Ink Magic (Ink Sorceress Chronicles) (10 page)

“
Okay, I won’t fight you any more.”

“
I need more than that from you. You must join me, unless you want something horrible to happen to your mother. Do you think she would enjoy going to prison?” he mused. “I could make it so she remembers every thing she does, when she murders someone.”

My mother was a good person. She wouldn’t be able to live with killing someone.

“
I’ll join you. I’ll do whatever you want,” I spoke through clenched teeth.

He held Daniel’s sword out in front of him. “Let’s go kill us some Ink Mages.”

He froze looking down at the sword. “What the?” The sword reversed, moving toward his stomach. “No!” he shouted.

Now the point faced his stomach, then it plunged into his flesh. He fell to his knees. “Heal me!” he shouted. Heal me, or your mother....”

I dropped to his side, intent on pushing the sword in further, and pulling it out and healing him at the same time. I wanted answers from him. I wanted his help in learning more about my powers. And, insanely, I didn’t want this to be the last time I saw my father. But the sword had already done the work for me. He was dead.

I looked around in confusion. Why did the sword attack him? Is that what Ink Mage’s swords did, even when their master’s were dead? Or…was it possible….

I jumped to my feet, looking around wildly.

Was Daniel still alive? Was he still controlling his sword even from a distance?

With my leg practically healed, I ran frantically in all directions, calling his name. I fell over a heavy object, nearly twisting my ankle. It must have been a branch or something. Then it moved. I felt around for it.

“
Hey, are you trying to take advantage of me?”

I snatched my hands back in embarrassment.

“
Daniel?”

“
Yes.” His voice was incredibly weak, and raspy. It seemed to take so much energy to speak that the words were unclear.

I dropped to his side, placing my face next to his mouth. “What is it, Daniel?”

“
I’m sorry.”

“
You? What are you sorry for? You saved me from....” I shuddered to think of what I would have had to do if he hadn’t killed my father.

“
I’m sorry I didn’t warn you . . . warn you about Nick. What kind of a sleaze he is.” Each word sapped the last of his breath.

“
Shush. Don’t speak.”

“
But, I couldn’t tell you. My friend, Michelle, swore me to secrecy. Nick took her virginity. He told her he’d marry her. She loves him, still. Despite everything.” His body shook as he tried to get too many words out with too little breath.”

“
I understand. I was nearly one of his conquests and you did save me. You always do.” I planted a kiss on his forehead, and tasted my own tears.

“
I nearly didn’t.”

“
Will you let me save you now?” My tattoo shone so brightly, it illuminated the scene.

“
I….” His eyes were wide. He looked at the tattoo snaking up his arm as if it were a spider. It seemed like he wanted to move away from it, to shake it off, but he couldn’t because it was a part of him. “Yes.”

He turned his attention away from the horror crawling across his skin and looked me in the eye. He didn’t speak for an age.

My tattoo joined with his and fear flitted across his features but only fleetingly. Our tattoos merged, blue and green tendrils intertwining. Magic flowed through me, into my tattoo. The magically infused tattoo poured into the wound.

“
I love you,” he said finally. Already his voice sounded stronger.

“
Do you trust me?” I asked.

I knew he loved me. Somehow, I knew he’d loved me for a long time. But that’s not what I asked. I wanted to know if he thought I was still capable of murder. Or would he always distrust me whenever I grew teeth?

Then it occurred to me. To Daniel, love and trust were one and the same. Telling me he loved me was the same thing as telling me he trusted me.

“
Do you think you have the energy to kiss me?”

“
Oh, I think I could manage it,” he said, in mock-strain. Before he sat bolt up right. The sudden movement nearly made him pass out again and I pushed him back down and held him still. He grinned at the thought of being manhandled by me.

I lay on my side next to him and leaned over his chest, careful not to crush his wounds. Our lips touched. Our tattoos mingled, mine drawing his across my skin and when our lips came together, it felt like his lips were all over me caressing me.

Daniel was panted heavily. The sheen of sweat on his skin probably didn’t have everything to do with our runaway tattoos.

It took every ounce of strength to pull away from him. Severing the connection between our tattoos left me dizzy. It made me feel so empty.

“
Lucy,” he begged.

“
I’m sorry,” I poked him in the chest, “but I think we should avoid kissing each other, at least until you feel better.”

He groaned again.

“
I want to touch you,” his voice took on huskiness I didn’t recognize. It made my tattoo spark across various erogenous zones.

“
You need to calm down,” I said. “Let’s talk about something…unsexy.”

“
Alright, will you be my girlfriend?” he asked.

That just made me tremble for different reasons. He’d just asked me out and I wanted to kiss him and hold him even more. The fact that were just an inch apart and couldn’t even hold hands made me weak.

“
What about your guardian? Do you think she’ll mind?”

“
Monica? She’ll hate the idea. But she can lump it. I’ve got you now there’s no way I’m ever giving you up.”

“
Alright. If you’re sure you can handle having an Ink Sorceress for a girl friend.”

“
I think maybe we need some more practice.” He pulled me down on top of him.

Our time apart had done nothing to dampen his arousal, which sent a thrill across my skin. The guy had just about died, yet my presence made him incredibly virile. A girl could get a swelled head.

“
What were you thinking of practicing?”

He traced a line across my chest with his finger, and my tattoo stayed with him. I let out a squeak of frustration when he moved his finger away.

He grinned, his brilliant, blue eyes sparkled with mischief and I punched him lightly on the arm.

“
What? You said we had to go slow.”

Well, two could play at that game. I traced my hand down his pant’s leg causing him to jump in surprise. I only got so far before I took my hand away. Once we’d finished teasing each other we got to our feet.

We held hands as we walked, enjoying the feel of our tattoos dancing between our fingers. “I love you, too,” I said.

He sneaked a quick kiss on my mouth. I held my fingers to my lips, knowing they’d be blue from where his mouth was.

Looking down at my tattoo, I saw something amazing. The design had shrunk back down to almost nothing. Though dormant, it looked different somehow. I couldn’t figure it out until I looked at the large tattoo on his shoulder.

It was blue. Just like mine.