Page 24 of Shadowed Spirits (Haunted Magic #2)
CHAPTER 24
IZZY
“ W here is Doyle?” Dad hisses as he takes in the six of us hunched over Doyle’s desk. He closes the door behind him, keeping anyone from hearing our conversation.
I wince. “So, about that—” I trail off, not really knowing what to say. When I can’t find any way to make it sound any better, I just go with the truth. “I kinda, sorta, ripped out his and twenty-five of his closest friends’ souls.” Giving my dad a sheepish smile, I shrug at him, because what else is there to really do in this situation?
Dad’s mouth opens and closes a few times as he processes what I said. “You did what?”
“In my defense, he was going to kill everyone I care about. So, can you really blame me?” The correct answer is no. He can’t blame me.
“What exactly happened? I thought you were just going to talk to him.” Dad pinches the bridge of his nose in exasperation with me. It’s not like I wanted to kill Doyle. I mean, I did, but not like this. It was totally unintentional.
“Well, yeah, that was the plan. Doyle had a whole squad of goons souped up with cura magic that meant we couldn’t hurt them. After Doyle threatened us, Levi got hit with a bolt of magic, and I lost it, I guess. Before you lecture me, I’m aware I fucked up. We didn’t really have any other options, though.” While I try to use my normal snarky tone, my voice just sounds tired, even to me.
Dad’s eyes soften, and he blows out a breath. “I’m not going to lecture you, Izzy. As you said, you didn’t have a choice, but this is a colossal problem. I don’t—” He breaks off as he laces his hands behind his head and stares blankly at the ceiling. “I don’t even know what to do right now. But I do know that the six of you need to get out of here. Now. Fortunately, there aren’t any cameras in the council chambers or Doyle’s office, so it should be pretty hard for them to link this to you.”
“That’s one good thing about this shit show, I guess.” Hopefully this means there won’t be a manhunt for us. I’d rather try to find Lua without having to hide from mage cops as well.
“Language, Isabel,” Dad chides on reflex.
I snort. I’m pretty sure saying “shit” isn’t the worst thing I’ve done today, but whatever makes him happy. Since Levi is already short on magic and recovering from the hit, I throw up a rift into the Nightshade’s dining room, instinctively using my cura magic without a thought. “Are you staying here?” I ask my dad.
“Yes. I offered to go get Doyle from his office, so it’d be suspicious if I never return. I’ll try to think of something to tell the rest of the council on the way back to the chambers. Be safe, Iz. I love you.” Dad’s face is grim as he looks around the office like it’ll provide all the answers to get us out of this mess.
“Love you too, Dad.” I dart in for a quick hug before I turn and go through the portal. My mates and Cerberus follow behind me. I wave once more before I close the portal, and I let out a sigh at being out of that place. Something about the council HQ feels like it seeps into my bones and leeches my energy every time I’m there.
Collapsing onto one of the wooden chairs and sinking into the cream upholstered seat, I stare up at the ceiling sightlessly for a long moment. I hear movement in front of me. When I glance over, I see Archer sitting on the table, his aquamarine eyes trained on me. “What’s the plan, sunny boy?”
He gives me a crooked smile. “You’re asking the wrong man, sunshine. I’m not the brains of the operation.”
I frown at him, not liking him putting himself down. “What are you talking about? You’re incredibly smart, Archer.”
He shrugs and looks away, but not before I spot the vulnerability on his face. “We both know I’m not Luca or Cain or Bishop. I’m the muscle. That and cracking jokes is about all I’m good at.”
“You sell yourself short, sunny boy.” I wait for him to look at me before continuing. “You’re good at so much more.”
“New sis!” a chipper voice calls from behind me before Archer can respond.
I groan, not wanting to deal with Prue right now. “You think if I stay still, she won’t see me?”
Archer snorts. “Unlikely.”
“There you are!” She flops down in the chair to my left, her auburn curls chaotically falling around her shoulders. Prue is dressed in a green crewneck, faded bootcut jeans, and a pink, floral apron dusted with flour. “Did you solve your problem from yesterday?”
I snort. “Not even slightly.”
“Oh. Huh.” Prue tilts her head curiously as she watches me, her hazel eyes sharper than her carefree attitude would have people believe. “You think you should work on that?”
I let out a slightly hysterical laugh because I don’t even know where to begin solving the problem. “Nah. I was thinking I’d just say fuck it and let an insane war goddess destroy our world. Stopping her really doesn’t fit into my schedule right now.”
Prue blinks at me a few times before giggling. “You’re funny, new sis. Need any help with it?” She’s practically vibrating in excitement at the prospect of going against Lua. I wish I were that excited. Instead, I’m just dreading the whole thing.
Cain wanders over and leans against the table as Prue speaks. “Absolutely not, Prue. You’re not getting involved in this.” Cain crosses his arms as he glares at his sister.
“Why does Izzy get to?” Prue pouts at her older brother, but it doesn’t sway him.
“Because I’m the one that got everyone into this mess in the first place.” Without me, I don’t think the wolves or Bishop would’ve stumbled onto everything. Levi probably would’ve been pulled in, since it’s his mom and all, but the rest would’ve been safe if not for me.
“That’s bullshit, Izzy. We’d all be drawn into this fight, eventually.” Bishop pins me with a glare, daring me to disagree. I narrow my eyes right back as we get locked into a staring match.
“Ooh, you guys should totally angry fuck. You definitely have the sexual tension for it,” Prue comments while Bishop and I stare each other down.
I choke on my spit and turn to stare at her incredulously. I open and close my mouth a few times, at a loss for what to say.
“Jesus, Prue,” Cain mutters. “Some thoughts should just stay thoughts.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Prue grins and winks at me.
“Prue!” someone hollers from the kitchen, which connects to the dining room. “Your sauces are burning!”
“Shit. I need to get that. I’ll see you around, new sis!” Prue leaps up and gives me an awkward hug since I’m still sitting. She then wraps her arms around Cain before darting back into the kitchen.
“Is she ever not chaotic and intense?” I ask Cain.
His lips tilt up in a wry smile. “No. She’s always like this, angel.”
“Lovely,” I mutter to myself. “Moving on. Does anyone have any ideas on what we should do next?”
Levi wanders over and gingerly sits down in Prue’s vacated seat. He winces as he does so. “We need to look for Lua. We have a little under two weeks, so I think we should take the rest of the day to regroup and decide which mountain to check first.”
My brows furrow in concern. I reach out and place my hand on his outstretched knee, needing to reassure myself that he’s alive and mostly well after the fiasco in the council chamber. “Are you sure you’re okay, demon boy?”
He gives me a genuine but tired smile. “I’m positive, little raven. I just need to rest for a bit and I’ll be good as new. Is everyone fine with the plan to start looking tomorrow?”
I nod, wanting him to have as much rest as he needs. “I’m good with that.”
“The plan sounds good to me. I can show you to the spare bedrooms, Levi. You’ll have more privacy to rest there than in my bedroom. I need to do some pack stuff if we’re going to be gone for most of the next two weeks, anyway,” Luca informs us. I wonder if he ever relaxes because he seems to be constantly working on pack stuff, running around to clean up my messes, and handling his less-than-legitimate side businesses.
“Thanks.” Levi pushes to his feet, trying to hide his discomfort, but I can still see it. “Do you need anything from me, Izzy?”
“I just need you to get better, screech owl.” He gives me a half smile and kisses the top of my head.
Luca also leans down and presses his lips to my forehead. “Come find me if you need anything, wildcat.” I give him a small nod and watch the two of them make their way out of the dining room, Levi moving slower than usual.
“Can I talk to you?” Bishop shoves his hair out of his eyes with a frustrated hand. I’m guessing he’s still not cooled down from everything in the council chamber.
I shrink back in my seat, like I can just disappear if I go far enough back. “If I say no, can we just never have this conversation?” It’s not that I’m scared of Bishop. I’m just tired of fighting with him. Part of me wants my chill best friend back, but a larger part of me needs Bishop to feel comfortable being himself around me.
Bishop huffs a laugh. “That’s not how it works, sweetheart.”
I blow out a breath. “That’s what I thought.” Reluctantly getting up from my seat, I turn to Cain and Archer. “You guys need anything before I go?” I’m totally not hoping they say yes, so I can avoid talking about feelings or other mushy things with Bishop. Violence and bloodshed, I’m great at. Emotions, on the other hand, not so much.
Cain shakes his head, and Archer chuckles. “We’re good, sunshine. We probably need to check in on business things too.” Archer and Cain both pull me into lingering hugs before they make their way out of the dining room.
Reluctantly, I turn back to Bishop to continue our conversation from the council chamber.