Mystic Ink Read Free

the details of their brief love affair. Details Cal could have lived without knowing. The God community’s relative smallness meant that the gossip traveled quickly; whether it was true or not, didn’t matter. He knew his own relationship disaster, with a princess in the Amazon court, was still fodder for the rumor mill.
    “I don’t have a problem with you personally.” Nix handed him a carton marked ‘black ink’. “If you’re going to hang around, you can at least be useful.” Nix left him standing there, box in hand. He breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe he had a chance with her. Maybe she would remember him and their shared past.
    He shook his head. He was a fool. Reclamation was always permanent. If he wanted Nix, he would have to win her heart, all over again.
    The front door chimes tinkled. Then the musky scent of Satyr hit his nose.
    “What the hell do you want?” He heard Nix say, anger clear in her tone.
    Shit! Not good. Cal arrived in time to see her palming a watermelon-sized ball of water, ready to douse the Satyr standing in the shop.
    The power of the ocean surged through Nix’s veins. She could command water at will. There were limits to her power on dry land, so she always kept water supplies nearby. The ball in her hand came from the employee water cooler. The jug would have to be refilled later. But she didn’t give a crap. The dirty Satyr was getting a bath.
    “Nix! Wait.” Cal came up behind her, but was smart enough to not touch her. She couldn’t stand Satyrs and this one in particular was a real pain in the ass.
    Devlin Ward stood still as a statue, his eyes fixed on the liquid orb in her hands.
    “What do you want, Devlin?” Nix dialed down her temper. She didn’t want Cal running back to her father reporting she was unstable. Like most of his kind, Devlin was a slob. He wore rumpled clothes and sported a mop of brown curls, dangling in different directions. A five o’clock shadow and bushy sideburns rounded out his unkempt appearance.
    “I’m here on official business. So I would appreciate it if you would direct your anger elsewhere.” Devlin’s shoulders un-bunched and he stood taller. “The neighborhood watch committee has asked that you please do something about your alley.”
    “Really? Are you implying that I’m killing mortals and hiding them behind my dumpster?”
    “No. Of course not,” he replied. “But Fourth of July is approaching. Dead bodies attract negative publicity and scare away business.”
    Nix wanted to laugh in Devlin’s face. He owned a grimy junk shop—Fawn’s Pawns—over on Cottrel Street, a few blocks away. She doubted there would be a big tourist rush for second-hand goods of dubious origin.
    She also tried to ignore the odor he emitted. Satyrs and Nymphs were natural adversaries. In order to trap a Nymph, a Satyr would use an enticing scent as a lure. For Nereids, it was the delicious aroma of salty air and sweet coconut. Once a Satyr got hold of a Nymph, he would rape her repeatedly and try to keep her as a love slave.
    “The local police are handling the matter.” Cal spoke from behind Nix. Devlin’s eyes widened and his face paled. When Nix turned around, Cal’s expression was neutral. Jason swept around the workstations wearing an amused expression.
    “Is that all you wanted to say?” Nix asked. “I have clients coming in soon.”
    “That’s it.” Devlin nodded.
    The door chime jangled.
    Mary Swain had finally arrived. Nix’s prissy bitch receptionist wrinkled her nose at Devlin. While sauntering into the backroom, she said, “Morning, Cal” and ignored everyone else.
    Nix shot Cal a look. What made him so damn special? Mary had barely said two words to her in two weeks. Nix signed her paycheck, for Zeus’ sake. Uncle Memphis had stipulated that Mary, Jason, and Basil must remain part of the staff. The only explanation offered was that they would be great assets to her. If Nix had known that Mary would have a bug up her