Authors: Jayde Scott
The Cemetery of the Dead—the place Rebecca would've kil ed to visit. I considered his words for a minute. With the help of the book I'd final y get what I wanted since my turning. If there was a place where the ritual might work, then on Shadow territory, among the trapped souls of the dead.
And I wanted that ritual. It was my only chance to live without blood, to see the sun rise and set, and feel its heat on my bare skin.
"What do you think?" Devon asked. Judging from his self-satisfying smirk, it wasn't a question.
Clare bobbed her head. I didn't need to ask Kieran, because my brother was nodding enthusiastical y, probably making signs behind my back.
Yet I couldn't quite shake off the feeling the Shadows were keeping something from me.
Cass stepped between us as if sensing the battle inside me. "I'l make sure everyone plays fair. If you break your word, I swear I'l send half of hel after you."
"You mean Daddy wil ." Kieran grinned.
"Shut up, you two," I hissed, stil considering my options. I wouldn't need blood any more or ever shun the sun again, meaning I could protect Amber day and night. She could learn to control her new ability while I watched over her. It was an offer too good to be true. "Okay, I'l keep my part of the deal if you keep yours. Cass, I trust you're not taking sides."
"You have my word," Cass said. Kieran snorted. She turned toward him, two tiny flames blazing in her green eyes. Her voice dropped a few notches. The smel of sulphur wafted past me. "You want to say something, moron?" She sounded as though several voices talked at once, layered in tone and connotation.
Not again. I sighed and lifted my hand to rub my forehead. "I've had it with you two. We're trying to seal a deal here." The fires in Cass's eyes disappeared, but she didn't back off. I breathed in, mental y preparing myself for what I was about to say. "As much as it pains me to work with Shadows, you have a deal."
"Wise decision," Connor said.
Kieran patted me on the back. "Congrats, bro. You've just sold your soul to the devil. Wait. You don't have a soul."
"I'l send out the soul hunters to find out the book's whereabouts," Cass said, ignoring him.
"We'l keep in touch." Devon and Connor walked away, glancing over their shoulders a few times as though they didn't dare turn their backs on us.
"You know I'l stand by you no matter what. We might have our differences, but you're my brother and I love you," Kieran said.
Cass laughed and flicked her hair back, revealing a milky-white, slender neck. "And I thought you two didn't have a heart. Wel , technical y you don't because you're dead. Even stil , it was a gushy moment. If only I had a camera to capture the magic. But then again, you wouldn't show up on film."
"What's your desired position with the Lore council?" I asked.
Cass beamed at Clare, and I marvel ed at how little she looked like a half fal en angel—more like a little child in a candy shop. If I didn't know who her father was, I would've believed she was a normal teen with too much determination and no sense of fashion.
"Make me ambassador," Cass said. Kieran burst into a fit of laughter.
"I'l try my best." I grabbed her outstretched hand and shook it, the heat emitted from her palm scorching my skin.
Clare accompanied Cass to her car while Kieran and I returned to the house. My gaze fel on Amber sitting next to Blake. Our eyes connected, and she smiled that lazy smile of hers that had my stomach in knots.
"Is everything al right?" Amber asked.
"Just peachy," Kieran said. "No need to worry your pretty head. We were trying to figure out how to save a damsel in distress from evil forces that want to destroy her."
She laughed, oblivious to how much truth hid in Kieran's words. "Is there hope for her?"
Kieran winked. "I believe so. We're making it our personal mission to save her by recruiting some big, bad demons, scandalous Shadows, vampires, and even Beelzebub herself."
"You've been busy then," she said.
"Ignore him." I placed my hands on her waist, suppressing the urge to lower my lips onto hers and never let go. She didn't seem to believe a word of it, but if Kieran wasn't more careful she might start to. "Al 's great. We had some business to discuss." From the corner of my eye, I watched Blake leave quietly. I pul ed Amber toward the large glass panes and wrapped my arms around her as I whispered in her ear, "This is what I wanted to show you. Do you like the view?" I could hear her heartbeat speed up. Whatever Clare said about a boyfriend, soon Amber wouldn't even remember the poor guy's name.
"It's beautiful," she said.
Like you. I bit my lip, drawing a drop of blood, the smel intoxicating. I hadn't fed in two days. If my plan worked, soon I would no longer need to.
We gazed at the dark water crashing against the cliffs below. Nothing I hadn't seen before, but standing here with the one, I felt excited, more so than the first time I watched the spectacular display of Mother Nature's force right under my feet. I inhaled her scent and pul ed her back to the sofa, remembering she was mortal after al . "Did you have dinner tonight?"
Amber blushed. "I did. But I don't mind sitting with you if you want to grab a bite."
I smiled. A bite sounded good. I didn't mind one of those, but not to feed. "I'm not hungry."
Kieran shot me an amused look. "I am."
"You're not getting anything." Clare elbowed him in the ribs. "Come on. We'l sink our teeth into something on the way home."
"Hey, Amber. If you ever tire of him—" he pointed at me "—you know where to find me."
Amber avoided my gaze. I could sense her nervousness as the others left. She wasn't comfortable around me. Not yet. To gain her trust, I had to move slowly, taking one step at a time. "Tired?"
She nodded. "A bit."
Grabbing her hand, I pul ed her to her feet. Even though the bond would draw her to me nonetheless, I wanted her to start loving me for who I was inside, not just because we were meant to spend eternity together. "We should get going then. You're working tomorrow. Nobody makes vegetable stir-fry like you do."
"Right. Of course, boss." Amber shrugged into her coat. I thought I caught the slightest hint of regret in her eyes.
I locked the door—more for show than out of need—and started the engine. She seemed fidgety now, her hands clasped in her lap, fingers intertwined.
"You're an experienced driver," Amber said.
I could sense the question in her statement. She couldn't keep her curiosity at bay. Maybe I had underestimated her inquisitive nature. Even though I had died at eighteen, my perilous existence as a vampire had helped me mature beyond that age.
"My family shared a love for cars," I said. Another lie told out of need. Before she could resume her questioning, I focused on the invisible bond between us, emptying my head of any thoughts, then let my mind invade hers, slowly lul ing her into the sweet lure of slumber. It was the only power I held over her.
Amber breathed out and relaxed in her seat. I switched on the radio and watched her close her eyes, my mind wandering back to the conversation with the Shadows. Cass would ensure they kept their word. She simply had to. As a bounty hunter, half the Lore council owed me.
Maybe I could cal in those debts as wel and buy us some time.
By the time the SUV pul ed into the driveway, Amber's shal ow breathing told me she was asleep. I stepped out, opened the passenger door and scooped her up in my arms, marvel ing at how light she seemed, then carried her upstairs, as silent as my abilities permitted. She only stirred once, opening her eyes, when I placed her on the bed.
The soft moonlight cast lazy shadows on Amber's pale skin. She stretched in my arms like a cat in front of a hearth, but I could hear her heart racing, hammering against her chest. Ever so slowly I lowered my lips and brushed hers, then pressed a little tighter. Her mouth opened under my gentle pressure and she wrapped her arms around my neck. Heat rushed through my body, the sensation new and frightening at the same time. My thumb brushed down her neck where the blood pumped the hardest, cal ing to me. My lips fol owed the trail, barely touching her skin. Her pulse thumped against my lips. Hunger stirred inside me. I needed to get out of here, and fast, before I couldn't control my need to feed.
It took me al my might to peel my lips off hers. Amber protested, but I could see panic in her eyes, the sudden realisation of what just happened sinking in.
"Sleep wel ," I whispered. My voice sounded hoarse. In two long strides I was out the door, hurrying to get away from her before I lost al reasoning and bore my fangs into her delicate skin.
I sat up with a jolt and watched Aidan close the door behind him. The last thing I remembered was sitting in his car and a sense of peace washing over me, and then Aidan leaning over me on the bed, our lips locked in the best kiss of my life.
I jumped up and rubbed my eyes to get rid of that unnerving floating. My phone vibrated in my handbag. Fishing through tissues, various makeup items and what else not, I retrieved it and pushed the green button to switch on the screen. A message popped up, and my heart skipped a beat, but not with pleasure. Guilt surged within me as I started to read.
Hey babe. Missed U so much. Whatcha say to nice dinner. Just U & I.
Groaning, I dropped back on the bed. Cameron had said he needed months to think. Why did he have to text me today of al days, less than four weeks after our break-up? It wasn't fair, not now when I had no idea what was happening between Aidan and me.
I rubbed my forehead, unsure what to do, when I remembered Rebecca's clothes were stil hanging in the closet. Nothing was going on between us because Aidan stil cared about his ex. To text Cameron back, I'd have to go to the laundry room. It was after four in the morning. Cameron had sent the message shortly after midnight. As much as I hated to keep him waiting, I couldn't bring myself to walk down to the basement now. I might freeze my feet off. Besides, Aidan could stil be lurking around. I felt the tel tale heat rise to my cheeks, and touched my fingers to my swol en lips, his caress stil vivid yet mortifying in my mind.
Should I tel Cameron? He may not be the jealous type, but I couldn't risk him changing his mind about us yet again. After taking a quick shower, I put on a fresh pair of flannel PJs and cuddled beneath the covers. Ignoring the sudden sense of being watched, I focused on my plans and the future with Cameron—a dinner that'd turn into a romantic declaration of love, Cameron realising that what we shared was special, moving in together and final y meeting his parents. The pictures I conjured in my mind seemed hazy and forced, unrealistic, making me feel like a little girl hanging on to her favourite fairy tale because she couldn't let go of the one guy that didn't love her back enough. While Cameron was polite, educated and pretentious, Aidan made me feel alive. Who was the better choice? Oh, darn it. Sighing, I started counting in my head until I drifted off to sleep, wondering why I'd never noticed how scrawny Cameron seemed compared to my new boss.
It was past ten when I woke up. I'd overslept again, the second time in six working days. I jumped out of bed, dressing with one hand and brushing my teeth with the other. Downstairs, the usual silence greeted me. I breathed out, relieved that no one was about. I could only hope Aidan hadn't instal ed some sort of nanny cam to watch my every move. Remembering Dal as's words in the woods, I smiled. Paranoid. Yep. And sil y for kissing my boss a week into the job. So much for keeping my job and private life separate.
Humming to myself, I grabbed a dusting cloth and went about cleaning, starting with the living room and shifting from one huge space to another like a robot. What a dreary job, the worst I'd ever done. Maybe not the worst, but not a glamorous one either.
By the time a car parked in the driveway an hour later, I had skipped the chandeliers—no way would I be able to reach the ceiling—and most of the paintings on the wal s—real y, who dusts those on a daily basis—and was ready to start on the ironing, which was even worse than cleaning.
As light footsteps approached, I polished with a little more fervour, seemingly engrossed in my work. The door opened. From the corner of my eye, I noticed red hair, floating around like an oversized halo. A faint whiff of smoke wafted in. "Hey. The door was open so I let myself in."
I turned to see the girl from last night—Cassandra—inch nearer. I peered up from the loose jeans and green cardigan to see whether she stil wore the fake horns on her head, but Cass sported a turquoise bonnet that hung too low, covering her entire forehead and partly hiding her spectacular, green eyes. Didn't she wear the same things last night? Either she couldn't be bothered to change her clothes, or she liked to buy her stuff in bulk. Or she didn't go to bed yet.
"You don't mind, do you?" Cass slumped on the sofa and pushed the bonnet out of her eyes.
Happy for any diversion from my dreadful chores, I put down the dusting cloth. "Sorry I look a wreck. I wasn't expecting company." I fanned myself air. "You wouldn't believe how hot it gets in here after an hour of cleaning."
Cass smiled. "Oh, gosh. I definitely get you. Back home, it's so hot one can fry an egg on the sidewalk. And cleaning isn't my thing, either."
"Can I get you anything?" I asked.
"Nah, I'm good." Cass scanned the room, her nostrils flaring, sniffing the air. "Fancy place, isn't it? But kind of dark and dreary like an old, giant tomb. I prefer brighter colours to lift the mood. You know, yel ow or red."
"You haven't been here before?"
Cass frowned, hesitating. "I have, but not in this room."
I regarded her for a moment. I wasn't a good liar myself, but I could tel when others were tel ing fibs. Why would Cass lie about such a triviality, unless Aidan and she were dating and they tried to keep it a secret? A pang of jealousy hit me ful force, taking me by surprise. Inhaling deeply, I curled my lips into a smile. "What can I do for you?"
"There's this tiny inconvenience I'd like to discuss with you." Cass took off her bonnet and placed it beside her. "I've no idea how to start. Made myself this fabulous list—" she fished in her pocket for a crumpled paper that looked like she'd used it more than once "—but it's al useless."