A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

out
here with the rain?”
    He smirked. “Do you think I’m going to
melt?”
    “I just thought because you’re a Shadow,
you might need sunlight and—” I waved my hand about “—you don’t
look comfortable. Never mind. So you’ll just take the gift and let me live?”
    He nodded.
    “Promise?”
    “I give you my word.”
    What was it worth? “One more thing. Is it
going to hurt? I’m not so good at dealing with pain.”
    “I assure you there’s no pain involved.” He
stretched out both hands, waiting for me to grasp them. I didn’t. He squinted
and pulled back his arms. “So you’re ready to give up your own life to save
Aidan?”
    “It’s all my fault. I’d do anything to set
it straight,” I said.
    “But you hardly know him.” He opened his
mouth to say something else, then closed it again.
    “What?” I asked, irritated.
    He peered at me intently. “You know he’s a
vampire, right?”
    Did no one but me miss that tiny detail? Rain
poured down on me as realization kicked in. I had fallen for a real vampire,
like the ones in myths and legends. It was crazy but true. I could finally
understand how a person could give up everything for someone else, even though
I couldn’t imagine doing this for Cameron. Then it struck me—Aidan and I
shared a connection deeper than anything I ever felt with any of my exes.
Hopefully he felt the same way. Too bad I might never find out.
    “Your gift will help our entire
civilization.”
    I rolled my eyes. “I get it. You’re helping
your race, even if it means killing me.”
    “Last chance to back out. Are you sure
Aidan’s worth never seeing your family again?”
    Why wasn’t he assuring me I wouldn’t
literally die? I faltered as the downpour intensified. Aidan meant everything
to me. I’d make the ultimate sacrifice and give up my former life. Staring into
Devon’s eyes I said, “He is worth it.”
    Devon nodded. “To show our gratitude we’ll
see to it that your family’s taken care of financially.”
    Well, at least my parents and Dallas would
never have to worry about money again. “Deal. But you’ll have to show me proof
that you’ve kept your word before I keep mine.”
    Fishing in his pocket, he retrieved a tiny
silver phone and placed it on the damp ground, then pushed it toward me,
careful not to touch the iron bars. “Keep it switched on. The moment you hear
his voice, you leave Aidan’s premises and walk down this road—” he pointed
at the street behind him “—otherwise he’s dead.”
    When I nodded, Devon turned and disappeared
between the trees. I picked up the phone and put it in my pocket. My old phone vibrated.
I peered at the unknown caller ID, deciding I might as well answer.
    “I’ve been trying to reach you for ages.
You should switch that thing on more often,” Dallas said. He didn’t sound his
usual easy-going self.
    “I told you I’ve no reception.” I breathed
in, annoyance washing over me. “You’re such an idiot. Do you have any idea what
mess I’m in because of your stupid plan?”
    “Listen, I have bad news and bad news. You
pick.”
    Yet more worries. Could my life get any
worse? “Just tell me.”
    “The diamonds are worth nothing.” He paused.
When I didn’t reply, he said, “You still there?”
    My heart fluttered in my chest. If they
were worthless, maybe Dallas didn’t sell them just yet. “Yeah, I am. Do you
still have them?”
    He hesitated. “Yeah, that’s the other bad
news. I couldn’t sell them, not even on eBay. They’re not the real deal.”
    “Are you telling me the diamonds are fakes
like cubic zirconia?”
    “Not just the diamonds, the other gemstones
as well. What a waste of time, huh?” He laughed. “But there’s more, sis. There’s
tiny symbols etched on every stone. You can only see them under ultraviolet
rays. Pretty freaky, eh? So I had them inspected by a friend of mine who runs a
lab.”
    Groaning, I kicked a nearby pile of leaves.
“A lab? Oh, Dallas, please don’t get us mixed up in drugs.”
    “Don’t be silly. A science lab, obviously.
Now, get this. Hold your breath and sit down.” He was into show and drama big
time. All eyes on Dallas.
    “Just spit it out,” I said, impatiently.
    “Apparently, they’re unknown minerals. In
other words, they’re not from this world. Whoa! Is that wild or what? Can you
even begin to imagine?”
    I blew out a breath. “Believe it or not,
somehow I can.”
    “Now I do have some good news. I was