A Job From Hell (14 page)

I peered out the door just in time to see Aidan disappear into thin air. Now I knew for sure he wasn't quite like any of my former crushes. My cheeks burned. I had let him kiss me once again. Seduced by the rich kid, only to be pushed away when he had enough of me. Apparently taking care of business in the middle of the night was more important than finding out whether the attraction between us was real. Getting closer to him was a big mistake, especial y after what Cass told me. How did I think this'd turn out? That Dracula and I would live in his big, old mansion happily ever after? I had been fooling myself al along.

Aidan said he'd never hurt me. Maybe he wouldn't do it on purpose, but vampires drink blood. Sooner or later, he'd want a midnight snack. Wel , no one would mess with my red blood cel s. Even if he could restrain his hunger, others were looking for me because I solved the riddle and scooped that stupid prize. I needed to snap out of this fantasy world and get my old life back by leaving Scotland that instant.

Wherever Dal as went, trouble fol owed, and now it started to rub off on me. Only I could get tangled in a mess like this with a real vampire. I rubbed my neck, my head throbbing like it was going to explode any minute. It was time to get the heck out of here, and fast, before Aidan came back and stopped me. Just because I felt madly attracted to his dark curls and pale blue eyes didn't make him trustworthy material. I should be hiding far away from here where no one would ever find me—not even Aidan with his fancy tracking skil s he bragged about.

I sighed and quickened my steps down the stairs, ready to cal a taxi and make a dash for the airport when Kieran stopped me in midstride, his hand squeezing my elbow.

"Go away." I struggled to free my arm when Kieran let go with a shrug.

"Late for a hot date?"

For a moment I just stared at him as realisation kicked in. Goose bumps covered my arms. Was he a vampire too? My gaze studying his chalky pale complexion, I remembered his cold touch the day we met and Cass's words came back to haunt me. A vampire's sexy as hel . I must've been blind not to realise anyone looking so perfect couldn't be human. Maybe I should've strung a necklace of garlic before walking among them. Okay, that was a stupid myth, but I was grasping at straws.

Did Aidan's brother real y think he could stop me? Eyeing the door, I set my jaw. If need be, I'd kick him where it counted. Vampire or not, he'd go down like everyone else.

Kieran traced his fingertips up my arm, his lips curled into a smug grin. "You're shivering. Would you like a sweater, or maybe I could turn up the heat?"

"The temperature in the house's just fine, thank you." What would Aidan think? I smacked his hand away. "I just need some fresh air to sort things out. My heart's beating a mil ion miles a minute."

Kieran laughed. "I tend to have that effect on girls."

"You wish," Clare cal ed from the library.

I needed to hear the voice of someone normal before I went crazy. Maybe Cameron would know how to get me out of this ridiculous situation. I pointed at the landline. "Can I use the phone?"

Kieran's eyes narrowed. "So you can cal the police and tel them you're being held prisoner? Sorry, that's not going to happen."

"You're real y something."

"Wel , the ladies keep tel ing me. I should warn you, I have hundreds of years of experience."

Was he for real? I turned to face him, shaking my head in disbelief. "How could you have lived that long? You must be bored out of your mind."

"I'm pretty good at dodging angry mobs with pitchforks. And the boredom is bearable. It was worse before television was invented."

"I'm so out of here," I said, yanking my arm out of his iron grip.

"No, you're not. I'l tie you up, or handcuff you to your bed."

I sneered. As if. "Sounds tempting, but I'd rather make my phone cal ."

"Nope." He shook his head, stil amused, irritating the hel out of me.

I smiled at him, hoping he'd fal for my bluff. "The police would laugh their heads off if I told them I was being held hostage by a group of vampires. Just let me answer a friend's cal , otherwise he might involve the authorities."

Kieran stood his ground. "No, and don't you dare walk out that door because I'l know it. If it's a chase you want, a chase you'l get." He winked.

"I'm not in hunting mood tonight, but Clare is. You wouldn't want her on your heel because she's a beast."

I backed up a few steps. He wasn't going to intimidate me. Maybe I could just sprint past him. "I don't think Aidan would appreciate you talking to me like this."

Lifting his hand, he stroked my cheek. "He doesn't need to know."

Now he was completely losing his marbles. Or why else would he keep flirting? Why couldn't Cameron pay me this much attention? If only he knew, surely he'd come to his senses. He'd know what a huge mistake he made by dumping me, and he'd spend the rest of his life making it up to me because we belonged together, two normal people living a normal life with no demons, vampires or Shadows.

In two long strides I reached the door when Kieran wrapped his arm around my waist, pul ing me back. "He's my brother and I'l do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

"Keep me safe? Ha! Don't you want to rip out my throat and drink my freaking blood? Yeah, I know al about you guys!"

Kieran rol ed his eyes. "Oh, please. If that were the case, you'd be dead already."

A cold hand touched my shoulder, making me jump. "We don't feed from the source," Clare said. "You're safe with us. I promise."

Was a promise from a dead person even binding? I had trusted Clare more than any of them. I should never have bonded over wine and girl talk. I bal ed my fists as I glared at her. "Clare, how could you not tel me what you were?"

Clare exchanged a glance with Kieran, then met my gaze. "Would you have believed me?" She had a point there. "Vampire or not, we're friends."

I snorted. "Sure, as long as you don't come too close to my aorta."

"What was she supposed to do?" Kieran asked. "Invite you to talk over dinner? You should see the way she sinks her fangs into her meal. She may look sweet, but her table manners are horrendous. Frankly, I'm embarrassed to dine with her, especial y with guests around."

"You're such a moron." Clare nudged him in the ribs. "Don't believe a word he says."

I couldn't get past the fact that Clare hadn't given me the benefit of the doubt. I stil wanted to get out of here, but arguing wasn't aiding my plan.

Time to change my approach. "Why are you holding me against my wil ? If you want me to trust you, you'l have to trust me first."

"I don't trust you because I know you're trying to run away." Clare handed me the phone. "No police, or any hints to anyone. Break your word and I'l lock you in your room."

"I'm not cal ing the police, I swear," I said. "I just need to talk to Cameron." And sneak in a few hidden messages. Cameron was a clever guy.

He'd read between the lines.

"Your ex?" Kieran raised his eyebrows.

Clare shrugged. "Sure. Just remember we're not the bad guys here."

I waited until Clare and Kieran disappeared into the library, then dial ed Cameron's number. Tapping my fingers on the side table, I waited for someone to pick up. He never went to bed before midnight, always hanging out with his friends, drinking and debating into the night. I'd thought him terribly clever at that time. Looking back now, he was a boring, pretentious show-off. But I loved Cameron, didn't I? It wasn't his fault he knew so much. He surely didn't mean to come across as a snob.

It rang for a long time before the sleepy voice of a girl answered. My heart fel in my chest. It didn't mean anything. She could be just a friend. The girl said something, her voice dripping with impatience as though she couldn't wait to get back to whatever she'd been doing before my cal interrupted her. What had she been doing? I opened my mouth to speak, but my tongue stuck to the back of my throat. I pressed the earpiece against my ear, listening for any background noise. Naked feet slapped against the tiled floor, then Cameron's low voice whispered on the other end of the line, "Who is it?" A giggle fol owed and the line went dead.

I stood frozen to the spot, the phone stil clutched to my ear, surprised to discover Cameron's betrayal didn't real y hurt. My heart was fine, my pulse stil normal. It was my ego that couldn't deal with the blow. Even though a giggle didn't have to mean anything, I felt relieved for things to end this way.

Someone draped an arm over my shoulders and pul ed me toward the library. I peered at beautiful Clare, at her deep-blue eyes and glossy hair.

No one would ever cheat on Clare. They'd be stupid to do so.

Clare snorted. "You've no idea." She opened the heavy door and stepped to the side to let me walk past. "Sorry, I couldn't help but overhear.

Better you find out sooner rather than later. Something better might be lurking around the corner already."

I nodded. Stepping into the library, I met Blake's hard stare. Why didn't I notice the signs before? His dark eyes with a golden gleam screamed vampire. His skin was pul ed too tight over prominent cheekbones. My gaze scanned the furniture. I wished I had the privilege of disbelief—like the first time I joined them. The thought of one of them lunging for my throat and sucking me dry terrified me.

"What? No crossbows? No stakes to pierce through my heart? No sword to decapitate me?" Kieran shook his head, grinning. "I thought you'd come prepared."

I returned the smile. "What do you take me for? A vampire hunter? I'm just an average girl who won a prize and got stuck in your freaky world.

Lucky me, huh?"

"Hold on to that prize," Blake said, gawking at me. "If things don't work out the way we hope, you can talk to Aidan from the other side. It might be the only way to reach him once he's dead."

"Don't even say such a thing," Clare said, slapping his arm. What was he talking about? I opened my mouth to ask when Clare whispered,

"Ignore him. We trusted you with the phone cal . Now it's your turn to trust us. You look tired. Why don't you rest until Aidan's back?"

Clare was right. It they wanted to kil me, they'd have done so already. They had never given me any reason to doubt them. I felt my fear slowly subsiding as I lay back and closed my eyes, ready to forget the world, even if just for a few minutes. When I pried my eyes open, the others sat gathered together, whispering with their backs turned on me. I sat up, dizziness washing over me. "What's going on?"

"Aidan should've been here by now." The tension in Clare's voice was palpable as she pushed a plate with a ham and cheese sandwich across the coffee table.

I eyed the sandwich, but didn't touch it. The sudden sense of dread sat in the pit of my stomach like a rock. "Maybe he's late." Blake shot me a grim look.

Kieran shook his head. "The day Aidan's late is the day hel freezes over. Usual y, he's more punctual than a watch." The seriousness in his face made me wonder what Aidan hadn't told me.

"Where did he go?"

They hesitated, peering at one another, probably wondering whether to tel me or not. Eventual y Clare spoke. "He's at the Lore court to see whether he can find a way to strip you of the prize. He's trying to save your life."

"Now we might need to save his life," Blake mumbled.

Whatever that Lore court was, it didn't sound like a nice place. Aidan was a big guy, he could take care of himself, or so I thought. The others didn't seem convinced. My heartbeat accelerated until I could barely breathe. It was my first panic attack in years.

Clare held a glass of water to my lips, smiling, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Drink this. Aidan wil kil us if we let you have a heart attack."

Listening to their conversation, I sipped the cold liquid until bile rose in my throat.

"I'm going after him," Kieran said. "You know Layla's capable of anything. If she finds out about Amber—"

Clare interrupted him, shaking her head vehemently. "She won't because she's not as strong as her mother."

Who was Layla? I peered from one to the other, waiting for someone to include me in the conversation. When they kept ignoring me, I sank into the cushions, figuring I might as wel hide in the corner, playing furniture accessory.

"You got proof?" Kieran asked. "Aidan always says everyone underestimates her."

"I'm going," Clare said. Kieran shook his head. She continued, "No! It's my fault he's trapped in the Lore court. I should've stayed back to watch Amber and the house instead of going hunting during the race."

That fateful night again. I groaned, wondering when I'd be hearing from Dal as. If he just cal ed I could persuade him to return the gemstones.

Maybe that'd change things.

"Turning up at Layla's could make things worse," Kieran said. "Maybe she'l let him go. If he's not back by tomorrow we'l take action."

"You're wil ing to wait and risk your brother's life? Why?" Blake shouted, startling me.

"Layla's powers don't include the ability to kil instantly," Kieran said.

"Maybe it wasn't Layla. The Shadows want Amber badly." Clare went about closing the thick, blackout drapes against the breaking dawn. "I'l wait for Cass. Maybe she can help."

Kieran snorted but remained silent.

"Is there anything I can do?" I asked. "I'l do whatever it takes to find Aidan." I barely knew him, but somehow I felt a connection. It was almost as though I could hear the confusion in his thoughts and feel the pain that kept rippling through him like—chains cutting into his flesh? I tensed, gaze focused on the naked wal . There was something at the edge of my awareness, but I couldn't grasp it. With a sigh, I forced it to the back of my mind.

Paranoid. Aidan was fine and would be back soon.

"Go to bed and get some rest. You've gone through a lot in one day," Kieran said.

Blake nodded, grimly. "Kieran's right. Tomorrow, we'l find a way to fix this giant mess you caused."

There was something else in the air, some sort of hesitation and anticipation. And then it dawned on me. The vampires wanted me out so they could discuss whatever they hid from me. I smiled and bid them goodnight, then headed out the door. Holding my breath, I pressed my back against the wal , eavesdropping.