Page 40 of Hidden Pain

“Isobel says ‘hi’, and she wants to talk to you soon. We were preparing dinner, but Tyler has banished us out of his kitchen—the vegetable smells were annoying him.”

Kingsley laughed.

“Typical meat-eating shifter. I swear Lily and Hunter look at me like I’m crazy every time I have some fruit.”

“What can I do for you?” Jessica finished her carrot and looked down at the pictures he’d drawn. “Wow, these are amazing.”

“Thank you.” Kingsley blushed. “I wondered if you’d be able to take me to my tattoo shop in Montana? I want to try something?”

“Of course. Not a problem at all.” Jessica held out her hand, and Kingsley took it. In a flash, they were in his shop.

It was a Wednesday afternoon, which meant the business was shut because it was the day his manager helped out at his daughter’s school. Hunter set about getting his equipment ready. His station was as he’d left it. He’d expected items to have been moved or borrowed and for the area to be covered in dust, but it was spotlessly clean, and everything was there, as far as he could see. Maybe his employees had more belief in him coming back to work than he did. Jessica sat down on a chair and pulled up a book of designs to flick through.

“What are you going to do?” she asked him.

“I thought I’d try a simple design on my leg. See if I can do it.” He retrieved a fresh black ink from the store room.

“Isn’t it more difficult to tattoo yourself?” Jessica placed the book of designs down beside her and watched him.

“It’s ok. Some people do it. Some people don’t. I prefer to have mine done by somebody else but only by my employees who’ve been with me for a long time. Tattoo art is very subjective, and because it’s permanent, some of the artists can be very particular.”

“I can understand that.” Jessica laughed. She picked the book up. “I’ve always wanted a pentagram on my hand. A spiritual representation of my witch powers.” She pointed to one in the book—it was simple but beautiful. “Why don’t you draw it on me?”

“What?” Kingsley looked at the witch as if she’d just grown two heads.

“Do the tattoo on me,” Jessica repeated and jumped off the seat she was on and hopped up into the tattoo chair. She handed him the book and laid her hand out flat for him to inspect.

“Jessica, I would, but this is the first time since I lost my finger. I don’t know if I’ll be steady enough. It could be a complete mess. I wouldn’t want to saddle you with something permanent like that.”

“You’ll be fine. I have every faith in you. The pictures back at Hunter’s mansion were drawn recently by you. They were amazing. Come on.” Jessica waved her hand at him.

“Are you really sure?”

“Yes.”

“Ok.” Kingsley couldn’t believe the witch was allowing him to do this. He liked to draw free hand as much as possible, but for this tattoo he was going to place a template on her skin to follow, so he could keep the lines as straight as possible. He got everything prepared and picked up the tattoo needle.

“Last chance to back out,” he offered the witch.

“Nope. Ink me, Mr. Ross.”

His first few strokes were tentative, and his hand felt sweaty around the equipment.

“Breathe,” Jessica whispered. “Trust in yourself, Kingsley, and in your art and talent. This is who you are. Not the man your father saw. You’re the man who Hunter and Lily have fallen in love with. You’re strong, and a survivor.”

He looked up at Jessica. “How did you know about the three of us? We haven’t told anyone?”

“A witch sees more than you mean her to. Hunter is besotted with you. He may struggle to accept it, but soon he’ll find the strength to be true to himself.”

“You speak in riddles.” Kingsley placed the equipment down and wiped his hand.

“Comes from reciting rhyming spells all the time.” She laughed. “It’s really quiet in here. What’s your favorite music? What do you normally listen to?”

“We normally just have the radio on, but there is one song that always gets to me, ‘Dream On’ by Aerosmith.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket ready to log into Spotify.

“No need for that.” Jessica clicked her fingers, and the opening sounds of his favorite track filled the room.

Kingsley picked up the needle again, and as Steven Tyler’s unique voice sung about looking in a mirror, he once again started to tattoo Jessica. This time without the sweaty, shaking hands. By the time the powerful ballad laced with inspiration about chasing your dreams until you find them had finished, he’d completed the tattoo. Both of them sat there in silence just staring at it. He was nervous to hear what Jessica was thinking. Did she regret letting him mark her skin?

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