A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

without Amber.
    “I should’ve worn my trainers,” Clare muttered.
    “Don’t break a heel,” Kieran said.
    Thrain laughed. “Stilettos are hot. Just tell me and I’ll carry you.”
    “Thank you,” Clare said. “Finally, a guy
with taste.”
    “Since when do tattered jeans equal taste?”
Kieran nudged Thrain . “You know I’m dating her,
right?”
    “Kieran, I said no trouble, remember? You’re
not even dating her.” Groaning, I shook my head. I stood a better chance
rescuing Amber with the help of my iPod.
    “It’s best we maintain silence from here
on. We’re on a mission, not a dating show,” Blake said.
    Irritated by their endless banter, I nodded
even though I was several feet behind them and they couldn’t see me as we
hurried up the winding path. The trees looked all the same, but I could sense
we were getting closer because the air had started to reek of Shadows.
    A few minutes later, we stopped. Thrain dropped to his knees and rubbed soil between his
fingers. “We’re not far from their main trail. The gate is to the east.”
    “Keep north until we reach the fence,” I
whispered.
    Thrain shot me a curious glance over his shoulder, before he took off
again. We moved at a fast speed through the trees, almost invisible to human
eyes, but not undetectable to Shadows. I could already see the fence in the
distance, rising high against the dark night. Rebecca had entered once without
the demon’s abilities, but Rebecca was an excellent manipulator. She could persuade
a mortal to give away their life for her. The immortal warriors had opened the
gates and let her in, unsuspecting of the bloodbath she’d leave behind. That
trick wouldn’t pull again, which is why we needed a shape shifter to pretend to
be one of them and make sure the way was clear.
    The fortress was secured by a twenty-foot,
barbed-wire fence about fifty feet away. A sign warned that it was electrically
charged. I focused on the gate—two guards patrolling on the other side, cloaked
in black and oblivious to what was going on. Their strong, earthy smell invaded
my nostrils. I knew instantly their powers were limited based on their low rank
in the Shadow hierarchy. Judging from their position, size and abilities, I could
easily take them down if I had to, but I wouldn’t. Not before Amber was safe.
    Thrain stopped and pointed at the fence, whispering to Clare and Blake, “I’ll
distract the guards. You jump.” He nudged Kieran. “You invented basketball too?
Or just NASCAR?”
    “You should see my jump shot.” Kieran grinned.
“I know you’d feel safer with me around, but Aidan wants me back here. He
claims I’m trouble.”
    “Shame.” Thrain shrugged. “I’d have loved a race.”
    “He’ll take you up on the offer another
time,” I whispered as I watched Clare and Blake disappear through the thicket. Thrain headed for the gate. Kieran and I dropped onto the
ground, prepared to wait.

Chapter 18

 
    Shooting Angel a timid smile, I stepped through
the open door. To my surprise, I realized I was in a thriving terraced garden
rather than a room. Bright rays shone through the glass ceiling, settling on
the fallen leaves in a wealth of color. Dumbfounded, I peered around. How could
there be so many plants in bloom in the middle of a bleeding mountain in
freezing Scotland? I didn’t even know Scotland had this many flowers.
    “It’s magic,” the guard said, turning to
face me. I recognized Devon.
    “Do you mean magic in the literal sense?”
    He shrugged, smiling. As usual, I was kept
in the dark. My temper flared. “I thought you’d take the gift out of my head
and then let me go,” I snapped.
    Devon cringed. “It doesn’t work that way.
You’re part of the package.”
    Where did he get the impression I was keen
on joining their little club? “You failed to mention I had a lifetime
membership to Shadow Land.”
    He shrugged. “You didn’t ask. Let’s put it
this way—” he grabbed my elbow and guided me down the cobblestone path “—I
did you a favor. The company you kept was a bit shady.”
    I let out a huff. A Shadow calling vampires
shady?
    Devon continued, “Aidan’s not even remotely
human. You were flirting with danger. I rescued you, and barely in the nick of
time.”
    I laughed. “So, let me get this straight.
You slayed the dragon, jumped over the moat, climbed the tower of the evil king’s
castle, saved the princess, and rode off with her into the sunset aka Shadow
Land.