    Cass pointed at the floor. “You know the
big guy downstairs who loves to steal the souls of naughty people? Well,