Mystic Ink Read Free Page A

colon on a daily basis, she might not have agreed.
    As near as she could tell, Mary was not part of the Greek Pantheon of Gods. The current theory between Nix and Jason was that Mary was part of the Egyptian Pantheon. They based this hypothesis on Mary’s black hair and ageless café au lait skin. Mary was also partial to heavy dark eyeliner that accentuated her deep brown eyes. Jason swore to Nix that tattoos were hidden underneath Mary’s silver cuff bracelets: The Eye of Horus on her right wrist and an Ankh on her left one. He had seen them one day when she slipped the bracelets off to apply hand lotion.
    Devlin cleared his throat. “The block watch appreciates your attention to this matter.” He escaped out the door before Nix could hurl the water ball at his curly head.
    “You really need to work on your people skills,” Cal commented.
    “Well, he’s not a person. He’s a goat bastard.” Nix inhaled and exhaled, then sent the water to the potted plants outside the front door.
    “Technically, he’s part fawn, part man,” Cal said, the reasonable calm in his voice irking her.
    “I don’t care. He’s still half beast.” She picked up a broom and swiped it across the already clean floor, trying to brush away the creepy crawlies on her skin. She couldn’t explain her aversion. Satyrs were just . . . ewww.
    “You really should give him a chance, Nix,” Jason piped in from the workstations where he was disinfecting the counters. “Devlin’s a pretty good guy. Don’t lump him in with the rest of the bad apples. He’s not like the others.” He sprayed down the chairs. “I know for a fact that he goes to the shelter on his days off to feed and play with the animals.”
    Nix snorted. “He’s probably looking for his next bed partner.”
    “There hasn’t been a known case of Satyrs attacking Nymphs in the last hundred years,” Cal added.
    “Gee. What a coincidence. Wasn’t that around the time The Delian League offered membership to the United States Government?” Nix’s father had invited the U.S. because the fledgling nation espoused the ideals of the ancient Greeks—to defend freedom and promote democracy. “The Satyrs in this country know they’ll get their furry gonads handed to them if they put one hoof out of line.”
    “You’re so cynical,” Cal said. Nix tried not to stare at the curve of his pecs. He worked out regularly, judging by the definition in his arms and abs. Why did he have to wear such form fitting T-shirts? And why was she scoping out his body? Granted it was a hot body.
    Her phone rang. Saved by the bell, thank the Gods. She needed saving from herself.
    When she read caller ID, she almost let it go to voicemail. But if she did, Doris would just keep calling. It was kind of hard to tattoo someone when her phone was ringing every five minutes. “Hello, Mother.”
    “I can’t believe you haven’t called me yet. I told you to call. It’s been two weeks. I must know. Is Calder Quinne as much of a dreamboat as everyone says he is?” her mother asked in a breathy tone. Nix could almost feel her mother quivering with anticipation.
    “I’m getting ready to open the shop. I’m a little busy here.” Nix had no intention of indulging her mother’s curiosity. Definitely not with Cal standing a few feet away, chatting with Mary at the receptionist desk. “I can’t talk now . . . if you know what I mean?” Honestly, like the hotness of Calder Quinne was the most important thing in the world. Not.
    “Oh. Of course, dear. I understand. He’s standing nearby. All right then. I’ll call you later after my appointments. Bye, dear.” Her mother always had appointments: the hair salon, manicures, pedicures, waxing. You name it, she did it. Nix couldn’t relate to her mother’s Manhattan lifestyle. Way too shallow and self-indulgent.
    Aside from dying her hair a garish shade of black, Nix spent almost zero time on her personal appearance. She bathed daily, but she was lucky