Page 10 of Shadowed Spirits (Haunted Magic #2)

CHAPTER 10

LEVI

“ Y ou wanted to talk to me?” I call as I enter my brother’s study. I briefly glance around the obsidian walls, purple and black tile floors, and the dark wood bookcases lining every wall. I find Hades sitting at his massive walnut desk with his head buried in a stack of papers. He’s a bit of a workaholic sometimes.

He wanted to talk in private, which calls for a quieter place than the central throne room. It was only by sheer luck that it was empty earlier. Hades is usually swamped with citizens bringing him their grievances. While he may be the ruler of a realm that humans would consider Hell, he’s a fair king who cares deeply about his people.

That’s not to say that he isn’t ruthless. He is. Hades has only stayed king for so long because he’s more violent, bloodthirsty, and cutthroat than anyone else. My brother has been steeped in brutality as long as he’s ruled this plane. As his second in command, I’ve helped him dole out justice and punishment enough that I’m feared throughout the realm.

“Yeah.” Hades scrubs his hand over his face tiredly before shaking himself out of it. “We need to talk about the fact that our demon spawn of a mother might’ve escaped Tartarus and is stirring trouble on Earth. But first, I wanna know more about your mate. When did you meet her? How? Who asked who out?”

I chuckle at his rapid-fire questions. “I met her a year ago when I was searching for Melinoe. I started as a combat teacher at her school. Neither of us asked the other out. Circumstances just kind of forced us together.” What I mean to say is that it made her to spend time with me. There’s no way Izzy would’ve given me a chance if not out of a misguided attempt to keep me safe. My little raven doesn’t need to worry about that. I will happily lay waste to anyone who threatens her or us.

Hades waggles his eyebrows at the mention of me being her teacher. “Kinky. But also, you dickface. How could you keep the fact that you found your mate from your only brother for a year?”

I roll my eyes at his dramatics. “It’s only been a year. That’s a drop in the bucket for us. It’s not like you introduced me to Seph as soon as you met her. The three of you waited five years to tell me about her.”

“That’s different,” he protests.

Raising an eyebrow at him, I ask, “How?”

“Because I wasn’t the one out of the loop, clearly.” Hades tries to keep a straight face, but he can’t help his grin. I smile back. He stands and makes his way over to me before pulling me into a quick hug. “But seriously, it’s good to have you back, little brother. Even if you’re not staying long.”

“It’s good to be back. I look forward to seeing everyone tonight at dinner, assuming that’s the type of gathering Seph is putting together.” I don’t think Izzy knew what she was signing up for when she agreed to Seph’s invitation. Hopefully, she doesn’t regret her kindness later.

Hades’s mouth tips up in a half smile. “You know my mate well. It’s a good thing your mate isn’t timid. Our family is a lot to handle, especially for a mortal.”

I shake my head. “She’s not mortal, not entirely.”

While I knew Izzy was more than a spirit mage, I never thought she was cura . It’s practically unheard of for cura to grow up outside of one of the guardian realms, like Infernus . Since guardians are much more powerful than the inhabitants of the planets they guard, it can be dangerous to those they guard to have young, powerful cura learning their magic around them. It’s a testament to Izzy’s control that she never hurt anyone with her growing magic.

“I’m still not convinced. I know Seph is fairly certain, but I don’t see more than a passing resemblance between your mate and Melinoe.”

“It’s not just the resemblance. If Onyx says she’s cura , then she is.” Onyx and I grew up together. He’s my oldest friend and someone I can trust without reservation. One of his unique magics is the ability to tell what species someone is through touch. Since he caught Izzy before she could fall into the Styx, he was able to tell what she is.

The River Styx is the lifeblood of cura in this realm. Its waters unlock our powers when we come of age, bind the most important of our oaths, and nourish our lands. Without the Styx, and its connected rivers—the Lethe, Phlegethon, Cocytus, and Acheron— Infernus would be just another barren wasteland of a realm, like the majority of planes out there. Acheron flows around the border of our capital city, hence the city being called Acheron.

Hades hums in disbelief but doesn’t push the issue further. Perching on the edge of his desk, he gestures for me to sit in one of the dark purple velvet wingback chairs in front of him. I lower myself and try to relax my stiff muscles. I’ve been perpetually tense since Izzy’s ghost told me she was being arrested. My blood ran cold when I was unsure if I’d reach Izzy in time. Luckily, I did, but I never want to come that close to losing my little raven again.

Leaning back on his hands, my brother sighs. “What the fuck are we going to do if Mommy Dearest is loose on a rampage? On Earth, of all fucking places.”

Our mother, Lua, is, for lack of a better word, a terrible person. After she tried to kill me, Hades finally had enough and imprisoned her. It was only when I was older that I learned how many, many times she tried to kill him, but that didn’t enrage him like her attempt on my life did.

We’ve had a couple billion years of peace, but it seems like the fates have deemed our respite long enough.

I shake my head. “I don’t know. It took all of us working together last time to get her into Tartarus. If she’s really using a mage to get her more magic, I don’t know how any of us would be able to stop her.”

It was cute seeing Izzy’s wide eyes when we mentioned Tartarus. I had forgotten that Earth has lore about Infernus . While they got it being a prison right, Tartarus isn’t a deep abyss of eternal damnation. It’s just a regular high-security magical prison.

After living so long, I find that Izzy’s wonder and surprise over things that are mundane to me help me see things in a new light. I hope she never loses her awe at the world or her genuinely good heart. While she’s had way too much responsibility on her slight shoulders for too long, my mate still cares so deeply about others, it hurts her. I can’t help but admire that, even though I want to protect her from ever hurting.

Hades squeezes his eyes shut and takes a deep breath to try to calm down. By his bloodred eyes, I can tell it doesn’t work. “Fuck. Well, let’s hope to the fates that she hasn’t escaped. Are you sure you want to bring your tiny and fragile human mate with you to investigate?”

“She’s stronger than you think, but I’m positive that I don’t want to involve her in this.” I’d rather tuck my mate away where she’s safe, instead of letting her run headfirst into danger. “Like it or not, however, she’s already neck deep in the problem. Izzy would also murder me in my sleep if I tried to keep her out of it now that she knows.”

Hades barks out a laugh. “She’s a feisty one. I look forward to getting to know her better.”

“I told her you’d like her.” Izzy and my brother both love to stir up trouble. The things the two of them could get into together honestly scare me, so I’ll need to make sure they don’t spend much time alone. “Is there anything else you need my help with?”

“I have some reports on border towns and outposts I could use some help with, if you’re free.” He rummages around on his messy desktop for the documents he mentioned while he waits for my response.

Shrugging, I tell him, “I’m happy to help.” As his second in command, I should’ve been helping him with reports and other paperwork for the past year. I’ve been a little too preoccupied with Izzy to care about my responsibilities.

I spend the next three hours going through report after report for Hades. As usual, some of the other towns in Infernus are trying to stage rebellions. None of it seems concerning at this point, but Hades’s personal military can easily crush anything.

When I glance up at the clock, I notice that it’s already six-thirty. “Shit. I need to get ready for dinner.” I glance down at my red, long-sleeve T-shirt, black jeans, and scuffed boots. Seph wouldn’t be happy if I showed up to dinner dressed so casually. I told Izzy to pack a dress at the last minute, and I’m glad I did. Seph likes to have semi-formal dinners for big events, like her meeting my mate.

Standing up, I let Hades pull me into another hug before I stride out of his office. The people would be so scandalized to find out my scary older brother is a secret softy at heart.

It only takes me a minute to wind through the castle I’ve called home for longer than I can remember. When I unlock the door to my suite with my magic, I’m surprised to see that only the pup and the quiet wolf are in the living room. They’re talking and laughing with each other when I walk in, but my mate is nowhere to be found.

Archer grins at me. “Have a good meeting, demon eyes?”

I sigh in feigned annoyance at the nickname that I find funny at this point. If I show Archer that he amuses me, he’ll get infinitely more annoying, though. “It was fine. Where is Izzy? And you need to change into a button-down and suit pants, pup. Seph will be very unhappy if you show up dressed as you are.” She wouldn’t approve of his faded navy band tee and jeans.

The quiet one is good to go. He’s always wearing suits and button-downs. The only time I’ve seen him in anything casual is when we’ve shared a bed with our mate. While the wolf is quiet, it’s not because he’s timid. No, there’s a predator lurking just under the surface, noting vulnerabilities and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

“She’s in your room with Bishop and Luca,” Archer informs me from where he’s lying on my sectional. “The mage was pretty pissed at her when they went in there right after you left. And I didn’t bring anything dressy with me.”

I’m not surprised Bishop was livid with Izzy. From his perspective, she recklessly gambled with angering a powerful being as likely to kill her as laugh with her. While I knew Hades wouldn’t hurt her, neither Izzy nor Bishop knew that. I just hope he calmed down a little before talking to her.

I give the pup a nod. “I’ll go check on them and grab you some clothes when I change.”

Archer looks at me skeptically. “Hate to break it to you, big boy, but I’m not going to fit into your clothes. You’re almost as ripped as Luca and a few inches taller than me.”

I vastly prefer being called demon eyes to big boy . Resisting the urge to roll my eyes at the young wolf, I tell him, “I’m aware. I can use my magic to make my clothes fit you. I assume I’ll have to do the same for the alpha and mage.”

“Ohhh,” Archer draws out. “That makes a ton more sense.”

Shaking my head at him, I prowl toward my bedroom. Pushing the door open, I come to a stop when I see my little raven sleeping peacefully between her mage and alpha wolf. I ease the door closed behind me to keep from waking her up. Izzy rarely looks at peace when she’s awake, so it’s very tempting to let her sleep. Unfortunately, we have dinner to get to.

“Is there something you need, Levi?” Bishop whispers from his spot behind Izzy. Jealousy that he gets to hold her against his chest flares in my gut, but I squash it down. She’ll never be only mine, so I can’t be green with envy anytime her other mates touch her.

I let out a quiet breath to stuff my jealousy back in the dark hole in my mind. “It’s half an hour until dinner. We all need to get dressed. I assume you and the alpha wolf didn’t bring any dress clothes with you, so you can borrow some of mine.” I turn away from them and walk to my large walnut dresser in the corner to begin changing.

Behind me, I hear Luca start to rouse her. “Wildcat, it’s time to wake up. Open those beautiful gray eyes for me.”

“Luca?” she asks groggily.

“Yeah, Izzy. I’m right here. Bishop’s behind you.”

“Evenin’, sweetheart.” The mage’s voice is deeper than usual, like he fell asleep with our mate. I don’t blame him. Holding Izzy is one of the most calming experiences I’ve ever had.

I’m pulling out my undershirt and white button-down when Izzy groans. “Fuck. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. How long have I been out?”

“A couple hours,” I call over my shoulder.

She squeaks in surprise behind me. “Levi?”

Turning to face her without putting on my shirt, I give her a gentle smile. “Hey, little raven. Have a good nap?” My chin lifts in pride with how she struggles to tear her gaze from my chest and abs.

Her cheeks turn bright red, and she ducks her head while giving me a small nod. My eyebrows raise as I wonder what they did while I was gone that has her blushing like that.

Now that her gaze isn’t on me, I turn around to quickly change into my suit pants and dress shirt. While I’m putting on my belt, I face Izzy and see her clambering out of my bed. The mage and alpha wolf are both watching her with their hands outstretched, ready to catch her if she falls. She doesn’t notice as she straightens up.

With her hands on her hips, Izzy raises her eyebrows at me. “So, what am I supposed to wear to Seph’s dinner?”

I wander over to perch on the dresser in front of my bed to be closer to her. “Anything dressy is fine. That dress you packed would work well.”

“Well, since that’s the only remotely nice outfit I have with me, it kinda has to work.” Izzy digs through her backpack before pulling out a black, flowy dress. Bundling it with a few other things from her backpack that I can’t see, she heads to my attached bathroom.

Bishop steps in her path and wraps an arm around her back to hold her to him. “Hey, sweetheart, I have a quick question for you before you change.”

She has to tilt her head all the way back to look the mage in the eye since she’s so much shorter than all of us. “Yeah, what’s up?”

“When you’ve stayed the night, do you wear panties under my shirt when we sleep?” I can’t see her face from this angle, but I do see her freeze at Bishop’s question. I go completely still as I wait for her answer, struggling to get the image of her without underwear out of my mind. After a long moment, she gives him a slight shake of her head. He chuckles darkly. “Mm, good to know. Since you’re so comfortable sleeping without them, leave them off when you sleep in bed with us from now on.”

She gasps. “What? No.”

“I wasn’t asking, sweetheart. We don’t have time for you to argue with me. Go get dressed before I decide to punish you again and you have to explain to Seph why we’re late. Don’t forget to grab your panties from Levi’s floor before you put your little dress on.” The mage lets Izzy go, and I catch a glimpse of her flushed cheeks as she hurries into the en suite, ignoring the mage’s directions to retrieve her underwear. Scanning the room, I finally spot her purple panties sitting on top of her jeans by my bed.

Now I have a hard-on, thinking about Izzy bare under her baggy shirt. It would be so easy for me to bend her over my bed and pound into her until she’s begging me to stop. Shaking my head, I try to clear it of all the ways I want to fuck her.

I know I’m not the only one picturing sliding into Izzy when I see the mage adjust himself before he pulls back on his jeans. Heading back to my wardrobe, I throw a shirt and pants at the wolf and mage before heading out to the main room to give the pup his outfit. The three of them manage to get dressed and have me size their clothes before Izzy’s ready.

We’re only waiting a minute or two before she emerges in her black dress that floats around her thighs and her white Converse. Placing my hand on the small of her back, I guide her out of my suite and toward our private dining room, hoping my family reins in their weirdness, so as not to scare my mate.