Page 15 of Ignited Spirits (Haunted Magic #3)

As she stands up, she spins around the room, looking for something. Her gaze lands directly on us, and I freeze. There’s no way she can know we’re anything other than a common rat, though.

Apparently, there is a way.

“You,” Lua growls as she approaches our form. “You think you can spy on me? I’ll teach you to stick your mutt nose where it doesn’t belong.”

Before I even have time to think that’s not good , the room in front of me blurs. When I can focus again, I see that we’re right back with my mates.

Cain’s cradling my limp body in his arms, not seeming to mind the weight of me.

“Tell your mates that it is time to go, sagana. It’s only a matter of time before Lua follows our trail and finds you and your mates,” Cer tells me, his voice filled with worry. It’s weird to hear him expressing emotion when he’s usually so stoic.

I take his warning seriously and try to figure out how to tell my mates anything when I’m trapped as a rat. Then I remember that I can project my thoughts to my mates. That’ll never cease being cool.

We need to go! I shout at Archer and Bishop, still not having this whole mind-speaking thing down yet.

I don’t even know if my thoughts will go through, but here’s hoping.

Archer jumps in surprise before looking around frantically. He blows out a relieved breath when he spots my tiny rodent form. “What’s wrong, sunshine?”

Lua found us out, and Cerberus said she’ll be on our trail in no time. I’d rather not get murdered today, so we need to leave. Now.

When I stupidly mention something happening to me, Archer’s eyes flash neon purple. He’s able to battle back whatever is inside him because his eyes turn back to their normal aquamarine color almost instantly.

I’m impressed that Archer’s control over whatever new magic he has is already getting so much better in a matter of days. It took me years to have even basic control of my magic.

Before I finish speaking, Bishop has a portal open to the Nightshade dining room. My other mates and Aggie are looking at him in confusion. “Lua somehow figured out Cerberus and Izzy were watching her, so we need to leave before she finds us.”

Luca shoves a hand through his hair, looking stressed out by everything. Me too, wolf boy. Me too. “Should we portal somewhere else so we don’t lead Lua right to the pack?”

“She will only be looking for us, so we will lead her away from you! You have to go back to your body now. Sorry!”

I don’t have time to process Russ’s words before I’m forcibly thrown out of their mind. I hurtle through space for what seems simultaneously like no time at all and also an eternity.

When I finally come back to myself, I see Cain’s worried face peering down at me. He gives me a small smile when I open my eyes. “Glad to have you back, angel.”

I smile at him before squirming around to be placed back on the ground. Cain doesn’t have to carry me. I’m perfectly capable of walking on my own.

He doesn’t fight me and gently lowers me to the ground, pausing to place a gentle kiss on my head before ushering me toward the portal.

Not wanting to waste any more time, I sprint through the portal. I don’t breathe easy until all my mates are through and Bishop cuts off the spell. Not that Lua couldn’t follow us if she wanted to, but hopefully she was only focused on Cerberus.

Worry slithers through me as I think about my familiaris . I know the fearsome hell dog can take care of themselves, but I’m still concerned about them going up against Lua.

Hopefully they can stay ahead of her or retreat back to Infernus . Even with all the power she has amassed, Lua still seems reluctant to take on curae on their home turf.

“Did you find anything useful?” Levi asks as we all find a seat around the dining room table.

Even though I’ve been unconscious for most of the recon, I still feel strangely exhausted, so it’s nice to sit for a second.

I throw an arm over my eyes as I try not to drown in everything we don’t know about Lua and how to stop her. “I don’t know how useful it is, but we found what she wanted. She was looking for iron from the Earth’s core for some sort of spell. Anyone have any idea what the spell could be?”

After the silence in the room stretches on uncomfortably, I hesitantly peek out from under my arm. Levi and Bishop look deep in thought, while Luca, Archer, and Cain look about as helpless as I feel.

Sure, I have a lot of magic and know a decent number of spells, but I probably know fewer spells than most people my age. I don’t need them to cast, so I never bothered to learn many of them.

Now it’s biting me in the ass.

That’s the story of my life, honestly.

“Do you think your grandma might have an idea?” Bishop asks. I’ll take that as he has no more of a clue than the rest of us.

I shrug. “She might. The only problem is that we don’t know what’s happening in Hawthorne Grove. Last time we were there, I accidentally murdered Doyle.” It was a very happy accident, but still an accident, nevertheless.

It also wasn’t exactly the best time to kill him. I’m sure there’s a ton more he could’ve told us about Lua and her plans, too.

Now we have to figure it out ourselves, and we don’t have a ton of time, from what Lua said. She hopes to destroy the world in less than six weeks’ time, and we’re still scrambling to find a clue as to how to stop her.

Things aren’t looking good for us or the world right now.

What’s new?

“We can go to your parents’ house. That’ll be safer than showing up on Main Street at your grandma’s shop,” Luca rumbles.

“Smart thinking, wolf boy.”

Luca’s mouth twitches like he wants to grin, and it makes my heart feel all mushy in my chest. He’s so serious all the time, and it’s only gotten worse after what happened to Archer.

I hate that he seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders with all his pack responsibilities and now this mess with Lua. I just want to lighten his load anyway I can.

Waiting a beat for anyone to object, I open a portal directly into my kitchen, not wanting to risk being seen outside of my house if I am in trouble.

When I walk through, I’m greeted by the scent of a plethora of food. On the marble counters, I see a beef roast, chicken cordon bleu, various vegetable sides, salads, and enough food for a feast.

Combined with my mom’s frazzled expression, I can tell that she’s been stress cooking. For as long as I can remember, my mom has always made way too much food when something’s going wrong as a way to cope, which doesn’t bode well for us.

My mom is so preoccupied with the soup she’s stirring that she doesn’t even notice the six of us walking into her kitchen. “Mom?” I ask hesitantly, not wanting to startle her.

“Izzy?” My mom looks at me in confusion before her face contorts in panic. “You can’t be here! You need to leave.”

Her frantic tone is enough to make my heart race. “What? Why?”

Mom turns off the heat and wipes her hands on her apron before rushing over to me.

She enfolds me in a hug that feels like home before she pulls back and levels me with a serious look.

“Because the council and most of the town are looking for you. There’s an arrest warrant and execute-on sight order out for you. ”

My eyes widen, and I say the only thing I can think of. “Oh shit.”