A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

voice seemed
to carry over from far away, lingering somewhere at the verge of my perception,
but I didn’t want to control my anger. Layla had gone
too far by attacking my mate.
    Fate screeched in my ear to hurry up, or Amber
would die. I turned and kicked Kieran in the gut, then spun to face the
succubus. The snakes slithered across the floor with their mouths agape, forked
tongues flicking in and out. I didn’t fear her pets—it was Layla’s touch that could prove fatal because it could make
me lose my will. In physical strength and abilities, she wouldn’t stand a
chance against me—so long I didn’t let her come too close.
    “Nice to see you too, Harry Houdini. My,
you’re quite the escape artist,” Layla said.
    “I would’ve said goodbye but, you know, I
was a little tied up.” I ambled backward and planted myself in front of Amber.
I could teleport Amber to another place, but that wouldn’t keep Layla from coming after her.
    “I’ll let it slip by this time.” Layla ran a finger down her thigh. “Nice pecks. No idea how
you find the time to look this delicious with such a busy work schedule. I bet
the girls at the beach go nuts when you rub baby oil all over that sculpted
chest of yours.” She laughed, the shrill, unnatural sound irritating my ears. “Oh
wait, that couldn’t happen. What with being a vampire and all. Must suck to
take your dips in the ocean at night with only the boring, old moon watching
you. Then again, you like boring things.” She pointed at Amber. I cringed.
    “Don’t,” Kieran whispered, sensing my fury.
“She isn’t worth it.”
    Layla continued, “How could she possibly know what you need? She’s
nothing but a stupid girl. I’m an immortal demi-goddess. Any man would kill
himself just to catch a glimpse of me.”
    My temper flared up again. Blood rushed
through my veins, ready to turn me into the crazed maniac Rebecca once was, if
I didn’t control it. “You mean until you tire of me like of all the others, and
then turn me into your personal slave, captured and tortured for eternity.” I snorted
and kneeled down next to Amber. “Thanks, but I’ll pass.”
    Slowly, I moved my hand to the sheath bound
at my calf. My fingers clasped the fire whip when Layla said, “It doesn’t matter. Given the chance, they’d do it again.”
    “Is that statement based on experience, or
on your own narrow-minded, self-centered assessment?” I pulled out the whip and
lashed. Fire burned bright where it hit Layla’s skin.
    For a moment, Layla’s eyes widened, surprise crossing her features. When the flames scorched her
chest, burning the sheer material of her dress, she cried out.
    “You like rough, Aidan. I can do rough. I
highly doubt your little porcelain doll could handle half of what I can take.” The
snakes hissed angrily, but didn’t attack. Layla stifled the flames with her bare palm and took a step back. Her voice came low
and menacing, barely audible. “You’ve just attacked a member of the Lore court.
For this you’ll be punished with death.”
    I snorted. Was she really playing the
innocent card here? “You tried to kill a mortal. I only acted in my own right.”
    “Tried?” She laughed. “Who says your mate
won’t die?”
    “I do.” I wanted to kill her, but I didn’t
have time for a fight. Saving Amber’s life was my priority. So, sending Layla a threat would have to do for the time being. I
regarded her. “Seriously, Layla , what would your
mother think? Falling for a vampire’s beneath you. And stalking him day and
night, sending your pets to kill the competition who just happens to be an
innocent mortal who isn’t even part of your court. Do you know your victim’s
not even eighteen? Your mother won’t be pleased. Last I remember she was still
the one with all the power.”
    Layla’s face turned into an ugly mask. “Say one word and you’ll suffer my
wrath, and so will all of your sidekicks, like your pathetic brother and wimpy
Clare.”
    “Whoa, did the hag just call me a sidekick?”
Kieran muttered. I nudged him in the ribs, praying my brother wouldn’t pursue
an argument for a change.
    “It’s in your best interest to stay away
from us,” I said. Layla loved revenge. I doubted my
threat would keep her away from Amber, but it’d make her spend a few days
plotting. Maybe she’d give me enough time to get the book so I could protect my
mate day and night, and then get rid of the demi-goddess once and for all.
    “Hold