Page 8 of Ignited Spirits (Haunted Magic #3)

IZZY

T he purple, flowing dress swishing around my ankles as I march to the throne room isn’t exactly my style. I do like how the dress darkens from a pale lavender to a deep violet, though.

While I’m more of a jeans girl, I’m thankful I at least have something more than a T-shirt to wear to meet with Hades.

All five of us walk in silence as we wind our way through the castle, the only sound the quiet tapping of our shoes.

Levi was already gone when I walked out of his room, so Bishop, Luca, Archer, Cain, and I are attempting to navigate the maze Hades calls a castle.

After walking for a while, I’m relieved to see the entrance to the throne room just ahead. With my lack of directional sense, I had no idea if we were just aimlessly wandering in circles for the past ten minutes or actually making progress.

Luca and Bishop enter first, followed by me, then Cain and Archer.

Like every time I’ve been in the throne room, all the guards turn to stare intently at us. There’s more fear and apprehension than there was the first time, which I count as a win.

As soon as we walk in, my gaze is immediately drawn to Levi. Standing there in a black tee and jeans, he looks like the events of the past couple of days didn’t happen, which I’m thankful for. I don’t think I can handle my mates getting injured any more.

It’s weird seeing him in short sleeves with his tattoos on prominent display after more than a year of him wearing only long sleeves around me. I guess when he doesn’t have to pretend to be a teacher, he can have the markings of his creatures visible.

Hades is waiting for us on the dais in the center of the room with Levi.

He has one hand casually shoved in his black suit pants, and his white dress shirt is rolled up at the sleeves.

At something Levi says, Hades tips his head back and laughs, the sound genuine instead of the mocking chuckles I’ve heard from him.

I’m pretty sure the entire room stares at the intimidating king in shock at seeing him let out a real laugh or do anything other than glare.

When I shake off my surprise, I walk up to the platform and crane my neck to look at Hades. “I heard you summoned me?”

Hades looks me up and down. “Ah, there she is. How is my seventh favorite earthling doing?”

I can’t help my smile at his ridiculous greeting. “You know that many people from Earth?” I’m pretty sure a dude who calls us all Earth dwellers can’t name three people from my realm, let alone nearly ten.

Hades places his hand over his heart like I wounded him and gasps dramatically. “I know lots of people from Earth.”

I raise an eyebrow skeptically. “Like who?”

“Well, you for one. And your canines and wizard, which is five whole people.” He pauses for a long moment as he seems to be racking his brain for more names. Eventually, he shrugs and looks back down at me. “And lots more, obviously.”

Snorting, I shake my head at him. “He’s a mage, not a wizard. And whatever you say, your royal pain.”

Hades claps his hands together. “Now, that’s the spirit! If only I could convince Seph to have that attitude.”

Levi chokes on a laugh. “I wouldn’t let her hear you say that.”

Looking horrified, Hades turns to Levi. “You don’t think she could hear me, do you?”

“No, I think you’re safe from Seph’s wrath, at least for that comment.” Levi claps his brother on his back.

I like Seph even more after seeing how scared Hades is of her finding out what he said. She’s a total badass for instilling that much fear.

“Was there a point to you calling me here? Or did you just want to yap?”

As fun as it is seeing Hades scared, I’d honestly rather be in bed cuddling with all my mates.

After using so much magic to heal Archer, I’m drained and exhausted.

I’ll need to recharge for at least another day before I’m back to full strength.

Hopefully Lua can hold off on destroying everything until then.

One of the guards behind Hades must be new because he looks like he’s about to pass out from how I speak to his king. I barely hold in my laugh at his terrified face and try to ignore how strange my life is.

Who would’ve thought I’d be sassing the king of the underworld one day?

Not me, that’s for sure.

At my question, Levi makes his way down the stairs and over to me. Hades follows slowly behind him.

When Levi reaches me, he scoops me up in a hug that has an almost desperate edge to it. “I’m so sorry, little raven,” he whispers to me.

I attempt to pull back to look at him, but his arms are banded around me like iron shackles. Giving up, I lay my head on his chest. “What are you sorry about?” I ask just as quietly.

“I’m so fucking sorry that you’ve had to deal with Lua Mater.

I’m sorry I got knocked out and left you and Archer hanging.

I’m sorry I wasn’t any help. You could’ve been killed, and I didn’t do anything about it.

” His arms tighten and are on the verge of suffocating me.

I don’t complain, though. I can tell he needs to hold me like this, and I need the reminder that he’s okay.

When his arms loosen enough that I can speak, I tell him, “Oh, Levi. None of this is your fault. The only one who is responsible is Lua. It was just bad luck that she managed to knock you out, not anything you did wrong.”

“No, it was definitely targeted,” Hades says.

“Our demon spawn of a mother unfortunately knows too much about Levi and me. She knows what our weaknesses and particular magic types are and how best to defeat them. I would bet money on it that she chose a particular attack that would do the most damage to Leviathan to take him out of the fight. You can’t underestimate her, earthling, or you’ll be the one who dies next time. ”

Before I can say anything, I hear a bone-chilling growl behind me. Spinning around, I see that Archer’s eyes are glowing the same neon purple from earlier. He’s also bulking up and growing taller as he stares down Hades. He starts marching over to the king of Hell.

Well, this isn’t going to end well.

Either Archer will kill Hades or Hades will kill him for the attack, neither of which I want to happen.

Rushing over to Archer, I put my palms on his chest and try to be a barrier between him and Hades. He tilts his head down to stare at me with his otherworldly purple eyes, and my breath stalls in my chest at what feels like someone else peering at me through Archer’s gaze.

I shake off my unease. “Hey, sunny boy. I know you’re pissed at Hades, which, understandable. But we really don’t have time for you to beat him into an early grave. So, if you could go back to being my chill Archer, that would be awesome.”

He tilts his head as he considers me. He’s silent for a beat before gritting out, “Yes. There is time to kill him. I will protect you.”

My eyes widen at the vehemence in his voice.

“Whoa there. How about we not murder the king of the underworld? That’ll make my life really complicated, and you don’t want that, do you?

” I never thought I would have to talk one, let alone two, of my mates down from trying to murder the king of Hell, but here we are.

“Well, he’s certainly freaky,” Hades comments dryly as Archer silently considers what I said.

I turn to glare at Hades. “You’re not being helpful.”

“Who said I was trying to be?” He tsks at me. “Try to keep up now, earthling.”

I roll my eyes so hard it’s a wonder they don’t get stuck. “Fine. I’ll step aside and let my shifter mate, who is definitely not just a wolf anymore and powered by the River Styx, take a swing at you.”

Clapping his hands together excitedly, Hades grins at me. “Great. Let’s go. I haven’t had a good fight in ages. No one is a real challenge anymore. Ah, the downsides of being better than everyone else.”

I mime choking Hades because he’s so far from being helpful it’s enough to make me scream. It only makes his shit-eating smile grow.

Archer tries to move around me to take Hades up on his invitation. I jump in front of him and slam my hands into his chest. While he could get past me, he stops and peers down at me, like he doesn’t understand why I’m blocking him.

Staring up into his neon eyes, I attempt to reason with him.

“Please, Archer, or whoever is in there. Please don’t do this.

I really can’t handle this on top of everything else.

” My voice breaks, and I want to close my eyes to hide from the emotion I’m showing.

But I don’t want to take my gaze off Archer, so I let him see everything I’m feeling.

He stares down at me for a long moment, his head tilted as he tries to figure something out. I hold my breath for what feels like an eternity as I wait for him to decide.

Archer doesn’t say anything, though his eyes slowly bleed back to their usual aquamarine color.

He blinks a few times before looking down at me. “Sunshine?” he asks in confusion. “When did you get over here?”

“Do you remember anything of what just happened?” I ask carefully, not wanting to make him feel bad. I’m not sure what’s going on with his new magic, but I doubt it’s a good sign that he can’t remember what happens when his power comes out.

His brow furrows. “What do you mean? Hades just said that Lua’s moves were calculated, and then you somehow got over here.”

I bite my lip as I try to figure out what’s going on. I don’t get a chance to say anything, because Hades interjects.

“You tried to attack me, pup. It was ballsy as fuck, but your mate refused to let you follow through. A shame, because I would’ve enjoyed the challenge.” Hades flashes Archer a savage grin that has Archer gulping nervously.

I narrow my eyes at Hades for enjoying this whole fiasco. “I’m totally telling Seph about this.”

Hades’s eyes widen. “You wouldn’t.”

“Oh, but I would.” I flash him an evil grin, because I will absolutely tattle on him for egging on Archer. Or whatever might be residing in Archer’s body. I’m enjoying knowing he’s scared of Seph way too much.