Page 108 of Ignited Spirits
I started this school after realizing what I really loved doing was helping kids in need, and I saw an opportunity to help kids just like me, with weird or dangerous magic that no one else wants to deal with.
After thinking it through, I expanded it to kids who just don’t have anyone there for them. My family and their support are the only reasons I even survived long enough to meet my mates, so I want to provide that for kids who aren’t as lucky as I was.
Thanks to the absurd amount of wealth my parents and the Nightshades have, I was able to renovate a cool, old college campus that’s been vacant for around a hundred years or so. It’s still weird to see its red brick shiny and clean, the fountain out front bubbling and not cracked, and the grass and shrubs trimmed neatly.
I was honestly surprised when we were able to find mages from Hawthorne Grove and surrounding towns and shifters from the Nightshade Pack to teach at SPS. But I’m thankful for all the people helping out with teaching and running the school. I couldn’t do it without them.
I put a hand on my hip and level him with an unimpressed look, even though he’s trying to butter me up with sweet words. “I love you, too, St. James. And it’s not like I asked for this party. Of course I’m not going to remember it.”
Bishop opens his mouth to argue with me, but Levi beats him to it. “It’s very kind of you to humor Seph with the gathering, little raven. You know how excited she is to have more people to spoil.” Stepping up behind me, Levi leans down to kiss my neck, and I shiver at the contact. “I love you, little raven.”
I tilt my head back to look at him. His messy black hair hangs down in front of his otherworldly eyes, making him look almost boyish, instead of multiple billions of years old.
Now that Levi isn’t pretending to be my combat teacher, I’ve seen more of what his second-in-command duties look like. Andhe’s hot as hell dressed in tactical gear commanding Hades’s troops or going on stealth missions aroundInfernusto gather intel.
With Hades taking a step back from his duties for a little while, I’ve also got to see Levi stepping up and leading the people ofInfernuslike he was born for it. I’m so incredibly proud of mycuramate and how hard he works. And I’m endlessly thankful that, even with how full his plate is right now, Levi still always makes time for me.
“I love you, too, screech owl.” I sigh at Levi because he knows exactly where to hit to get me to go to Seph’s party with a smile on my face. “Where is it, again?”
We’ve been splitting our time between the Nightshade Pack house and a wing specifically for our mate group in Hades’s castle. Since I’m the only one who can portal directly to Acheron, it made sense to stay where everyone else is, both for safety and because we like hanging out with them.
Not that I’d ever admit that to Hades.
With Lua gone and the spirit mage law abolished, life is safer than ever. But all my mates have enemies. I do, too, being a councilwoman now, so we still take precautions to keep all of us safe. I can’t complain about it too much because it means all the people I care about are safe too.
“At our pack house.” Archer glances up at the clock on one of the lavender walls of my office. “We’ve got thirty minutes before the party starts, so we need to leave now if you wanna help set up.”
Reluctantly pulling away from Bishop and Levi, I open a portal to the Nightshade keep. I hate having other people wait on me, so I definitely want to help get everything ready. After all, everyone’s going through all this trouble for me.
At the sound of the portal opening, Cerberus peeks open an eye from where they’re sleeping in a dog bed on my desk. They’re in their chihuahua form, and everyone at SPS loves them.
I’d worry about the Hell dog going soft from all the attention, if they didn’t regularly go with me on the extracurricular missions I still do for Elemental. They are just as vicious as ever during those operations while they keep me safe at all costs.
Glancing down at my white tie-neck blouse, cropped black trousers, and simple ballet flats, I hope I’m dressed up enough for Seph. Being the headmaster of SPS, I have to look a little more put together than my preferred jeans, stolen band tee, and white Converse.
Bishop and Levi walk through the portal first, and I go to follow them. Archer grabs one of my hands, and Cain grabs the other.
I look over at him with a soft smile. “Have a good day, quiet boy?”
While Cain still focuses most of his energy on the pack, he’s been spending a good chunk of time the last few years getting to know his hellhound family and what all he can do with his powers.
I don’t know that getting to know his hellhound family, who all love him to pieces, will heal all the damage his mom did when he was younger. But having that love and acceptance from me, his new family, his friends, and his pack has helped him work through some things. He’s seemed lighter since, and it makes my heart happy.
He brushes his shoulder-length black hair out of his green eyes to grin down at me. “I did. Thank you for asking. I hope yours went well too.” He pauses for a moment to press his lips to mine. “I love you, angel.”
My heart turns to mush at his quiet confession.
“I love you, too,” I whisper before snorting as I process his question. “As well as it can while managing six hundred kids with attitude problems.”
As much as I gripe about the kids and their sassiness, I secretly love it. It’s the best feeling when a formerly quiet kiddo comes out of their shell to rib me for all the clumsy, goofy, and silly things I do on a regular basis.
When I step through the portal, I’m unsurprised to find utter chaos. Wolves and mages alike are running around, stringing up decorations, laying out tablecloths and plates, and dotting the appetizers across the space.
As is usual for her, Prue is running around like crazy and almost crashes into me. When she sees that it’s me, her hazel eyes shine with relief. “Finally, you slowpokes! I could really use some extra hands.”
The five of us jump in to help her without a second thought. I’ve gotten used to Prue as time has gone on and actually consider her one of my good friends now. It probably helps that she wouldn’t take no for an answer when she decided that we were going to be besties.
Cain was right that we are super similar. We both enjoy stirring up trouble, use sarcasm to show affection, find it hilarious to annoy Luca, and love being in the kitchen. Whereas I enjoy baking, she enjoys cooking, so we’re a great match.
