Page 9 of Tragic Ink
“As a matter of fact, he’s been called in for questioning,” Ada said. “Conall, I think, was the officer on the scene. Isn’t he the one investigating Aelwyn’s murder? Small town, I guess.” She smiled softly, and my shouldersslumped.
She hadme.
“What do you want me to do?” I askedquietly.
“Nothing difficult.” She beamed. “This one will be quick and easy foryou.”
“And in exchange, you’ll make sure the mountain lion doesn’t lead here?” Iasked.
“Of course. You scratch my back, I scratch yours.” Ada smirked atme.
I tried not to throw up. Ada still hadn’t told me why she didn’t just do these tattoos herself. She was much more powerful than me, and I was sure she could have figured it out, but she still came here. I suspected she just didn’t want her own magic signature on them, but I wasn’t sure why she’d even care. She got away with everythingelse.
Moving on autopilot, I went to retrieve my tools, and when I turned to face them again, the man had removed his shirt. He’d turned in the chair so that his back was exposed, and I winced at all the hair coating his skin. Werewolf, probably. Or bear shifter. And I didn’t recognize him, which meant he was either new or a loner. Ada had probably chosen him to carry out some horrible deed for her. I tried not to imagine what that might be. Ada never told me what she intended with the tattoos she forced me to do for her minions, and I hadn’t asked. If this ever came back on me, it was one less conspiracy charge. Or that’s what I toldmyself.
“What’ll it be?” I asked, wishing again that I’d just stayed in bed. Even calling Rhys back to discuss funeral arrangements sounded better thanthis.
“He needs an asp wrapped around his rightbicep.”
“An asp?” I blinked ather.
“Yes, it’s a venomous snakethat—”
“I know what it is.” I felt the horror transform my features. “You can’t beserious.”
Her lips curved. “Deadserious.”
“Ada, that’s... I can’t.” In the pit of my stomach was an absolute certainty that this tattoo would bring someone harm. No part of me wanted to cause that everagain.
“You can and you will, or I’ll tell the Court what you did. What you’re capable of. Whom you’ve hurt with yourart.” The last word dripped withsarcasm.
“It was an accident,” I said, but that didn’t matter. Not to Ada. Not to the Court. And not to me. She was right. I’d hurt that woman. Didn’t matter that her husband had housed the weapon. I’d been the one to ink him with it. I’d given him the loaded gun. He’d just pulled the trigger. “I can’t let it happenagain.”
Ada rolled her eyes. “Your altruistic intentions will hardly matter to the Court,” she snapped. “Your cursed tattoo took a woman’s life, and that is all they will care about. You’ll spend the rest of your life in a cell. And in the end, you will not have stopped me. With or without your tattoo, I will accomplish what I’mafter.”
She was right. About all ofit.
But I still had one more card toplay.
“Tell me about my mother’s investigation,” I said, levelling my gaze on hers and holding it steady even though my insides trembled. I’d never demanded anything of her before, and I wasn’t entirely convinced it was the smart play now. But asking nicely wouldn’t get me anywhereeither.
“An ongoing investigation is classified.” Ada scoffed. “How would I know anythingabout—”
“Classified information is your favorite kind, and we both know it. Besides, you have your snaky fingers in every pie this town has to offer. So I know you know something. Tell me what leads they have on Aelwyn’s killer, and I’ll do thetattoo.”
Ada glared at me, and I wondered for a moment if she was capable of killing me with just her eyes. But finally, she blinked, and her lips curved upward in a sneer. “Why, I thought you knew,” she said, too sweet. Tooaccommodating.
“Knewwhat?”
“The only suspect they have isyou.”
