A Job From Hell (29 page)

"You want Aidan, I don't." I cringed at my lie. "I'l 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'l be mine anyway. Guys need diversion. He had his fun, now he'l be eager to come back to me."

I quel ed 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 wal , 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 colour. "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 spiral ing down my leg, and screamed as loudly as my lungs would al ow.

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, fel 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 tal girl leaning against the wal . Layla. No need to ask what she'd done. Her self-satisfied smirk said it al . Something snapped inside me and al reason disappeared.

"I'm going to kil 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 bul . 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 pul ing me back. Kicking, I let out another roar and fought against Kieran's iron grip.

"No! She'l kil you too." Kieran's 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 wil . 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'l 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 al over that sculpted chest of yours." She laughed, the shril , unnatural sound irritating my ears. "Oh wait, that couldn't happen. What with being a vampire and al . 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 kil 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 al 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'l 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-centred assessment?" I pul ed 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 dol 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'l be punished with death."

I snorted. Was she real y playing the innocent card here? "You tried to kil a mortal. I only acted in my own right."

"Tried?" She laughed. "Who says your mate won't die?"

"I do." I wanted to kil 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? Fal ing for a vampire's beneath you. And stalking him day and night, sending your pets to kil 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 stil the one with al the power."

Layla's face turned into an ugly mask. "Say one word and you'l suffer my wrath, and so wil al of your sidekicks, like your pathetic brother and wimpy Clare."

"Whoa, did the hag just cal 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 al .

"Hold on a second," Kieran said. "Did you just cal me a sidekick? Like Robin to Batman? Like Donkey to Shrek, or Sam to Frodo? Isn't that precious?"

Kieran shutting his mouth was obviously too much to ask. I shot him an irritated look. "Let's get back to the topic at hand. Go away, Layla, or I swear I'l talk to your mother."

Layla puffed and moved to the window, the snakes slithering with her. "She'd never make you happy. I would because I'm a goddess." She threw me a glance over her shoulder, head tilted, revealing a slender neck and glossy, black hair, thick as a curtain.

Not tempting. Not like my Amber. I shook my head. "Find someone else. I'm not interested."

Her expression darkened. "I'l make sure to bring flowers to her grave." Shooting me another menacing grin, Layla dissipated into thin air, disappearing before my eyes. It wasn't over yet.

"Getting cocky's my thing, not yours," Kieran said, punching my shoulder. "And who do you decide to practice on—Layla of al people? Are you crazy? Now the hag wil come back, you idiot."

"Next time I'l be prepared."

Kieran rubbed a hand over his abdomen. "You frigging kicked your own flesh and blood. I won't be able to eat for a week."

I snorted. "I highly doubt that."

"Okay, so maybe for a few hours," Kieran said. "Payback's a bitch."

Ignoring him, I turned my attention to Amber. A sheen layer of sweat covered her forehead. Her eyes were closed, her mouth stood slightly open, her breath came in shal ow, ragged heaps. Could she hear me? I ripped open her top and jeans, examining her skin for wounds. There were several smal bruises on her upper arms and two smal punctures the size of a wasp sting on her left thigh where one of Layla's snakes must've bitten her. I could smel the blood where it had caked over.

"She's alive," Kieran said.

"Yes, but her heartbeat's faint."

Kieran let out a sigh before meeting my gaze. "We need to get her to a hospital. In case you haven't noticed we don't have antivenin. We're not equipped to handle her here."

I peered up at him. "And what exactly do we tel them? That we teleported over as fast as we could? That she was bitten by a pet snake of a demi-goddess who's obsessed with a vampire? They'l throw us both in the nuthouse."

"Padded cel s big time," Kieran said, nodding.

"They'd never figure out what species bit her." I pushed Kieran aside and squeezed my arms beneath Amber's knees and neck, scooping her up together with her shredded clothes. She stirred, but didn't open her eyes. "Hel , I doubt they've even discovered it yet." Standing my ground, I glared, preparing for battle if need be, but Kieran didn't argue. My brother stepped to aside and let me pass. A flash of understanding mixed with something else reflected in his gaze.

"Just don't turn her," Kieran whispered.

"I'l do what I deem right."

He held up his hands. "I can't stop you alone, but I'l get Clare. Two against one." He chuckled as he continued, "And don't forget the connections Clare has. She could cal an army if she wanted. They'd come in a heartbeat."

No connection Clare had was stronger than a vampire. "Interfere and I won't have a brother anymore," I muttered.

"What, no sidekick? You'l kil your own brother?"

I shook my head. "No, I'l denounce you and kick you to the curb. You've been living here without paying rent far too long anyway."

"Fine. I won't stop you," Kieran said. "You always say I make bad choices. I hope you two ride into the sunset and live happily ever after. Oh wait! That's not going to happen." He turned and walked away. How could loving Amber be a bad choice? Kieran would never understand until he found his own mate.

The corridor stood empty as I carried Amber to my bedchamber on the second floor and kicked the door shut with my leg. I lay her down on the bed and tore my shirt into wide strips that I wrapped a few inches beneath and above the punctures, then retrieved a dagger from my desk.

The bites, a nasty green colour, had swol en to the size of a smal egg. With the tip of the dagger I made a smal incision in the middle. The venom oozed out, soaking the remaining of my shirt. Amber pried her eyes open and twisted her leg as if to pul away, her hazy gaze looking right through me. A pained moan escaped her lips, beads of 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 swel ing deflated, I pressed my lips against her skin. The sweet flavour 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 pul ed 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, pul ing her into the cave of my arm. I had done al 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 grinded 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 al 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 stil 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.