Alix (The Coven's Grove Chronicles #1) Read Free Page B

there’s a domestic violence call—that’s when it gets a little hairy.”
    “I bet.” She dropped the razor in the sink, and got a damp wash rag to wipe the excess shaving cream off of his chest. A bit of alcohol to place the stencil, and she was ready for the iron. “You expecting to see a lot of that where you’re going?”
    “Yeah. You heard about the riots further south, right?”
    Suddenly, it all came together for Alix. She had seen on the news about a boy getting killed in some kind of gunfight, and the neighborhood rising up in retaliation. “Oh yeah, you goin’ down there, huh?”
    He nodded. “I figure there’s gonna be some bad stuff happening. But work asked for volunteers to give those guys a hand, I couldn’t say no.”
    Great. A decent, hot guy . Alix shook her head. Not the kind of guy she usually went for, which begged the question: Why was he affecting her so much? Whatever, it doesn’t matter . He was probably going to his death, and she’d never see him again. All on account of being a caring human being. Well, I can do something about the danger part at least, she thought ruefully. The other facet of her gift, the part she rarely used on people, was that she could infuse power into the images she imprinted. She need only think on a purpose the imprint was to perform, as she released it into the world. She wouldn’t normally empower a tat like this, but Troy was an exception in her book, and deserved the extra protection she could provide.
    “Okay, time for the real deal.” Alix clicked on the machine, and rolled her stool up beside Troy. She’d have to use the iron for a little while, or it’d be kind of suspicious. The imprints she created appeared pretty much instantaneously.
    “How long have you been doing this?” Troy asked, as Alix began the outline of a circle on his chest.
    “A couple of years now,” she said. She was enjoying the fact that she could stare at his body without looking like some sort of deranged perv.
    “You any good?”
    Alix barked a laugh. “A little late for that question, cowboy.”
    He chuckled. “Yeah, I suppose so.”
    A smile made its way across her face. “Don’t sweat it. I haven’t had any complaints...so far.”
    “Wonderful,” Troy replied, mirth still in his voice. “You like it, or is it just a job?”
    “I love it,” Alix answered honestly. “The hours could be different though.”
    “I hear that.”
    Alix etched on him for some time, savoring the continued banter. Eventually it came time to do the finishing touches. She’d have to touch him for her gift to work, and it had to be an actual touch, not just pressure through a rubber glove.
    She slid back and set the iron down. “I need to check a few details, and then we’re done.”
    Troy frowned. “Too bad, I was enjoying our conversation.”
    Alix had been enjoying it too, and the fact that he felt the same made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside. She pulled off her gloves, got up off the stool, and stepped back over to him. “You’re such a charmer,” she teased, while looking over her work.
    He grinned, “I aim to please.”
    Alix smirked back at him, “Yeah, I’m sure you do.”
    “No, really.” Some of the sarcasm faded from his voice. “I’m havin’ a good time.” The light reflected off of his crystal blue eyes, and uncovered the sincerity hidden just behind their protective facade. “Maybe we could go to dinner sometime.”
    Holy shit, he just asked me out . Her spirits soared. She couldn’t believe he’d just asked her out. She raised her brows, stalling for some witty reply to manifest, and break through her raging emotions.
    Nothing.
    Afraid that the moment would pass before she could respond, Alix blurted, “Okay.” She closed her eyes in humiliation. Okay?! Good God, no wonder you’re single, she thought, feeling the fool.
    Troy released a deep breath. “I thought you were going to tell me to get lost there for a second.”
    Alix looked at him