A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

“Nope. Anyway, she hid
the book before she died. It’s said only someone carrying your
skill—Sight—can find it.”
    He was keeping something from me. I could
sense it. The whole affair sounded suspicious to me. How convenient for Rebecca
to die before anyone saw the manuscript. “But if no one can find it, how do you
know for sure this book even exists?”
    “Believe me, it’s not just a legend. Others
have longed for it. Immortals like me, but far more willing to do whatever it
takes to get it.” He placed a finger under my chin and lifted my head until our
lips almost met. “Lore rules or not, most wouldn’t hesitate to kill for it.”
    I held my breath, captivated by the moment,
waiting for him to lower his mouth on mine. When he didn’t, I said, “The books
about enchantments, right?”
    “I don’t know much, but from what I’ve been
told it’s more than a simple spell book. It knows the answers to all kind of
questions. Legend says long time ago it was written by Blye ,
a powerful Shadow who sought knowledge. One night a demi-goddess appeared in
his dreams. She offered to share all her wisdom with him if he promised to be
hers forever. Blye knew he couldn’t deny her. No one
denies a demi-goddess. He loved her during the night. During daytime, he worked
on the book. Twenty-one days later, the manuscript was complete, but he found a
horrible fate.”
    My interest was piqued. “What happened to
him?”
    Aidan buried his face in my hair, chuckling.
“You don’t want to know.”
    “That’s okay. You don’t have to tell me. I’ll
just summon him right up and ask myself.” I smiled, enjoying his warm breath on
my skin. “I’m sure I have a pretty good picture of what happened.”
    “You’ve no idea,” Aidan said. “The book’s
said to be one of the most powerful manuscripts in the world. It’s unique,
invaluable, and of greatest benefit to the one who owns it. It’s also the
reason why Layla arranges a race every five hundred
years. She loves to watch the bloodbath.”
    I considered his words for a moment. Dallas
had been wrong about the gemstones. They were worthless to mortals, but worth
killing in the paranormal world. As if Cameron’s cheating on me wasn’t bad enough.
Trust Dallas to find new ways to make my life suck even more. “What do you want
the book for?”
    Aidan pulled away. I could sense a certain
seriousness in his voice. “There’s a ritual that can take away the bloodlust
and the danger of burning in the sun. Layla wouldn’t
take your prize away so others will continue to chase us, but with the help of
that ritual I’ll be able to protect you at all times.”
    I gazed at him as I made a decision. “I’ll
use the gift to find the book. In return, I want you to promise me you’ll let
me return to my old life. I don’t want a bodyguard 24/7.”
    The reaction I got from him wasn’t quite
what I expected. Moistening his lips, he looked away and then back at me. “It’s
not that simple, Amber.” He shook his head vehemently. “To find the book I’ll
have to lead you to the threshold of death. Once there, you might not be able
to find your way back unless—” his expression darkened, his blue eyes
glinting unnaturally bright “—you were to become one of us.”
    “You want to turn me into a vampire?” I snorted,
flabbergasted. He couldn’t be serious. None of this could be real. I was still
waiting for that moment when I’d wake up from a bad dream, then laugh it all
off at my parents’ breakfast table.
    He squirmed beneath me as though the mere
thought was an uncomfortable one. “This is a choice you have to make for
yourself. I’ll fill you in on all the pros and cons. I promise I’ll be with you
every step of the way. Take some time and think it through with no pressure
from me. Immortality isn’t a decision to take lightly.”
    “Really? And I thought you didn’t have a
heart. I’m touched you’re so concerned about my wellbeing.” I inhaled to calm my
racing heart, pictures of eternal youth flashing through my mind. And then I
remembered a movie scene showing thirsty female vampires tearing a guy to
pieces, blood dripping down their chin. It was just a bad B movie, but how
could I know Aidan’s life wasn’t like that? Why else would he keep a room in
the basement, locked and marked private, unless he had a stash of bodies down
there? I knew all along he was a vampire, and I knew vampires drink blood, yet
I hadn’t really taken