Page 19 of Shadowed Spirits (Haunted Magic #2)

CHAPTER 19

IZZY

I startle when Bishop bumps his shoulder into mine, so lost in my thoughts I didn’t hear him approach. “Ready to go inside, sweetheart?”

Nodding, I lead our hodgepodge group up the stairs and through the navy front door. Out of habit, I unlace and remove my white Chucks and throw my backpack on the floor. Everyone else kicks off their shoes as well.

“Mom!” I holler. “Where are you?”

“In the kitchen!” she calls back.

I snort because I should’ve just assumed that. Mom’s favorite place in the house is our gourmet kitchen. She’s a fantastic cook and can make super complicated recipes without any magic. My stomach rumbles, reminding me I didn’t eat nearly enough for breakfast, too anxious to get back to have a big meal. Maybe there will be some leftover lunch for our group.

I lead us through the narrow hallways and meandering rooms until we reach the kitchen. My mom is pulling out a rib roast as we walk in. There are rolls, a salad, and mashed potatoes sitting on the marble island. Mom’s sage green apron is a perfect match to the cabinets, and the light spilling in from the windows illuminates her blonde hair, making her look angelic.

At our footsteps, Mom looks up at us. Her gray eyes matching mine widen, and she hurriedly sets the large roasting pan on a hot pad. She rushes over and wraps me up in a hug. “Where have you been, Izzy? I called you multiple times yesterday, and you never answered or got back to me. I’ve been worried.”

I breathe in her rose garden scent as she hugs me. I mumble into her shoulder, “I don’t think you wanna know, Mom, but I’m sorry for worrying you. Is Dad around?”

Mom pulls back and glares at me. “Isabel Magnolia Gallagher, where were you?” I wince at her saying my full name. I’m so in trouble now. “You better not have gone back to the council building.”

“Well, that’s not what I was referring to, but I can’t say we weren’t there. But! It was a quick in-and-out thing, so it’s like we weren’t even there.” I nod to myself because that’s definitely how it should work. If I don’t engage in murder and mayhem, was I even really at the council building? I think not.

My mom gasps. “Izzy! Why would you even chance going back there? It’s dangerous.”

Don’t I know it, mother of mine. The council building is a snake pit, and the council members are mambas disguised as milk snakes. They look harmless and promise they’re working for the good of all mages, when the only thing the council really cares about is their own power.

Sighing because I can’t really argue that it’s not dangerous, I try to switch topics. “I’m pretty sure getting arrested for being a spirit mage is a ton more dangerous. We only went there to erase Doyle’s memories.”

See? There’s no way she can be mad at me when I was trying to fix a problem instead of starting shit like I usually do.

Apparently, that wasn’t the right thing to say, because my mom looks more concerned. “What?”

“Yeah. Doyle used other realm magic to find out I’m a spirit mage and order my arrest. It was awkward, but we’re all good now,” I lie. Going to Levi’s realm didn’t solve anything. It was the opposite, just dumping a ton more problems into our lap. We went there worried about Doyle and left Anya’s worried about the fate of the planet.

“He what?” Dad’s voice is infused with anger.

Man, I can’t catch a break with the ’rents today.

I turn around and flash my dad an over-the-top smile. “Father figure! How amazing to see you. Would you like some of our world famous roast prepared just for you? Customers rave about how tender it is and how much more appetizing it is than mage council shenanigans.”

He rolls his eyes hazel eyes. “Mm-hmm. Nice try. What is this about Doyle arresting you?”

“It was all just one big misunderstanding. We cleared it right up.” I try to keep my tone cheery to distract from the fact that it wasn’t a misunderstanding and it’s certainly not cleared up.

“Oh? And how did you do that?” Dad raises his eyebrows skeptically. His dark brown hair is flopping in front of his eyes, so I’m sure Mom will be on him to cut it soon.

I tilt my head back and forth, trying to figure out what to say. “Oh, you know, the same way we dealt with my classmates and professor. By erasing their memories.” My tone is nonchalant, but I can tell it doesn’t distract my dad, who’s looking at me with growing horror on his face.

It’s not like we killed them or anything, so I don’t know why he’s looking at me like that.

“How? What?” Dad trails off before finishing his thought, seeming lost on how to respond.

“Oh, it was super simple. I just had my mate from another realm use his fancy cura magic, and all my problems were solved. Easy as that.” I dust off my hands in a well, that’s that gesture.

“Did you just say from another realm?” Rhys asks from behind Dad. While Rhys is just as tall as my dad and has the same dark brown hair and hazel eyes, he’s a bit less muscular. He’s still pretty huge, though.

“I’m pretty sure she did, brotato chip.” Aiden thumps Rhys on the back and gets a dirty look in return. His gray eyes that match mine and Mom’s crinkle in mirth.

Oh, good. Both of my brothers are here for this rapidly devolving conversation.

This whole discussion is giving me a headache. I close my eyes and rub my temples, trying to find the magic words to get my family off my case. Unfortunately, I’ve never been great with words, so the only thing I can give them is the partial truth.

I sigh. “Look. I’ve had a long couple days, and I really don’t want to have to defend my choices to everyone. Were they the right choices? I don’t know, honestly, but I did my best to do what I thought was right. We’re only here because I need to know Doyle’s schedule, and I thought it’d be nice for Gran to see everyone.” I gesture behind me at Gran. Everyone stares at her in confusion, since she’s still in her Melinoe form. “You can feel free to voice your objections until the cows come home, but it won’t change anything. All it does it make me feel like shit when I’m trying.” My voice breaks on the last word, and I close my eyes in embarrassment.

I hate sharing my feelings, but I’m still reeling from everything myself. I just don’t have the bandwidth to argue with my family right now.

When I finish talking, I expect the room to explode in my family shouting over each other to tell me what a bad decision it is to confront Doyle again. I mean, I agree with them, but we don’t have any other choice.

Instead, the room is silent as my family stares at me with varying levels of concern. My mom looks like she’s close to tears, Dad looks regretful, and Aiden and Rhys look very confused.

Dad blows out a harsh breath. “I know you’re trying, honey. We all do. We just love you so much and don’t ever want to see you hurt. I’m sorry you’ve had a rough couple days. We can’t know if you don’t tell us, though.”

I let my head droop down because he’s right. “I know. I just don’t want you guys involved in all this.”

“Like it or not, we’re automatically involved in anything you are because we’re family. As much as you wish you could, you can’t keep us safe from everything, Iz. Keeping us safe also isn’t your job.” Dad puts his hand on my shoulder and squeezes me comfortingly.

“It’s my job when I’m the one who puts you in danger.” My family can protest all they want, but we all know that I put them in exponentially more danger just by existing. I’m trying to believe Bishop when he says everyone wouldn’t be better off without all my problems, but it can be hard most days.

Perhaps sensing my turbulent emotions, Cerberus enters the room and makes a beeline for me, their nails clacking as they go. They jump to put their front paws up on my lower leg, their tail wagging as they do so. With a slight smile, I crouch down to pet them, appreciating their attempts at comforting me.

Before Dad can respond, Aiden jumps in, his gaze firmly on my familiar. “Am I seeing things, or is there a three-headed Chihuahua sitting at your feet, sis?”

I snort. “You’re not seeing things. That’s Cerberus. They’re my familiaris , which is apparently a familiar for cura .”

Aiden stares at them with his jaw on the floor. “Cerberus? As in the three-headed guardian of Hell?”

“Yep. But don’t worry. They’re chill unless you piss them off, or if you’re a stag. Those are their favorite treats.” At least, I think they’re mostly chill. I’m actually not sure, since I’ve only known them for a day.

“Or if he threatens you,” Cer interjects. “We have no qualms eating mortals.”

I choke on a laugh at how serious he is, but I shake my head at them. “As much as he annoys me, please don’t eat my brother.” Things I never thought I’d have to say for five hundred.

“As you wish, sagana .” Bear dips his head, and the three of them go back to standing on the floor.

Aiden snorts. “How exactly would a Chihuahua eat me?” Cerberus lets out a cute little Chihuahua bark before growing into his rottweiler form. All three heads growl menacingly at Aiden. He backs up a few steps until he stumbles into Rhys. “So, I guess they’re not a Chihuahua all the time. I won’t hurt my sister. I’d rather die than let any harm come to her, so we won’t have any problems.”

A pit forms in my stomach at his words. I’ll do anything in my power to stop Aiden or any of my family or mates from ever getting hurt, especially on my account. Clenching my jaw, I try to shove my worry for everyone out of my mind. There’s nothing I can do about it all right now. I stroke one hand through Cerberus’s surprisingly soft fur to calm down.

I have to swallow around the lump in my throat a few times before I can get any words out. “Yeah. His normal form is, like, twenty-five-feet tall, so he can definitely fuck you up.” I turn back to my dad. “Do you have Doyle’s schedule? We need to… talk with him.”

Talk with him, beat him up, same thing, really. While Dad doesn’t like the council, I’m pretty sure he still doesn’t want to hear about any violence toward them.

Dad arches an eyebrow skeptically at me. “I don’t want to know what your plans are, do I?”

I give him a rueful smile and shake my head. “Not even slightly.”

He sighs. “Doyle upped security yesterday. I didn’t know why, but I assume you’re the reason. The only time you’ll have any privacy with him in the short term is probably tomorrow at the council meeting. I can keep the others busy for a little while, which will give you time to get in and out fast.”

Dad would probably be correct on us being the cause, but that opens a whole other can of worms. How did Doyle remember any of it to up his security? Since there weren’t a bunch of council guards staking out our house or my family arrested and thrown in mage jail, I have to assume he doesn’t remember the spirit mage part.

I guess we’ll have to find out tomorrow.

“I hope so.” I was hoping we’d have more time to come up with a plan to deal with Doyle, but we can’t wait forever. Who knows how strong Lua will get if we keep waiting around.

When I don’t say anything further, my mom asks, “Can you stay for lunch?”

I glance around at my mates to see if there are any objections. None of them say anything, so I shrug. “Yeah, we can stay.”

The six of us jump in to help my mom set the table and take the food to the dining room. Gran pitches in. With all of us working together, we’re sitting down for lunch in a matter of minutes. After we’re settled at the table and everyone starts grabbing food, my mom asks, “Who’s your friend, sweetie?”

Unsure how to respond, since Gran’s in her Melinoe form, I’m silent for a long moment before deciding to go with the truth. “That’s Gran.”

My mom’s eyebrows raise to her hairline as she looks at Melinoe’s half-and-half form that couldn’t be further from Gran if she tried. Before my mom can say anything, Gran disappears in a flash of black and white light. When her magic dies down, Gran is in her old lady form. “Hi, Maggie-Pie.”

My lips quirk up at Gran calling my mom by her childhood nickname. My mom, however, isn’t amused. “Mom? What are you doing here? And why do you look like that?”

Gran purses her lips and looks down at her plate, her eyes filling with sadness, frustration, and a bit of longing. “It’s a long story.”

“I have time,” Mom retorts stubbornly.

Gran snaps her head up and pins my mom with a look that would make a lesser person cower. Since my mom is used to it, she doesn’t even flinch. “I don’t want you involved in this, Maggie. That’s why I haven’t told you about where I come from, my magic, or what all I can do.”

Mom’s face darkens. “So, it’s okay to involve my daughter in it?”

Throwing her hands up in exasperation, Gran says, “No! It’s not okay. I wanted Isabel, you, and the boys to stay out of all of this. I know I failed,” she admits quietly. My heart hurts for the devastation on her wrinkled face.

“You didn’t fail, Gran,” I tell her softly. She gives me a disbelieving look. “I think Mom’s already involved.”

Gran hangs her head before scrubbing her weathered hands over her face. “You’re right, Izzy.” Tilting her head back and forth as she tries to figure out what to say, Gran eventually looks back at my mom. “I’m not a mage, and I’m not from this realm,” Gran starts. Mom gasps but listens intently as Gran tells her and the rest of my family all about the cura realm, her magic, and why she’s been in hiding.

Mom takes the news surprisingly well. Everyone has a bunch of questions, but our lunch is fairly chill. We hang out with my family for the next two hours. My heart has never felt so full as it does watching my family and my mates getting along so well, the house overflowing with love and laughter and everything good in the world.

This is the reason I keep going. The reason I fight so hard. The reason that I will pour every last drop of my magic, my blood, and my very life force into stopping Doyle and Lua.

While I hope it won’t come to it, I know I’ll happily sacrifice my life for everyone here and die with a smile on my face. I’m just trying to ignore the ominous feeling in my gut that the time for that is going to be sooner rather than later.