A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

sweat
covered her forehead. I was naïve to visit the Lore court and trust Layla would understand why a mortal shouldn’t carry the
prize. Now Amber suffered because of me.
    I set my jaw and increased my pressure on
her leg, forcing the venom out. When the swelling deflated, I pressed my lips
against her skin. The sweet flavor of her blood, intermingled with the bitter
poison, spread in my mouth, making me faint for a moment. I forced myself to
draw blood and spit it out until the taste of toxin dissipated, then bandaged
the wound with strips of my shirt and ignited the logs in the fireplace. A
strong flame lapped at the dried wood greedily, warming the room.
    Amber barely stirred when I pulled the
covers over her pale body and tossed the soaked shirt into the fire. The venom
sizzled in the heat. I teleported to the kitchen for a glass of water and some
aspirin, then peeled off my jeans and snuggled next to her, pulling her into
the cave of my arm. I had done all I could to clean her blood, now I could only
hope rest would get her back on her feet.
    The scent of her blood lingered in the air,
making me hungry. Amber moved and sighed, hands clenching and unclenching in a
fitful slumber. I ground my teeth against the temptation surging through my
body. Why had I thought lying next to her, with her blood beckoning to me,
would be an easy task? My fingertips grated her feverish skin, sending electric
shocks through me. I groaned and turned my head to the side, trying to ignore
the pain in my stomach. There she was, fighting death, and all I could think of
was her blood. I draped my leg over the edge of the bed, wondering whether
putting some space between us might help.
    “You’re a sight for sore eyes,” Amber
whispered, stirring next to me. I turned and found myself peering into her
hazel eyes still foggy from the shock. Kissing her forehead, I gave up any hope
of spending some moments away from her enticing scent. Even if I wanted to, I
couldn’t leave her alone when she so clearly needed me.
    Amber sat up groggily and scanned the floor.
“Where are my clothes? How did I get here, in your room of all places?”
    “I had to find the snake bite.”
    She cocked a brow. “What happened to your
clothes? You got bitten too?”
    “You’re hilarious.” I handed her two
aspirin and the glass of water.
    Her arm moved across my chest, holding me
in place. “I’m okay.” She sounded breathless. In spite of the seriousness of
the situation, I found myself smiling.
    “You’re the worst liar ever. Just take them,”
I said, helping her up.
    “Yes, Nurse Ratched .”
She grimaced but swallowed the pills nonetheless.
    “Why don’t you get some sleep?”
    She batted her eyelashes. “Doctor’s orders?”
    “Yep. I even wrote you a prescription. Lot’s
of rest, kisses, hugs, and pampering. I’ll make you breakfast in bed, right
before daybreak.” I placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
    She laughed. “I hope your cooking’s better
than mine.”
    “You like cereal, right?”
    “Thanks. You saved my life,” she whispered.
Her hand found mine, and our fingers intertwined. A jolt of energy rippled
through me. My hunger stirred stronger than before. I bit on my lip until I
drew blood, but the pain did nothing to stifle the sudden craving in my veins.
    “Get some sleep,” I said through gritted
teeth.
    Amber shook her head and lifted on her
elbows, placing a peck on my cheek. My heart skipped a beat. Get a grip. It didn’t mean anything
because the girl was still delirious from the venom.
    She wrapped her arm around my neck. Our
eyes connected. “ Layla said you chose me over her.
Why?”
    Layla and her big mouth. I sighed, fingers twitching to press her lips to
mine. Not tonight. Not when I could barely control the hunger inside me. “It
wasn’t a tough choice.”
    “But why me when you could have any other?”
She moistened her lips, confused. Her question took me by surprise. Did she really
not understand that we were puppets of our fate? The bond, a tiny silver thread
that intertwined our lives, had chosen for us. No other than Amber would ever
do.
    I glanced at the dying fire, paneled walls
and brocade covers, unable to come up with an answer that wouldn’t scare the
hell out of her and make her run a mile. Because
Fate chose you for me. Because I can’t live without you. Because we belong
together for all eternity. Kieran would collapse in a fit of laughter. There
were hundreds of reasons, but none I