A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

mortal mate and
then taking her away once I fell for her. It wasn’t fair.
    “The demon guardians are nearby,” Cass
said. “I can hear them searching for her. They’ll reach her in a heartbeat.” She
gasped as she pointed at Amber’s body.
    “What? What do you hear?” I turned and
kneeled beside my unmoving mate, fingers digging into her fragile shoulders. She
was turning a pale shade of blue right before my eyes; her skin felt cold as
ice under my touch. “Cass, what’s the matter? What’s happening to her?”
    Time seemed to stand still. Eventually Cass
replied, eyes wide with something I couldn’t quite place. “It’s got its teeth sunk
into her. Charge the creature, then. Do something, you idiots.” She was talking
to her demons, regarding me as she said, “I have one hundred of Dad’s best men flying
over this thing and twenty more jumping on it, clawing at its skin and poking
its eyes. Looks like your ex isn’t going down without a fight.”
    What was she saying? “My ex?”
    “Rebecca,” Cass hissed, closing her eyes. “Get
the fire demons, Octavius . Turn that thing into burnt
toast.” She paused. “I know they’re dangerous, but we don’t have a choice.
Release them. Do it. Now.”
    “Cass, is Amber safe?” Kieran asked.
    She jerked her head back. “Whoa, slow down
on the flames, man. You’re going to singe your eyebrows. We need just enough to
roast marshmallows, not set a raging forest fire.”
    “The forest is on fire? Are you insane? You’re
going to kill Amber,” I roared.
    “Don’t you know Smokey the Bear’s trademark
slogan? No? Well, let me tell you. Smokey says, only you can prevent forest
fires.” Cass smiled bitterly. “They got Amber out.”
    “Is she burned?” I asked.
    “Yes, and bitten. Sucked dry.”
    “But she’s alive?” As long as Amber was
breathing I could still turn things around. I glared at Cass, ready to shake the
answer out of her, when I noticed her parted lips and flushed cheeks. Drama.
Chaos. Havoc. Demons feed on them, and judging from the ecstasy on Cass’s face
there was plenty of it around.
    “They’re bringing Amber back,” she said.
    The Shadows started their incantations
again. Deidre stirred for the first time since Amber’s departure, smoothing a
hand over her long hair, the sudden movement startling me.
    I felt the pull, the bond warning me like a
ringing bell that something was happening. Amber sat up with a gasp, her
heartbeat speeding up, then slowing down again. Her eyes turned in their
sockets before she fell back into my open arms. My gaze moved over the book
tied to her middle and her torn sleeve, lingering over the caked blood on her
savaged arm. Whatever bit her drew a lot of blood. As long as her heart still beat
she’d live, but she needed an infusion now.
    “She’s back.” Devon inched closer and
stared hungrily at the book.
    I snarled in his direction in case he made
the mistake to reach for it, but I knew the Shadow wouldn’t dare with Cass
around. It didn’t surprise me to find the Shadows cared nothing for Amber. They
probably would’ve let her die once she retrieved the book because to them, she’d
been just a means to get what they wanted. But did they have to be so blunt
about it?
    Scooping Amber up in my arms, I pressed her
against my body and headed for the door.
    “The book’s ours,” Devon said, reaching for
the dagger tied around his waist.
    Kieran stepped between us, a cocky smile
playing on his lips as he untied it from Amber’s waist. “You’ll get it when you
fulfill your part of the bargain and perform the ritual.”
    Devon pulled out the dagger. Cass pressed a
hand against his chest, nostrils flaring as usual. “Whoa, mate, get a grip,
will you? We had a deal and I’ll make sure you abide by the rules.”
    “The ritual shall be performed now,
otherwise the deal’s off,” Deidre said.
    “No.” I shook my head. “I’m taking Amber
home. It’s my responsibility to make sure she recovers without harm.”
    “She won’t recover,” Deidre whispered.
    She was just trying to get what they wanted
and for that she’d spin one lie after another. I lowered my gaze, ignoring the
need to fling Deidre across the room.
    “Shut up,” Kieran said. “We’ll get her to a
hospital and she’ll be okay.”
    Deidre shrugged. “You can hope all you
want, but the girl will die. The ritual shall be performed now or never. Your call.”
    Kieran pulled me aside and whispered,