Page 26 of Ignited Spirits (Haunted Magic #3)

IZZY

J oseph gives me a wry smile as I watch the storm clouds swirl around the ceiling of his cell.

“Yeah. Apparently, mages shouldn’t be able to do this.” He gestures to the thunderstorm he created in his cell, complete with angry clouds, pouring rain in some areas, a strong breeze, and even some lightning.

That’s the understatement of the century.

Mages can control what already exists. They can set paper on fire because paper is flammable and the oxygen in the air feeds fire.

They can douse someone in water because there’s water in the air all around us.

They can throw a punch of magic or cause seizures because the world around us and our bodies already make that possible.

But what they can’t do is change nature.

Mages can’t control the weather or create thunderstorms where there aren’t any.

They can’t see the dead. And they certainly can’t bring someone back to life.

All of those go against the natural order of the universe and should be outside the scope of mage power.

Yet, both Joseph and I prove that what we know about what’s possible isn’t true. Sure, most mages can’t mess with the natural order. But some of us can, and the council is right to fear us. We’re the only ones who have a hope of stopping them.

I jump a little when a bolt of lightning strikes the ground near his feet. “So your super-secret magic is the ability to create thunderstorms inside?”

“Nah. I can control the weather, whether inside or outside. I can clear up severe storms, create a blizzard, strike people with lightning, and whatever else I can dream up. I can create or stop any sort of weather event.” He shrugs like it’s normal and no big deal.

For him, I suppose it isn’t anything special.

I look behind me and see my mates staring up at the show in amazement. Other than Levi, of course. This type of magic is normal in his realm.

Mateo, however, is watching the whole thing with horror.

My lips tip up at the unflappable jaguar shifter being fazed by Joseph’s magic. “You should probably pull back on your magic before Mateo has a heart attack.”

“Sorry.” Joseph smirks at me, not looking the least bit apologetic. “It’s just nice to have my magic back after so long.”

I’ll bet. I was without my magic for a matter of minutes, and it was a huge relief to have it back after. Magic is a part of us in the same way a shifter’s animal is part of them. It feels like you’re missing half of yourself when you don’t have it.

As I watch, the storm seems to shrink back into Joseph until the cell looks normal, like nothing out of the ordinary happened inside. “How long were you in there?” I ask.

“Three months.”

I gasp in horror. “Three months? That’s insane.”

I thought they would’ve killed him and been done with it far sooner than three months. The council probably revels in the suffering they cause people like Joseph and my dad, though, so I really shouldn’t be surprised.

“They certainly were trying to drive me insane. Unfortunately for them, I found ways to keep it together just to spite them.” He flashes me a savage grin. “Now, can we get out of here? I’m sick of being locked up.”

“Yeah.” I turn to Mateo. “Can you lead the way?”

He snorts. “Sure. I would’ve thought our savior would know how to navigate a simple prison.”

Mateo walks back out of the cell, and the rest of us follow behind him.

Rolling my eyes, I huff. “I’m fated to stop Lua, not to navigate confusing underground cities. It’s really your fault for making the layout so unintuitive.”

Archer walks up behind me and places his palm on my lower back. I instantly soften at the contact and tip my head up to look at him.

He smiles down at me. “Yeah, it’s totally their fault, sunshine. Don’t feel bad.”

I return his smile. “Thank you, sunny boy.”

“So… how’d you end up with a bunch of shifters as your mates?” Joseph asks conversationally as we wind our way back through the prison.

“I have no idea how I got so lucky.” Because I did. I got so damn lucky to have the five of them as my mates. As much as I fought it at first, I couldn’t imagine anyone else better for me. “Probably the same way I ended up with spirit magic and power from another realm.”

Joseph’s mouth drops open in shock. “What do you mean by another realm?”

“Earth isn’t the only realm out there,” I tell him with a shrug. “Apparently, there are tons of others, but I’ve only ever been to Infernus. Speaking of that, you have two choices. You can chill out here with the jaguars. Or you can follow us to Infernus. It’s up to you.”

Bishop lets out a long-suffering sigh. “Do you think inviting a mage we just met to the realm that’s our only safe haven right now is a good idea?”

I fall back so that I can walk next to him, letting Joseph, Archer, and Levi pass me. “I think it’s a fantastic idea. That’s why I invited him.”

He rolls his eyes at me, and I laugh, enjoying messing with him.

Joseph looks at me over his shoulder, his eyes pinched with worry. “I won’t hurt you guys, and I’d never tell the council where you’re hiding. Anyone who has a problem with the council is fine by me.”

“I know. St. James is just a grumpy old man who has trust issues.” I give Bishop a shit-eating grin. He narrows his eyes at me, which only makes my smile grow.

I hear Bishop grumble something about spanking me later under his breath. Heat rushes to my cheeks because I’m pretty sure Mateo can hear Bishop’s quiet threat. I try to ignore the heat that pools in my core at the thought of his promise because now is so not the time.

Seeming to debate his options, Joseph eventually says, “I think I’ll stay here if they’ll let me. I’m all for traveling, but going to another realm is a lot to wrap my mind around.”

“You get used to it,” I tell him.

A matter of months ago, I never would’ve thought I’d be traveling to another realm, battling the council, or trying to take down a war goddess, but here I am.

We come to a stop at the entrance to the cells. Mateo stares directly into a large circular camera above our heads until the doors chirp and start to slide open. Once we’ve marched out of the lobby and back into the cave, he asks, “How long do you want to stay here, mage?”

Joseph looks helplessly at me.

I sigh. “I don’t really know how long he’ll need to be here. At least until we take down the mage council.”

Mateo nods like that makes sense while Joseph whips around to stare at me in shock. “You’re taking down the whole council?”

“Yep. I don’t have much of a choice at this point. They’re working with a war goddess who lost all her marbles a long time ago, and they’re draining lower mage kids. They have to be stopped.” As much as I’d like someone else to do the stopping, it seems like I’m the only option.

“I’m all for it.” Joseph throws his hands up in surrender, like he thinks I’m angry at him or something. “I just don’t know how one mage is going to take down the entire council. They’ve been abusing their power for a long time, and no one has been able to stop them yet.”

“Good thing I’m not just a mage. And I have help.” While my voice comes out confident, the doubt about whether I can succeed creeps through my mind. I shove it forcefully away because I have to win against them. There’s no other option.

Joseph warily glances at me out of the corner of his eye. “What are you?”

“I also have magic from another realm. If you don’t annoy them too much, Mateo or Angerona might tell you more about it.” I turn to Mateo. “Where is he staying?”

“He’ll stay in my residence. I need to keep an eye on him.” With that, he starts walking away from the dreary gray rock toward the vibrant city.

No one says anything as we wind our way through the bustling, narrow streets.

Even though I’ve been here before, I can’t help but gawk at the orange-and green-tiled roofs on the squat stone buildings, the mountain greenery dotted in between the structures, and the shifters dressed in colorful clothing running around carefree.

We trek through the heart of the bustling city until we arrive at an unassuming gray stone building with a bright red door. Its emerald tile roof glints in the sunlight that pours in from the circular hole in the cave ceiling.

Mateo stomps over the cobblestones that line the walkway up to the building and pushes through the crimson door. We follow him inside a plainly decorated house.

Thick woven rugs soften the dark wood floors. Pale green and yellow paint lightens the plaster walls. An eclectic mix of secondhand furniture in various shades of blue and navy dots what I can see of the space.

Joseph plops himself down on a threadbare but clean blue sofa before looking around. “As far as prisons go, this isn’t too bad.” He kicks his feet up on a walnut coffee table and grins up at the jaguar shifter.

Crossing his arms, Mateo stares down at him. “This isn’t a prison.”

“Well, I’m pretty sure I don’t have free rein of your city, nor am I allowed to go anywhere myself. I’d call that a prison,” Joseph shoots back.

Mateo opens his mouth to argue further, but I beat him to it.

“Joseph, how ’bout you don’t argue with the shifter who’s being kind enough to open his home to you.

” I see the smug smile Mateo flashes him before I pin the jaguar with a glare.

“And how ’bout you try being a little nicer to him?

If you trust me to save the entire fucking world, I hope you trust me not to bring a threat into your city. ”

The two men deflate. Joseph shoots me an apologetic look. “Sorry, Izzy. Thank you for taking me in, Mateo.”

Sighing, Mateo walks over to the sofa and flops down on the other end of it. “I’m doing my best to trust you, mage. But you have to work with me. You can come and go as you please, just take an escort with you. It’ll keep you safe and make my people feel safe.”