Mystic Ink by Casey Wyatt Page A

shook his head. “Sorry. Not tonight. Technically, I’m on duty.”
    “Speaking of duty, here come Miss Grumpy.” Tabby arranged the chairs and set up the stereo on a blanket.
    Nix shot her sister a dark look, then placed a basket laden with graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate bars on the seat of an empty beach chair. Her other hand held a cooler, which she dropped on the sand with a soft thunk next to the chair.
    “I can hear you, Tabby. I’m not deaf. Or grumpy.” Nix sat in a chair, flipped open the lid of the cooler, and pulled out a Dionysian Nectar.
    Cal’s mouth watered, imagining its cool, sweet taste. Nectar was a rare treat, only made by the children of Dionysus.
    “I would offer you one, Cal, but you are on duty after all.” She gave him a half smile as she popped the cap then took a long gulp.
    Cal busied himself with the logs, tearing his eyes away from Nix. Even in the dim light, he could see the frown lines around her mouth. He wished he could kiss them away. Since he knew that wouldn’t be welcome, he went back to stacking wood.
    Nix crossed her lean legs, her ankle twitching as if following a beat only she could hear. Pity she had to cover up the little bikini. She had traded it for a pair of ass hugging cut-offs and a tight tank top. Not a bad trade off. His eyes followed the ale bottle as she drew it up to her lips. Several times, at dinner, he had caught himself staring at her mouth, the few times she chose to eat. A sharp pain bit his finger. The logs had shifted, reminding him that needed to focus on the task at hand.
    With the wood arranged to his satisfaction, he stepped back and held his hand above the pit, concentrating a small flame into the pile. Heat raced through the core of his body and jumped from his fingertips, exhilarating, yet dangerous, at the same time. Children of Ares who failed to master the flame, or who gave into the rush and allowed it free reign, could easily be consumed by it. Seconds later the wood was engulfed.
    Tabby clapped her hands. “That’s great, Cal. It takes us forever to get a fire this nice.”
    “Most of the time it just smokes or sputters out.” Chloe had joined them with long skewers in hand. “Here, everyone take one.”
    Amidst jokes and laughter, Cal managed to eat enough S’mores to satisfy Tabby and Chloe. Belly full, he collapsed against the back of his sand chair. He lazily watched as the sisters danced on the beach together. A few songs in, Nix finally broke out of her funk and joined them. Maybe it was all the Nectar she had consumed, but whatever caused it, Cal enjoyed watching her loosen up. Even better, Nix’s lithe body moved to the rhythm, her cares seemingly set aside. This was the female he remembered—the real Nix—uninhibited and ready to take on the world.
    The song switched and the women shouted in unison, “Bad Romance.” Tabby cranked up the volume.
    “Lady Gaga!” Nix called to Cal as if he lived in a cave. The song only played on the tattoo shop’s radio at least sixteen times a day. Jason called the singer ‘Lady Gag Me’ behind Nix’s back. Another reason he liked the guy.
    Of course, when Nix was working, she didn’t dance, not like she was doing at the moment. The sisters clearly had a routine worked out. They sang to the lyrics perfectly, dancing in step and moving like the beautiful Nymphs that they were. Cal was mesmerized by the orange firelight glinting off Nix’s bare shoulders. He concentrated on the fire, willing the color to blue, and was met with a chorus of delight. The change in hue, along with their gyrations, highlighted their flesh, giving it an eerie, silver tone—the silver tone of a Destroyer when she wore the Mantle. The color of certain death for anyone she targeted or who was foolish enough to get in her way.
    Memories slammed into Cal’s mind with the force of an angry Minotaur.
    Talus’ heart, still beating, clenched in a silver hand.
    The gaping hole left behind as his