Chapter 15

The only tattooing I'd ever seen in live action was that one time Kai inked up my lady garden. Wait, no, that's not true. There was also that time I caught him tattooing his arm. Anyway, I digress. The point is, he looked so fucking hot while setting up his kit. If he wasn't so serious about getting this ink done, I'd jump on his dragon dick and ride him right here and now. I wasn't lying when I said I had a competency kink.

I'd sort of forgotten about Kai's present. In the rush to complete my manuscript, his promise to give us a group tattoo had completely fallen out of my mind, but now that the day was upon us, I was beyond excited. Not for the needle part—that I'd skip if I could—but knowing my men would be wearing a mark to represent me? It was sexy AF. Better than a ring, if I was being honest. Every thirsty bitch around would know they were taken.

Damn. Apparently I'm possessive when I'm in love.

"You're staring, gem." Kai's voice was a low rumble that made a shiver break out across my body.

"You're hot."

He chuckled. "So are you. Now, make yourself comfortable. This is going to take a while."

"Not like I have anywhere else to be."

We shared a humorless smile about our captivity. It was the last remaining problem, and one we didn't seem to have a solution for. It was hard to summon strong feelings about it, though. Not because it wasn't shitty, it absolutely fucking was, but if I was going to be locked up anywhere, the sprawling grounds of Blackwood with my four soulmates was a pretty good choice.

"All right," Kai said. "Which one of you three wants to go first?"

Tor stepped up, his expression serious. "I will. Brand me with my K?rasta's mark. I want to be as connected to her as possible."

"Try hard," Caspian muttered.

Tor shot him a snarl and stood in front of Kai. "Where do you want it?"

Kai cocked a brow and gestured for him to take a seat. "Shirt off. We're going to put it here." He pulled the sleeve of his tee up until he exposed a beautiful shoulder cap design of dahlias done in grayscale.

It took Tor all of two seconds to bare his chest for the ink. He really had the grab it by the back of the neck and pull it over his head thing down pat. I leaned against the desk and fanned my face. Whew. Was it hot in here, or was it just them?

Kidding. We all know it was definitely them.

Hades was staring at me with a knowing smirk playing about his handsome lips. He enjoyed watching me squirm, and if the past five minutes were any indication, I was about to receive a serious lesson in edging, because this entire experience was hotter than any porn I'd ever seen. Or written, for that matter. Huh. I wonder if Kai broke something in my brain the last time he tattooed me because I had a total tattooing-equals-sex association going on in my head. There was no way this was a normal reaction.

Tor reached out and traced the lines of Kai's fresh tattoo, stopping next to a blank spot toward the bottom. "Is this intentionally unfinished?"

"Aye. I'll close it and seal the magic inside once all of you are done. To that end, before we begin, I need something from each of you." Tor raised a brow in question, and Kai continued. "Magic like this requires a sacrifice. It's blood magic. I'll need a drop from each of us added to the ink. Willingly given."

Tor's fingers shifted into razor-sharp claws. Before anyone could say anything, he raked his index finger down his forearm.

"Whoa, I said a drop!" Kai said, jumping up to grab a towel. "Your finger would have done just fine."

Cas snickered. "And I repeat. Try hard. You're overcompensating, mate. She already knows you have a big dick, no need to prove it."

Hades huffed. "We all know."

Asshole gave a little bark like he agreed before jumping into my lap, turning in a circle, and settling down for me to pet him.

One by one, we all gave a drop of blood to Kai for him to infuse into the ink. I'd seen this before, but only from him, and when he added his donation, just like the last time, the inkpot glowed with power.

"That's wicked," Caspian murmured. "I've missed fae magic."

Kai hummed his acknowledgment, his attention wholly focused on his task. When he whipped out his razor to prep the skin, I had to look away, much to his amusement. His dark chuckle wrapped itself around me, and I swear I could feel it pulsing against my clit.

He really had ruined me.

I was a horny disaster.

"Does this turn you on, baby doll?" Hades whispered in my ear. When did he get behind me? Had I really been so distracted I hadn't noticed him closing in?

"Why do people ask the questions they already know the answers to?" Cas said, amusement in his voice.

"She didn't tell you what I did to her while inking up her pussy?" Kai asked as he wiped down Tor's skin. "You should ask her about it."

Three sets of eyes landed on me, and I couldn't meet a single one. "It was uh... really something special."

Kai snorted.

"I've never noticed a tattoo," Cas pouted.

"It's invisible," I said through a tight throat, remembering the glide of Kai's fingers over my clit while the tattoo machine's vibrations rolled through me. Funny, I couldn't seem to recall any of the pain. Would Kai pleasure me again this time?

"I'll have to do a better job hunting for it, then. I'm good at finding hidden things." His expression twisted unexpectedly, and his mood soured. "Well, except the only thing that matters."

"What was that?" Hades asked. I don't think he was actually interested, but the sudden shift in Cas's mood was so marked that I think it struck all of us.

"Nothing," he said dismissively, waving a hand like some sort of king on a throne.

The buzzing of Kai's tattoo gun filled the room, and we all turned our attention to Tor. As expected, he took it like a champ. There wasn't so much as a grimace or a grunt as the needle moved over his skin. If anything, there was a sparkle in his eye. If I didn't know better...

My eyes dropped to his lap, and yup, that was a raging hard-on in his sweats. My beast was just as aroused as I was. Guess I wasn't the only one who got horny when it came to tattoos. Though his being a Berserker fueled by bloodlust, maybe it made a bit more sense in his case.

Tor chuckled, the sound drawing my eyes back up his body as he spread his legs a little wider. "You can do something about it if you want, beauty. I won't stop you."

"I will. Don't even think about it, gem. This is too important. We'll get to the fun part later." Kai's voice was stern and sexy as hell.

"Oh look, she's pouting. Come here, sweet girl. I'm not getting tattooed. You can play with me."

Hades locked his arm around my waist and tugged me against him. "No she won't. She'll be a good girl and wait."

"She will?" I asked, wondering why I shouldn't take Cas up on his offer and work off some of this tension.

Hades brushed his lips against my ear. "Yes, she will. Because anticipation makes everything so much better, my sweet little flower. Once this is done, the four of us are going to lay you back and make you bloom for us. But only if you wait."

"I have been told it's best to celebrate the start of the year the way you intend to spend the rest of it," I murmured.

"On your back?" Caspian teased.

"Coming. Repeatedly," Hades corrected.

"Mmm. Yup. That's the one," I said, feeling more than a little lightheaded.

We watched as the design on Tor's shoulder took shape, first an outline of the petals and leaves, then the detailed veins and shading. The faint glow in the ink made it seem iridescent and ethereal.

"Nearly finished," Kai murmured as he focused on the last bit of the art.

The air was charged as he finished the last line. I could tell we all felt it because each of us reacted—some more than others. Cas, of course, was the loudest.

"What the bloody hell was that?"

"The spell taking hold," Kai explained with the overtaxed patience of a school teacher. "It's only going to get more intense with each tattoo I finish. Prepare yourselves."

Tor stood, pride practically seeping from his pores. "Do you like it, K?rasta?"

I fucking loved it. "Yes," I choked out, not expecting to be so emotional over a tattoo. To be fair, I think it was more about what said tattoo represented.

Kai readied his station for the next of us as I stood and went to my beast of a mate. My fingers traced the already healed skin—thank you, magic ink—and I swear to God, Tor purred under my attention.

"It's so beautiful," I whispered.

"It's you, Dahlia. Of course it's beautiful," Kai offered.

Cas was next to take his place in Kai's seat. Instead of pulling his shirt over his head, he ripped it down the middle. Like a stripper. I was at my very own Magic Mike show, but with less music and hip rolls. At least for now.

"Why are you giggling to yourself, baby doll?" Hades asked, lips at my ear again.

"She's thinking happy thoughts," Cas answered. "Good thing I haven't given her any pixie dust, or you'd have to hold her down."

"I can still do that if she wants me to."

Sweet mother of God, these men were going to need to buy me a whole new supply of panties before the day was over.

"Go on, dragon. I'm ready to wear my love on my body for the rest of my existence."

There was no hiding my smile as I bit my lip and shook my head. He was overdoing the swoon, but I was eating it up.

Tor moved so that he was standing on one side of me while Hades stood on the other. We silently watched Kai work, Tor resting his chin on my shoulder while Hades's shadows twined their way around my leg. I think it might have been his version of holding hands. Asshole snored softly on the pile of blankets he'd taken ownership of.

"Oh, that spot at the armpit tickles a bit," Cas said, a smirk on his lips.

"Don't move."

"I'm not. I'm just making an observation."

"Fine," Kai muttered.

Just like with Tor, as soon as Kai finished Cas's tattoo, a pulse of energy hit the room. As he'd warned, it was stronger than the last one. Charged was the only way to describe the atmosphere. While the reaction when Tor's was completed felt more like the release of static electricity after shuffling across carpet, this made the hairs on the back of my neck lift and goosebumps break out across my arms.

Cas stood with a cocky grin, sauntering over and taking my chin between his thumb and forefinger so he could lay one on me. There was something about the possession in his kiss that felt different this time. Like now that he'd marked himself for the world to see, he felt more settled and safe. Like he had a home.

"It looks so good on you," I whispered against his lips.

"I can't wait to see it on you."

Hades didn't wait for Kai to summon him. He claimed the seat with the same infuriating sense of calm and control as he did everything else. Before he sat down, he met and held my stare, taking his time as he rolled down his sleeves and undid the buttons of his shirt.

I think I might have been panting by the time he finished.

Bastard knew it too.

His skin was unmarked, with a scattering of golden chest hair. A thrill shot through me knowing the first and probably only piece of art he'd ever have etched onto him was to represent me and our bond.

"Don't worry, baby doll. I'll let you see it whenever you want."

"I wasn't worried."

He winked at me. Winked. Then Kai began. As the hum of the tattoo gun droned on, I watched the flowers take shape until a soft tickling sensation trailed over my ankle. I was pretty familiar with the slide of Hades's shadows over my body by this point, so I knew exactly what that mischievous asshole was up to.

"What happened to anticipation?" I asked.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

I quirked a brow, silently calling him on his bullshit.

He quirked a brow right back. "I'm just helping build it."

"Lean back against me, darling. I'll hold you up while he toys with you."

Tor was uncharacteristically quiet through all of this. I turned to peek at him, wondering if maybe he'd fallen asleep, but no, he was leaning against the wall, bulging biceps crossed over his chest, eyes locked on me. He was a predator lying in wait.

And I was the prey.

Why did that make me so hot?

Thoughts of him chasing me through the forest filled my mind, and I pressed my thighs together, trying in vain to alleviate some of the ache.

Hades played with me the whole time he was being inked but never touched the spot I wanted more than anything. I didn't think I'd be able to sit still when it was my turn. But I had to be a good girl for them. I was pretty sure I promised, didn't I?

When his tattoo was complete, the air sizzled with electricity. Or maybe it was just magic. Either way, it felt like the charge in the sky right before a lightning strike. Once again my body was covered in goosebumps, but this time the tingle of the shock lasted longer and was beneath my skin, almost a vibration.

By the time Kai was ready for me to take my place in his chair, I was a mess. And I wasn't the only one. Each and every one of my mates were tenting their pants. At least my shame was hidden by my black leggings.

Kai proved me a liar when he took a deep inhale, his pupils elongating into slits when they lifted to mine.

"Something on your mind, gem?"

"Nope. Not a thing."

"Pretty little liar," Caspian teased.

"You'll need to remove that jumper, lass. I cannae do this with your clothing in the way."

I slipped out of my sweatshirt, this one emblazoned with the words I like tacos, books, and maybe five people. I held it out to him like an offering, the fabric hanging by the crook of my finger.

"Do that again later when ye remove your bra," he whispered, taking it from me and carefully folding it.

"What makes you think I'm removing it myself?" I flicked my gaze toward the other guys. "Tor's really good at ripping my clothes off."

"You'll do it if we ask ye to."

Where's the lie, folks? I would do pretty much anything they ask at this point.

He prepped my skin carefully, his warm hands making me forget I was about to feel pain for a two-hour session, then dropped a kiss on my lips.

"Are you ready?" he murmured.

"Yes."

Kai started the gun, and his face changed from playful to deeply focused at the first touch of the needle to my skin. I wasn't as much of a badass as the rest of them and did flinch, but I wasn't trying to hide my reaction to the pain either. There was nothing wrong with showing emotion. It didn't make me tougher for pretending I couldn't feel the sting of the needle. If anything, showing that it hurt and I was taking it anyway was probably the more badass approach. So take that.

"Look at our girl, taking it even though it hurts," Caspian said in the same low tone we'd all used while each session was going on.

"She's fucking gorgeous." That was my Hades, his eyes burning a bright blue as he watched me. Asshole was curled up at his feet, happily snoring and ignoring everything going on around him.

Tor remained in his spot, leaning against the wall, gaze never leaving me. "Of course she is," he mused, "she's the mate of a Berserker. She knows that a little pain reminds you that you're still alive."

"I would have said a little pain makes the pleasure sweeter, but sure, we'll go with your version," Cas said, winking at me.

Surprisingly, my arm kind of went numb after a while, the buzz of the needle making my eyes heavy as sleep threatened to take me under. Was I a weirdo? My first tattoo had been in such a delicate place; there was no way I'd be soothed enough to relax like this, but something about Kai's skill and my other three mates being there calmed me.

"Is something wrong with me?" I blurted, trying to stay awake.

"Nae. You're doing so well, gem. Why would you ask that?"

"Because I can barely feel it anymore. I'm actually drowsy."

He chuckled as he continued working. "Some people find getting ink soothing. Sort of like meditation."

"It's probably the blood loss."

"Perhaps," he agreed with a smile. "Almost done, love. Just a little longer."

I locked gazes with Tor as the final drags of the needle against my skin were completed and my eyes widened as an even more intense pulse of electric magic rushed through us all. Kai wiped my shoulder clean, and I moved to stand, but he stopped me with a large palm.

"No. You sit right there. I need you to finish mine for me."

Panic hit me hard. "What? I'm not a tattoo artist. What if I fuck it up?"

He laughed. "It's one wee line. You won't. It's important that you do this."

I gave him my best squinty-eyed glare. "I'm pretty sure you're bullshitting me, dragon."

"You'll never know, will you?"

I huffed but paid close attention as he talked me through the basics of the machine. He took care of prepping his skin and loading the ink. All I had to do was hold my hand steady as I connected the final petal.

Kai took the gun from me the instant the ink closed the petal, and a bright glow emanated from the tattoo—from all our tattoos.

The electric pulse was so much bigger this time. It felt like pure liquid energy crashing through my body. The buzz was deep in my skin, in my core. There was no way I could contain my reaction, a wanton moan ripping from my throat as my body physically responded to the sensation.

But that wasn't all. Something else snapped into place with the completion of Kai's tattoo. I could feel them all within me. Sense them. My God, they were so powerful.

"You're just as powerful, baby doll," Hades whispered, his hands covered in blue flames.

I didn't say that out loud. Wait, did he just read my mind?

"I can hear you thinking."

"No you can't."

"Yeah, I fucking can."

I closed my eyes and thought about exactly what I wanted his shadows to do to me, and he groaned. So did the others.

"Can all of you read my thoughts?"

"It looks that way," Cas said. "Show me what you want me to do to you, love. I can't wait."

Well, this was a surprising turn of events.

"You didn't say anything about being able to eavesdrop in my mind, dragon."

"I dinnae know it was going to happen. Only that portions of our power would be shared with one another."

I huffed. "Convenient excuse. This was supposed to be about protection."

"What better way to protect you than to be able to communicate without being overheard," he offered.

"Or knowing how you're really feeling," Tor added.

Of course they saw the upside. As far as I could tell, this was a one-way problem. None of them had to worry about sharing their deepest, darkest thoughts and feelings.

Then again, I wanted them in the worst way. Maybe we'd use this to my advantage for now and figure out a way to handle it later.