Blood Slave: A Realm Walker Novel by Kathleen Collins Read Free Book Online

her third attempt at a fire ball puttered and died away, his ice blue eyes narrowing. “Your focus is horrible today. You’re better than this.”
    She wiped the perspiration from her face and headed to the bench at the side of the room to take a long drink of water. He was right, her head wasn’t where it should be but there was nothing she could do about it. There were too many things going on that needed her attention and focusing on just one was proving near impossible. “I’m sorry.”
    “You’re going to be sorry when you blow yourself up in the middle of a fight.”
    “I don’t see how that’s going to happen as I have no intention of using my magic in a fight. I prefer my blade and my guns. I’ve told you this repeatedly.”
    He crossed his arms over his chest. “I am aware and I keep pointing out that you may find yourself in a position where you have no choice. It happened once, there is no reason to think it won’t happen again.”
    It was an argument they’d had many times, so rather than responding she changed the topic. “I need some time off. I’m going out of town for Agency work.”
    James shook his head. “No. You can’t afford the gap in your training, especially with what I’ve seen today.”
    She blinked at him in disbelief. He couldn’t be serious. “I wasn’t really asking.”
    He shrugged. “And I don’t really care. With one phone call, I can have you taken off duty and put under my care twenty-four hours a day. And you know I’ll do it. Don’t push me, little sister.”
    With a groan she raked both hands through her hair, pulling at the roots. “Fine. But you’re going to have to be flexible on the timing. I may not be able to just pop in on schedule. And you’re going to have to provide the portal. The Agency considers this personal business, and as much as they want to stay on your good side, they aren’t going to let me use their mages.”
    “Done,” he said with a nod of the head.
    She thought before she said her next words. “There’s something else I need your help with. I need you to take me to your tattoo artist.”
    His eyes widened in surprise. He’d been trying to get her to get a protective ward of some sort ever since her last case but she had refused. Tattoos weren’t really her thing. But the one she wanted, she’d been thinking about for a while and it just might be a necessity for this assignment. “I can do that. When did you want to go?”
    “You think he could fit me in today? It’s a small design.”
    “Only one way to find out.”

Chapter Five
     
     
    They pulled up in front of a non-descript low, white building. Visible Ink, the name of the tattoo parlor was painted in blue and gold on both of the large front windows. A crack crawled across one of them and chips of flaking paint decorated the sidewalk in front. Juliana climbed out of James’s car in disbelief. Proudly displayed in one corner of the front window was a sign proclaiming ‘Buy one, get one half off’.
    “Really, James?” She’d tried not to say anything but she couldn’t help herself. She had never questioned her friend’s judgement before but she had serious doubts about this place.
    “What?” he asked. His tone told her that he knew exactly what she was thinking and he found it funny.
    “There are some things in life you don’t want a discount on. Surgical procedures, for example. Or, I don’t know, tattoos, maybe.”
    “Just trust me.”
    She snorted but said nothing. If she didn’t trust him she would have already been back in the car. The man wore a lot of ink, most of it beautiful. He had to have some insight as to the best place for her to get her tattoo. He held the door open and she stepped inside. A large man rose from a chair in the back and came to meet them. He wore a neatly trimmed beard and tattoos covered every inch of visible skin from the neck down.  His gaze moved over her from head to toe and it was obvious he was sizing her up. It was