A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

outstretched hand, Layla scoffed. “They’ll soon pulverize to dust. Now, who
said my offer still stands? It was just a gesture of goodwill, and I don’t
usually do goodwill.”
    The snakes slithered closer until they
stood mere inches from my feet. I pressed my mouth shut. A squeal remained
trapped in my throat as I lifted my head a notch. Rivulets of sweat trickled
down my spine. Would Layla’s pets attack? I kicked my
brain into gear, struggling to come up with a plan to bluff my way out of this
situation.
    “You want Aidan, I don’t.” I cringed at my
lie. “I’ll make it easy for you and leave so you can have him.”
    “As if I ever needed your cooperation.” Layla scoffed, raising her hand. The light of the lamp
caught in her rings. “Once I get rid of you, he’ll be mine anyway. Guys need
diversion. He had his fun, now he’ll be eager to come back to me.”
    I quelled a nervous laugh. My bluff wasn’t
working. So much for my plan to play the strong girl who doesn’t need a guy to
protect her. Time for plan B: run, and let the immortals fight my battle. I
dashed for the door, but the snakes moved faster, draping around my ankle like
huge cuffs. With a hard thud, I toppled forward and banged my head against the
wall, the impact knocking the air out of my lungs. I turned in time to see Layla towering over me, a wicked smile playing on her lips.
    My ankle throbbed when I lifted my leg and
kicked, hitting Layla somewhere below the knee. I
could feel the vibration running through my body, but Layla didn’t even budge.
    For a moment, she looked stunned, then
annoyance crossed her face and her cheeks turned an ugly reddish color. “You
didn’t just try that.”
    Pushing up on my elbows, I scrambled to my
feet when I felt a sharp pain in my upper thigh. I looked down at the large
head of a snake sinking its teeth into my skin, two rivulets of blood spiraling
down my leg, and screamed as loudly as my lungs would allow.

Chapter 24

 
    Aidan

 
    Cass had promised to ensure the Shadows
would play fair. But Cass was a demon and they weren’t exactly trustworthy
material. I took off my shirt and threw it on the sofa in my bedroom, then
dropped down beside it, absorbed in my thoughts.
    I knew Amber heard me outside her door.
That she decided to pretend otherwise annoyed the heck out of me. What had I
done to cause her mistrust? Others met their mate, fell for one another and
lived happily ever after. Why couldn’t Amber and I do the same? Was that too
much to ask for?
    Maybe I was giving up too quickly. If the
girl wanted to be pursued, then so be it. Sighing, I jumped up and retrieved a
clean shirt from the wardrobe when a vision appeared before my eyes. I blinked
and looked around, confused. My sight blurred again, the bond with Amber sending
out a message I didn’t understand. Maybe Amber was thinking of me,
unconsciously sending out those vibes, drawing me to her again. It was new
terrain to me. True love bonds weren’t exactly a common occurrence in the
paranormal world. Consequently, no one knew a great deal about them. The few
who found their mates didn’t share their experience so their weaknesses wouldn’t
be exposed.
    I shrugged into the shirt, considering my
next step, when Amber’s scream pierced the air. In two long strides, I reached
the door and sped down the stairs to her room. From the corner of my eye, I
noticed my brother close behind me, asking something I didn’t understand.
Ignoring him, I didn’t stop until I reached Amber’s room and yanked the door
open.
    Amber lay sprawled on the floor,
motionless, several snakes slithering around her body. I let out a deafening
roar and dropped next to her, only then noticing the tall girl leaning against
the wall. Layla .
No need to ask what she’d done. Her self-satisfied smirk said it all. Something
snapped inside me and all reason disappeared.
    “I’m going to kill you.” In one fluent
movement I charged for Layla’s throat, ready to rip
it to shreds. She stepped to the side, eyes glinting as though she enjoyed a playful
encounter with a lover.
    “Oh, Aidan, you should see yourself. You
look like a raging bull. If only I had a red cape. Andale! Andale!” Layla giggled like a child.
    I prepared to pounce again, barely aware of
my brother coming up behind me, grabbing me by my shoulders and pulling me
back. Kicking, I let out another roar and fought against Kieran’s iron grip.
    “No! She’ll kill you too.” Kieran’s