Page 22 of Shadowed Spirits (Haunted Magic #2)
CHAPTER 22
BISHOP
“ F or the record, I hate everything about this plan,” I grumble as we stand in the Nightshade’s dining room. The dark wood floors, cream-colored walls, and massive white oak table are familiar from all the nights I’ve spent working with the Nightshades. I never thought this would be our base of operations for attacking the council, though.
We’re getting ready to open a rift directly into the council chambers to ambush Doyle. The whole plan feels rushed and has too many holes in it for me to feel comfortable with Izzy joining us.
When I don’t have everything under control, shit always goes wrong. Memories of the night my family died flash like a grim premonition. The brakes screeching, the car fishtailing, my mom screaming, Deacon’s terrified face as we went over the cliff, pain as I slammed into the car door before everything went black, and waking up days later to learn that my parents and brother were gone, play out in my mind like it all happened yesterday, instead of fifteen years ago.
The worst moment of my life was compounded by the fact that I had to go live with my Aunt Cynthia until I was eighteen. She was cold, resentful of having to take care of me, and downright cruel when I didn’t do what she wanted.
Memories of the damp cellar and how the cold seeped into my bones until I never thought I’d be warm again try to swallow me, but I push them away. While I’d prefer never to think about that time in my life again, any other time besides right now would be a better option for drowning in the pain. I have to protect Izzy, not wallow in things that happened over a decade ago.
Shaking my head to clear it of the memories, I focus on what I can do about this situation, which isn’t nearly as much as I’d like. I wish she’d just stay here and let the rest of us go. Allowing others to put themselves in danger while she’s safe isn’t in her DNA, unfortunately.
Izzy rolls her eyes. “Noted and ignored, St. James.” She glances back down at her phone, waiting for a message from her dad that the other council members are distracted. Archer snickers at her response, and I flip him off behind my back.
My hand itches to spank her ass for her attitude, but I restrain myself. Now is not the time, and I’m still not sure she’s ready for everything I want just yet, even though she came back to bed dripping with Cain’s cum last night. I’m glad whatever they did helped her sleep for a few more hours, despite being a little jealous that it wasn’t my cum leaking out of her.
Shaking my head, I try to clear it of all the ways I want to fuck my mate. The last thing I need is a raging hard-on while storming the council chambers. I wish I could say that I never thought I’d attack any mage counselors like this, but I’d be lying. As soon as I found out what Izzy was, I knew I’d have to go against the council to keep her safe. Since they’re a bunch of corrupt motherfuckers, I’ll do it with a smile on my face.
Izzy’s phone vibrates. She looks at it, her mouth pressing into a grim line. “We’re good to go. Dad’s distracting everyone other than Doyle.”
Without any of us saying a word, we all get into formation around Izzy. Levi and I are in front. Luca and Archer are on either side of her, and Cain is behind her. Glancing around at all of us, Levi nods to himself and opens a rift directly into council chambers. I’ve wondered why he didn’t just open a rift the last time we broke into the council, but I haven’t had time to ask him.
Levi steps through first, with the rest of us following behind him. When I go through, the council chamber is filled with panicked shouting as Levi’s black misty magic crawls through the space. A red glowing shield deflects magical attacks as he stoically waits for his otherworldly magic to take effect.
I glance around the chamber, idly taking in the burnished wood floors, a thick gold embroidered rug at the center, and three chandeliers dripping with diamonds. The walnut viewing stands are empty behind us. They only fill up for trials and executions, the average mage uninterested in day-to-day council proceedings. At least we won’t have an audience for this.
Instead of knocking all the guards out, Levi’s mist bounces off at least half of them and doesn’t affect Doyle. I swear under my breath, as our plan is already going to shit. “What the fuck is going on, Levi?”
“Lua must’ve given some of them protection charms. My suspended animation magic isn’t working on about half of them.” Levi lets his black mist fade away and concentrates on keeping his shield up. Arcs of red magic occasionally shoot toward the guards, who are pummeling our dome with their own magic. Much like the black mist, Levi’s red magic bounces harmlessly off of the guards.
“ Ferire ,” I mutter, sending a punch of magic toward the council goon directly in front of me. I groan when it doesn’t do any damage, either. If we can’t hurt any of them with magic, I have no idea what we’re supposed to do, other than retreat. If Levi’s magic isn’t working, I doubt he can erase their memories, so there will absolutely be a huge manhunt for the six of us. “What do we do now?”
“Kill them. Obviously.” Izzy tries to push her way to the front, her hands glowing with her light blue magic. I turn around to level her with a glare. I made it very clear that the only way I’d allow her to come with us is if she says in the middle of the five of us. At my narrowed eyes, she huffs and crosses her arms but doesn’t try to get out from behind me.
“Let’s try to minimize the killing, yeah? We are on council grounds, and the more people we kill, the bigger mess we have to clean up.” Not that we’re able to even stun any of them. I knew our plan was rushed and had holes, but I didn’t think it would go quite this badly.
Izzy pouts. “Party pooper.” Despite her playful expression, Izzy’s gray eyes are assessing the situation, and I can see the wheels turning in her head as she tries to figure out a solution.
“Halt!” Doyle yells from his spot on the dark wood council dais. He sits at the center chair that’s decorated with ornate gold filigree and sparkling rubies. The pudgy man’s face is twisted into a smug smirk.
The guards who weren’t knocked out stop flinging magic at Levi’s dome. Their hands still glow with various shades of magic, ready to resume their attack at a moment’s notice.
“After your last attack,” Doyle starts. His face lights up when he sees Levi’s confused expression. “Surprised I remember? My partner helped illuminate the blanks in my memory you thought you created. I remember all about your little visit two days ago. That’s why I made sure to up my security, which my partner helped with.”
While Levi scoffs at Doyle, his black and red eyes shine with concern. “If you think you’re in a partnership with Lua Mater , you’re stupider than I thought.”
Doyle’s face turns red in anger. He aims a bolt of sickly brown magic at Levi’s defensive dome. Instead of just bouncing off, the hit rattles the shield. Levi grits his teeth as he funnels more magic into securing it.
“As I was saying, I know all about Isabel Gallagher’s spirit mage status.” Izzy gasps silently behind me, and Doyle’s smarmy smile widens. I have the urge to punch him for stressing out my mate. “So, here’s how this is going to go. You’re going to give yourself up, and everyone who knows you’re a spirit mage will be executed quickly and painlessly. The same can’t be said for you, because I have to make an example of the mage who evaded detection for so long. I’m sure you understand.”
“Hmm. Lemme think about that one.” Izzy taps her chin and looks up at the ceiling, pretending to consider his demand. “Not a fucking chance, dickbag. Pro tip—if you want someone to agree to your demands, don’t lead with killing everyone they care about.”
Doyle lets out a loud sigh. “Very well. It didn’t have to be this way. You only have yourself to blame for what happens to your loved ones, spirit mage.” With a flick of his wrist, Doyle signals for the guards to resume their attack.
Since my magic doesn’t work on the offense, I try to put up a defensive shield on top of Levi’s to give him a break. It shatters with the first hit, and I growl in frustration. Whatever magic these guards are using isn’t normal mage magic. I’m stronger than most mages out there, so the guards should be hard-pressed to get past my dome, rather than able to destroy it with one hit.
Izzy tries throwing up a shield as well. Hers lasts a little longer than mine, but it explodes after the fifth hit. She winces at the recoil of her magic back into her, which stokes my rage. Anyone who hurts my mate will die, violently and painfully. Yet, I can’t do jack shit to protect her right now. I’m useless, and it kills me. I know the wolves are having the same issue, as they’re stuck in the dome watching, unable to help. A quick glance behind me confirms that Cain’s hellhound form is coming out. Whether that’ll help or hinder us, I don’t know.
Even though her shields keep breaking, Izzy continues throwing them up to help Levi. She’s getting drained, though. Her shields keep flickering into existence more and more slowly.
Levi notices it too. His face is also drawn and tired, the strain of holding up a shield under attack getting to him too. He looks around the council chambers before turning back to Izzy, his expression grim. “I can open a rift, and the rest of you can get out of here.”
“No fucking way, screech owl. I’m staying here with you. Besides, leaving won’t solve anything. They’ll just come after me at a later date. I’m staying, and we’re finishing this fight. Together.” Resolve hardens Izzy’s face as she prepares to throw up another shield, but we need to figure out something other than standing here like sitting ducks, and fast.
He gives her a steely nod and turns back to the battle. While his focus was on Izzy, Levi’s shield wavered slightly. An arc of bright green magic breaks through the dome before Levi can resolidify it. It slams full force into his side, the impact throwing him back.
“No!” Izzy screams as Levi crumples to the floor, the sound full of heartbreak and anguish.
Her hair starts floating on a nonexistent breeze, and her eyes glow a neon purple as she stares at her injured—or worse—mate. Cerberus appears in their rottweiler form as she lets out a wordless scream. Royal purple magic, differently colored than her normal magic, explodes from Izzy. As it ripples through the council chamber, anyone it touches slumps to the floor, lifeless. None of the guards nor Doyle have a chance to run before it sweeps through them. The only sound in the council chambers is their bodies hitting the floor with a thump.
When the wave of magic fades, Izzy blinks a few times before looking around the council chamber in confusion. Her eyes widen when she sees the carnage her magic left behind. She turns a panicked and slightly guilty gaze on me. “Oh, fuck. I think I ripped out their souls.”