I whistled to get all of their attention. “Since we’re most likely not sleeping... I have an idea.” I went to head out the door when I turned back and smiled. “Do any of you know how to tattoo?"
Falcon was the only one that knew how to tattoo, and I took them all to a supe tattoo parlor I owned. I called the manager and let them know I would be playing around. They told me they would wake up any artist I asked for, but I told him not to bother. I had one coming with me.
They all kept pestering me on the way to the cars about what I had planned, but I kept it a secret. Splitting half of us in my car and the other half in Cosmo’s, we made it there with no issues.
I took them down the alley, not wanting to confuse people on the streets that this place was open. As I opened the back door, the scent of inks and the residual vibrations of pain were in the air. It smelled delicious.
I brought them over to Bandit’s station. He had the top-of-the line tools, specialized spelled inks, and a large, custom customer chair for maximum comfort. I grabbed Falcon, shuffling him over to the seat as I whispered in his ear what I wanted to do.
He smiled, nodded, and then turned around to set up the station. I turned to the rest of them with eager eyes waiting to know what was going to happen.
I snatched a pen off the desk and turned it into a microphone as I greeted them. “Degenerates and Murderers”—they all smirked at that—“we’re gathered here today to induct a new member into the ranks of the Syndicate... Lex Devil!” I pretended to be a roaring crowd as the others scoffed, some slow-clapped, and Lex’s lips wobbled. After the show our fathers put on, essentially telling us they trusted Lex now, everyone seemed to hop on that train and accepted him.
“Now, before you lie in the chair of heirs, you have to put a cross over your heart.” I lifted both of his pointer fingers and made them into a cross over his heart as I hummed a song to myself.
Lex looked over at the others, a cross between confused and amused. “Did you guys have to do this?”
Avery covered his mouth as he laughed around his words. “No, but I kinda wish I did.”
“I did,” Cosmo said with a smug smile, Avery and Ax booed him and told him anything past this week didn’t count. He glared at him but then turned around and went into the backroom.
“Now, repeat after me, I, Lex Devil, promise to be loyal and true to the members of the Syndicate. I vow to not steal from, plot against, or kill any of them. The Syndicate will, from now on, be my home and the place I always come back to.” He smirked at me with amusement bubbling in his eyes, but he did as I said and repeated those words.
Then I rushed to add, “And from now on, I shall only worship the vicious vampire goddess named Rayla Desmond.” He grabbed me and swooped me into his arms as he placed his cheek on my heart while my hand rested on his silky bed of onyx locks, and he said the words like a prayer across my skin. My body heated from the utter devotion in his words, then melted my soul as he placed a soft kiss against my chest.
I patted him on the head as I felt four sets of eyes feasting on the scene before them, all our scents mingled together made my mouth water. I croaked out, “Okay. You’re in. Tattoo time.”
He chuckled against my skin before releasing me and moving toward the chair while yanking his shirt over his head. I licked my lips, drinking in his physique like it was the only substance I needed. He threw me a smirk over his shoulder like he knew I was lusting after him, but, goddamn it, I only had so much self-control, and his back looked like it was sculpted by the gods.
“Where is it going?” Falcon asked.
“On the other shoulder, opposite the other one.”
I came up to his side as Falcon put the stencil on him. “So, you know it’s done with magical ink, one that will ensure that the words you just spoke will be kept. Also, it’s painful.”
He smiled up at me as he lay on his stomach. “Can’t wait.”
I patted his back and turned to meet the others as Cosmo came out of the break room with a bag of blood. “We should drink up for tonight.” I thanked him before grabbing it, about to be a beast and shove my fangs through the plastic when Avery smacked it out of my hands.
“What the fuck?” I asked, more curious than angry as the bag flew out of my hands and landed across the room.
“Nope. None of that. I don’t like it. Can’t stand it.” Avery shook his head, his jaw clenched. He pointed to all of them individually. “These are now your blood bags, for the rest of your life.”
Ax swaggered up, putting his arm on Avery’s shoulder in agreement. “Yeah. I agree. I hate the thought of someone else’s blood inside of you, so if you need some, just come to us.”
I looked around, pointing to Avery and Ax, then the rest of them. “Are you guys going to let them talk for you?”
Falcon nodded. “In this instance, I agree.”
Lex piped up, “I would prefer just me, but I think I’ll need to concede to these terms to keep the peace in the house, but that’s it!”
Cosmo shrugged. “I never thought of it that way, but now that it’s in my brain, it’s like I can’t even drink this myself.” His face pinched as he dropped the bag of blood on a table.
1“Well, who am I to disagree with all of you.” Then I sped over to Ax, surprising him as I yanked his head to the side and shoved my teeth into his neck.
An explosion of alcoholic honey and caramel mixed with the spice of rosemary filled my mouth, a sweet and savory taste that was all his own. I gulped it down, feeling the power of his wolf running in my veins, telling me to hunt.
“Shit. That feels so fucking good.” Ax huffed out a breath after every couple of words as I let my fingers wander his body. I gripped his stomach over his shirt, scratching a nail down his muscles, enjoying every groove. His breathing hitched when I found the edge of his shirt and played with the top of his pants, teasing like I was going to reach lower.
