Page 17 of Ignited Spirits
“So, I guess we should head back to Earth and figure out what Lua’s up to?”
Bishop chuckles as he walks over to stand in front of me. “Not a damn chance, sweetheart. You’re not going anywhere near her until your magic is fully recovered.” I open my mouth to tell him that I’m totally healed up when he silences me with alook. “Don’t even try it, Isabel. We both know you need at least another day, if not a few, to be back to full strength. All you’re going to do is get yourself hurt or worse if you try to go up against her right now.”
I sigh because I hate it when he’s right. “Fine. So, are we chilling out here for a little, then?”
Bishop nods and leans down to press a kiss to my hair.
Hades chuckles. I turn around to look at him, wondering what he finds so funny. “I see you’re inviting yourself over to stay, earthling. But since I’m such a generous soul, feel free to roam around Levi’s or my quarters as you please.”
I snort. “I so appreciate your generosity, Hades,” I comment sarcastically.
He just smirks at me before turning around to head back to his dais.
I’ve got to wonder what he actually does all day because his throne room is always super empty. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that he spends most of his waking hours hunting down and murdering anyone who pisses him off.
Spinning on my heel, I turn to leave and get the rest I’m reluctantly admitting I need.
Luca’s voice stops me. “Can I speak to you for a moment alone, Izzy?”
Closing my eyes, I hang my head. I already know whatever Luca wants to talk to me about won’t be good, but it’s not like I can really say no. “Sure.” I do my best to keep my voice steady, but I’m not sure I succeed by the worried looks Cain and Bishop shoot me.
Blowing out a breath, I turn back to Luca. He walks over to me and places his hand on my lower back. I let him guide me out of the throne room with my heart in my throat, hoping he’s not going to tell me he can’t be with me anymore after what happened to Archer.
CHAPTER 7
LUCA
Ipush open the door to one of the empty sitting rooms I found while I was wandering the castle over the past few days.
It’s not like I had much else to do while stuck in this realm, and I needed something to take my mind off the fact that both my mate and little brother were injured and unconscious.
Clenching my free hand into a fist at the anger coursing through me at the reminder of what happened, I try to breathe through the rage. Izzy doesn’t need to see how fucking livid I am over everything with Archer and what she did.
Apparently, I don’t mask my emotions well enough, because her shoulders tense up.
With a sigh, I gesture for her to go through the doorway first. She reluctantly follows my directions and hesitantly walks into the room.
Taking in the thick green carpeting, dark walnut bookshelves, and comfortable navy chaises for a moment, Izzy eventually turns back to me. “You wanted to talk?”
Nodding, I try to gather my thoughts and figure out the best way to word what I’m feeling. Eventually, I start with, “Thank you for bringing Archer back.”
When I thought I’d lost my little brother, it felt like all the happiness and joy and light inside me had vanished. He’s the one who lifts everyone else up, makes the darkest days easier, and is always there for everyone else.
It’s taken me years to realize how badly I’ve been failing him. I thought he’d died never knowing just how much I see him and appreciate all that he does. I worried that I’d never get a chance to make it up to him.
But because of Izzy, Archer’s back. She did the impossible and gave both him and me a second chance.
I’m determined to do better for him this time. Once I’m done talking to her, Archer’s the next on my list to make things right with.
Her gray eyes widen in surprise before she ducks her head. She shoves a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear before mumbling, “No problem.”
I clench my jaw at her saying it wasn’t a problem. I know how close she came to not making it, so it was, in fact, a huge problem.
I step into her space until I’m toe to toe with her. “Don’t, Isabel. Don’t act like you didn’t almost die healing my brother.”
Looking up at me in surprise, Izzy crinkles her forehead in confusion. “What?”
Running a hand through my hair, I try to pull myself together. “We had to watch you writhing in pain on the ground and bleeding profusely for three hours. Three goddamn hours. You let out the most heart-wrenching screams for about an hour until you lost your voice. Then we had to watch you scream silently until you finally passed out. None of us were sure you were going to make it.”
