Vex: Mythical Ink Series (book 1): An Exotic Ink Novel

by LS Anders

  Alea pulled out of Vex’s hold and was about to ask what all the Cheshire-catting was about when Evana followed, being pushed in a wheelchair by a purposeful Callie.

  Evana’s IV bag bouncing on the thin metal pole like a fat flag as the redhead walked with purpose, sporting an unyielding look that dared anyone to get in her damn way.

  “I learned a few new cuss words tonight,” Sevin beamed, making room for the girls to pass. “Remind me not to tangle with that redhead.”

  “Why, what happened?” she asked, watching as Callie cleared out Jason’s room, wheeling Evana in to see her man.

  “They released Evana from the ER, and she wanted to be with Jason instead of going with the nurse to the room she was admitted. So, Callie argued with the nurse and took off with Evana,” Sevin explained. “I’m surprised no one called security. It was an epic verbal beat down, too,” he chuckled. “Callie’s my freaking hero and just solidifies my attraction to redheaded females.”

  “There’s not a damn thing wrong with brunettes,” Vex defended, warming her heart as she blushed and smiled while being pulled back against him.

  “Nope, there’s not, but you got the best of the lot.” Sevin winked before his eyes caught and followed a cute brunette in scrubs knock before entering a patient’s room down the hall.

  “There’s nothing wrong with her, Sevin,” Alea pointed out. “See, you are attracted to other women besides redheads.”

  “Maybe,” was all the shifter said.

  All eyes turned towards the angel as he sauntered down the hall towards them.

  Sifting his way through the crowded hallway exchanging hellos with the new friends they’d all made earlier in the evening until he reached Vex.

  “Everything get taken care of?” Vex asked.

  “Yep.” The angel’s cryptic response had her tilting her head. Her curiosity barely caged. What had these males been up to?

  Lucian stiffened, and a wide grin spread across his face.

  Vex followed the direction of his sudden giddiness and let his eyes roll back in his head.

  Vehn Mathieu, that super-model the angel was infatuated with rounded the corner down the hall. Running an exasperated hand through his shoulder length hair that was so much like Lucian’s.

  “Jesus Christ, hippie, ask the guy out on a date already and get it over with,” he moaned.

  “I don’t roll like that, asshole,” Lucian growled, but still hung onto his fanboy beaming. “I just think the guy is the shit.”

  “It’s revolting,” he complained, pulling Alea tighter to him. He couldn’t seem to stop touching her.

  Leaving her behind, even though he knew she was perfectly safe at the hospital surrounded by people, made him feel vulnerable, like he’d stripped his skin off and was about to jump into a vat of acid.

  “Well, go revolt someplace else. I’m making friends,” Lucian tossed back. “Vehn is cool as fuck.”

  “Then stop making an ass of yourself.”

  The angel ignored him as he struck up a conversation when the famous human reached them. A moment later, Callie emerged from Jason's room pushing the now empty wheelchair ahead of her as she joined them, a satisfied grin on her face.

  “The hospital was good enough to ignore that insane display my fiancée created in the ER.” Vehn cut his eyes at Callie while speaking to Lucian. The angel hanging on his every syllable. “I would have been glad to make a donation without all the drama.”

  Callie shrugged and laid a big kiss on her man’s cheek. “Thank you, baby, for getting me out of trouble, but I was helping Evana escape.”

  “Escape what exactly? She has a concussion. She needs to be in a bed resting,” Vehn swore.

  “She has an IV. She’ll be fine now that she’s with Jason,” Callie countered. “I would be the same way if it was you in there.”

  The angel watched starstruck as the couple verbally bantered.

  “Why is Lucian so taken with him?” Alea asked, snuggling in closer.

  “Not a clue,” he grumbled.

  “For one thing, the man is a fashion icon…” Sevin began to defend the angel, but was struck stupid when Callie spotted Dylan and the two girls embraced.

  “There’s nothing hotter than two redheaded women going at each other,” the shifter remarked with a deep sigh.

  “They’re just hugging. It’s the same as when Avie and I embrace in greeting,” Alea scoffed.

  “When you and Avie hug, I don’t have seventies porn playing in my head,” Sevin mumbled.

  “Ew, Sevin.”

  “Yeah. Ew, Sevin,” he mimicked his fairy.

  Leaning down to the shifter’s ear, he warned in a harsh whisper, “Hands off Dylan, puppy. If you haven’t noticed, Gabriel’s into her. Besides that, she’s a human, so she’s off limits.”

  “Yeah, Lu made that abundantly clear already when he smacked me in the back of the head tonight at the grand opening.”

  “Serves you right,” he grumbled. “Always baiting the girlies with those pheromones of yours, tricky bastard.”

  “Well, I’m not as ruggedly handsome as you, Vex,” Sevin gave him a cheeky grin. “Some of us need the extra help in the love department.”

  He let out a sound between a snort and a growl that made the shifter chuckle.

  “Oh, come on, Sevin,” Alea batted at his shoulder. “You’re cute as you can be. Any girl would be happy to have your attention.”

  A rush of heat lit up Sevin’s face before he bowed his head hiding the blush. “Thanks, Alea. I’m not so sure about the cute part though. Guy’s don’t usually like being called cute.” He recovered quickly from his embarrassment, lifting his head, he rubbed his chin. “Handsome or hot, maybe, but coming from a pretty girl like you, I’ll take it.”

  “That’s all you’ll be taking from her, too, unless you wanna carry your teeth around in your pocket from now on,” he hissed, jealousy climbing all over his skin.

  “Vex.” Alea turned and reached up to touch his scruffy cheek. “He’s just trying to get a rise out of you. Dial down your inner thermostat before you draw any more attention to yourself.”

  All eyes had seen the exchange. The Exotic Ink artists were beginning to shift around uncomfortably. Luckily, he hadn’t flipped the switch on his red light, so the show was limited to a heated exchange of words between friends.

  Gabriel was the first to yawn, that first sign of exhaustion spreading through their group like a virus.

  Now that Jason was recovering and Evana had been found, everyone seemed to be sagging as the intensity of the situations had drained away.

  Alea's tummy rumbled. That was his cue to call an end to this night or early morning as it were. It felt like they'd been here an eternity, and he'd promised to feed his female.

  “Let's head to that twenty-four-hour diner on 2nd. Alea's starving and we gotta plan our next move,” he suggested.

  “I'm all in.” Sevin rubbed his hands together, all but salivating on his shoes.

  “Peel the angel off Vehn’s dick and let's go,” he said, steering Alea down the hall and towards the elevators.

  Waves and hugs were exchanged and then they were stepping inside the first elevator that cracked opened just as the angel and the shifter stepped in beside them.

  The diner was cozy warm or it could just be the heat wafting off her demon as Alea shifted closer to him in the booth.

  Sipping her coffee, she settled into the sound of his deep voice as the males hashed out possible implications to their involvement with the humans.

  The restaurant Vex chose was perfect. They served breakfast all day, and you could still order their lunch and dinner items as well. The combination of buttery pancakes and hamburgers sizzling on the grill was intoxicating.

  “Not that I'm against the idea of bringing Jason on as a partner, but what makes you think he'll even agree to it, and why are you guys going to such an extreme?” Sevin asked, confused.

  “Because, puppy, the human won't be inc
lined to quit Mythical Ink if he's a partner, and we can keep an eye on him. We have no clue how much he knows about us, and I can't get a read off of him until he wakes up. Besides, Tegan mentioned he knew we were somehow involved in permanently shutting down those bikers.”

  “I’d rather be standing on a mountain of certainty than teetering on the mole hill of regret,” Lucian explained. “Better to go to the extreme than to leave your bare ass hanging out in the breeze.”

  “Jason likes us.” Sevin shook his head. “I can't imagine he'd go blabbing what we are even if he does know.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not,” Lucian shrugged. “Are you willing to take a chance that he keeps his mouth shut? If we keep him close, it's safer for us.”

  “This idea isn't exactly bulletproof, though. Are there no other ideas that are more substantial? He could still run his mouth even if he did come on board with us. I mean, this partner thing is pretty thin.” Sevin pointed out the obvious.

  “It’s practically anorexic—” Vex added.

  “But, it's all we've got,” Lucian finished.

  “Jesus…” Sevin swore.

  “I think Gales will agree,” Vex said. “The last time I searched his mind, there was a longing there to own his own shop again.”

  “What do you say, Sevin?” Lucian asked, taking a sip of his drink. “Do we bring Jason in as quarter owner, or do we risk our own necks and hope he doesn't know enough about us to talk?”

  Sevin sunk down in the booth. Raking a hand through the length of his mohawk, he nodded once. “Yeah. Let's do it. Better to be safe than sorry. I like the guy. He's pretty cool for a human.”

  “Alright.” Lucian clapped his hands together. “It's settled then. Just as soon as he wakes up, we bring him on as a partner.”

  The conversation came to a halt as the waitress began bringing over their food in several trips.

  “How long do you think he'll be out?” Lucian asked.

  Completely engrossed in her stack of blueberry pancakes, she hadn't known the question was directed at her until she felt all eyes pointed in her direction.

  “A few more days at least,” she said after swallowing. “His injuries were pretty extensive. His body is just trying to catch up to the rapid healing.”

  “So, can all fairies heal?” Sevin inquired.

  “Yes, it's one of my many talents.” She wriggled her eyebrows at him.

  “Oh, yeah?” Sevin leaned forward. “What other talents you got, little fairy.”

  Vex growled beside her, a deep menacing sound that vibrated the air around them.

  “I'll never tell and you’re pissing Vex off, so shut it.”

  Sevin laughed, taking another bite out of his bacon cheeseburger. Chewing as he smiled, he suddenly sobered and sunk down into the seat of the booth.

  She swung her eyes in the direction the shifter had focused and saw the pack of purebreds. Forever stepping out of the shadows as if they were always stalking him.

  “We gotta do something about those pricks,” Vex growled making a move to slide out of the booth until Sevin grabbed his arm, bringing him to a halt.

  “No.” Sevin shook his head. “I need to do something. I can't have you guys fighting my battles for me my entire life.”

  Watching the group of wolf-shifters through the diner’s windows, the alpha smiled and chomped his teeth at Sevin.

  What a prick!

  The others followed behind, some glaring, some with evil smiles. A promise that one day they would get their hands on him and do what exactly, she didn't know. But, it was certain that they would eventually cross the line and Sevin would suffer much worse than a black eye.

  Then, her eye caught the one that always trailed behind, the dark haired one that kept his eyes downcast and seemed to have an unspoken apology on his mug.

  “No offense, but you can't go up against five at once, Sevin.”

  “They'll never leave me alone until I do, Lu,” Sevin said, keeping his silver gaze fixed on the wolf pack as they crossed the street, Vex’s sudden movements getting their feet moving in the opposite direction.

  “I appreciate you guys wanting to stand up for me. You're the only friends I've got—”

  “Don't forget about me. I'm your friend too, Sevin,” she spoke up.

  “Yes you are,” the shifter smiled. “I'm truly glad to have your friendship.”

  That sad smile of his nearly broke her heart. She wished there was something she could do to help him, but unfortunately, he was right. He had to fight his own battles if he wanted rid of them. But Lucian was right, too. As strong as Sevin was, it would be foolhardy to think he could take on all those purebred’s and live.

  Sevin's appetite seemed to have gone with the pack as they moved on down the street away from the diner. His half-devoured burger lay on his plate forgotten as his eyes remained on the windows, scanning the area.

  Vex and Lucian finished their meals at a slower pace, eyeing each other in a silent communication that only parents knew. He might not be of their blood, but he was their child and the two fathers were in each other's heads hashing out some kind of plan to keep their son safe.

  Paying their checks, they walked together until she and Vex came to the street they needed to cross that would take them home.

  Lucian gave the demon a nod and she knew he would shadow Sevin until he was safe at his place before heading to his own.

  Relieved that for at least one night the shifter would be safe at home, not alone on the city streets and in harm's way of those douchebags. He'd been so sweet that night he'd seen her in the coffee shop and had stopped to walk her home.

  That night had seemed so long ago, so much had happened filling the space in such a short amount of time. She could hardly remember what her life was like before she'd walked into Mythical Ink for the first time.

  Hugging Sevin before they parted ways seemed imperative, and she gave into the impulse even though her demon blasted out a heat wave that turned the winter air around them into summer in the blink of an eye.

  She laughed at the unique feeling of a male’s jealousy over her. Turning loose of Sevin, he gave an embarrassed wave before striding away, the angel at his side.

  “Turn off your heat lamp, Vex, I only want you,” she brazenly admitted, turning her face up to him as they continued on their way hand in hand.

  Vex stared down at her for the longest time, it was a wonder he didn't trip over his own feet. His usual grim expression just as much a part of him as his hellish yellow eyes, softened anytime he looked at her. Smiling was just not in his nature and she could totally live with that.

  “You want a shower.” Not a question from her male as he opened the door and greeted Kat. Swatting her on the bottom to get her moving towards the bathroom, Vex made his way over to the kitchen to take care of his other female. “Go on, now, little fairy. I'll meet you in there. I know you want to scrub the hospital off of you.”

  Warmth infused her heart. He somehow knew without her mentioning her concerns about the germ infested hospital environment that she'd want to scrub herself raw once they were out of there.

  Quickly stripping, she stepped under the hot spray.

  Heaven.

  The only thing that would be better is if her demon were joining her.

  Rolling the green bar of soap between her palms, she created a frothy lather scent of evergreens. Not a very feminine scent, but she loved that she was using something so personal of her demon’s.

  Lathered up, she rinsed off and reached for the shampoo bottle.

  The shower curtain suddenly whipped back and in stepped her male. All gloriously naked, just like she liked him.

  Taking the shampoo bottle from her hands, he grunted and she gave him her back. She was quickly learning the meanings behind his grunts and growls.

  His huge palms gently landed on her head, massaging the shampoo into a thick lather. Turning her by the shoulders, she kept her eyes closed as he nudged her under the spray.

&
nbsp; Rinsed clean, he shampooed her again. Rinsed a second time, this was a personal luxury she needed to remember to add to her romance novel.

  This was what males did for the females they loved. He hadn't said the words and neither had she, but actions spoke volumes and having a fierce demon washing her hair as if she were the most important thing in the world was beyond any emotions words could express.

  Just as soon as they were in bed, she would be expressing just how much she felt for him with her body and mouth. She was going to make sure he felt truly loved tonight.

  Vex washed himself way faster than she would have liked, barely getting her hands over his chest before the water shut off, and she was being wrapped up in a towel and hauled out of the shower.

  If his cock was a measure of his enthusiasm to get her into bed, her plans to take charge might be in jeopardy. He was painfully erect, his sex jutting out towards her as if it were straining to reach out and touch her.

  She would simply have to be more aggressive than him.

  Toweling off, her skin was already beginning to chill. Climbing between the sheets, she didn't bother with her night shirt or panties, they were coming off anyway.

  Vex flipped off all the lights. The mattress dipped under his extreme weight as he slid in beside her. Lying on his back, he outstretched his heavy right arm with a grunt for her to snuggle into his side.

  She did as he bayed. Once her head landed on his chest and her arm wrapped around most of his chest, he made no other moves towards her.

  That massive hard-on couldn't be just for show. Surely he'd want to put all that hard, demon flesh to good use.

  Sliding the flat of her hand over the deep ridges of his abs, he didn't so much as twitch. Not even a falter in his breathing. Maybe he was too tired for sex.

  Wrapping her hand around his flesh had him contorting off the mattress. His hips jerking forward seeking more.

  Not too tired after all, she thought, grinning into the darkness.

  Not wasting a second, she had the element of surprise on her side. Throwing a leg over his hips, she straddled him, which was no easy task given how much bigger he was than her. Reminiscent of the dream walk she'd shared with him, they were blessedly naked now in real life.