Page 24 of Ignited Spirits
My eyes widen when I realize that I’m not in my body anymore. Glancing down, I can just see a brown furry body and weird little rat paws.
Oh shit.
The good news is that I figured out how I’m going to see through Cerberus’s eyes. I’m somehow in their body. The bad news is that my mates are freaking out that I just collapsed.
Luca and Bishop look like they’re ready to murder anyone and everyone. Archer and Cain are watching the whole thing worriedly, and Levi is shoving a hand through his hair in agitation. Aggie is pacing as she looks between my limp body and my mates.
I wish I could tell them what’s going on, but I’m currently trapped in a rat body with my three-headed familiar. That’s… not something I ever thought I would say, but that’s my life lately.
“You can tell them what is happening. At least the two you have bonded. You can speak through us into their minds the same way we speak to you, since you’re part of us right now and they are part of you,”Cer tells me.
It’s a little weird, thinking about speaking to them in their heads, but it’s pretty much the only way to stop them from freaking out. Otherwise, they’re going to leave with my body, and I’m going to be stuck here as a rat. If I’m stuck as an animal, I want it to be something cool, like an ostrich or emu.
Um, guys? I’m not sure if you can hear me, but I’m all good. I’m just chilling with Cerberus in this rat, so no need to be worried,I try to project into Bishop’s and Archer’s minds.
“Izzy? What the fuck? How are you in my head?”Bishop’s deep voice rumbles in my mind. His voice is infused with confusion, worry, and frustration, like he can’t decide what to feel toward me.“Also, you’re in big fucking trouble for pulling this, sweetheart.”
My mouth would drop open in surprise if I weren’t hitching a ride in Cerberus’s body right now.What? That’s not fair! I didn’t do anything. Cerberus is the one who did this.
I feel mildly guilty about throwing myfamiliarisunder the bus, but it’s for a worthy cause. I’m sure they don’t mind.
Bishop chuckles in my mind, the sound dark and menacing.“We’ll talk about this later, when I’m not holding your lifeless body in my arms.”
I mean, that’s reasonable. Bishop being so quick to get mad at me over something that’s not even my fault, less so. I have the urge to reach up and rub my temples at the headache I’m getting from this whole day.
“Sunshine? You can talk in our heads now?”Archer asks, his voice holding none of the anger of Bishop’s. He mostly sounds confused.
Apparently I can borrow Cerberus’s ability to talk to anyone who has a bond with me while I’m in their head. Sure comes in handy when I can’t talk, because I’m a rodent, I guess,I project into his mind, still finding this whole thing crazy.
Cerberus was very casual mentioning that I can just talk in their heads for now. All the thingscuraand creatures fromInfernusfind normal is kind of mind-boggling.
Barking out a laugh, Archer shakes his head at me before his face turns concerned again.“So you’re okay?”
Yep, one hundred percent okay, just a little freaked out,I tell him, unsure if I’m just projecting my thoughts to Archer or to Bishop too.
“We need to go after her soon,sagana. Otherwise, we’ll lose her trail,”Bear chimes in.
Sighing internally at how much time I just wasted, I ask,Can one of you tell the others that I’m okay? We need to leave if we want to figure out what Lua is up to.
Giving me a nod, Archer turns to my other mates. “Izzy’s okay. She’s currently with Cerberus. Somehow. I’m still a little fuzzy on the details, but there’s nothing to worry about.”
Luca, Cain, and Levi launch into a barrage of questions that I mostly tune out as Cerberus takes off, following Lua’s trail.
“I swear to God, Isabel, if anything happens to you, you will not enjoy the consequences. Understand?”Bishop rasps.
Yeah, yeah, I know. Love you too, St. James,I shoot back as we cover ground faster than I thought our little rat form would be able to.
I don’t know if I’m out of range or if Bishop doesn’t respond, but my mind is blissfully quiet as we race over grass, paved streets, sidewalks, and a grimy back alley.
We come to a stop halfway through the dimly lit corridor. As the sun sinks low in the sky, the alley takes on a more ominousvibe. I search around the black-painted bricks and trash-littered ground but find no sign of Lua.
I start to panic when I can’t figure out where she went. We can’t afford to lose an opportunity to find out what she’s up to.
“She’s inside! Don’t worry, we’ll catch up to her!”Russ practically shouts.
I wince from the volume of his voice as relief soars through me. At least this side trip isn’t for nothing.How do you know she’s inside?
“We can sensecuramagic, and Lua possesses a large quantity of it. Perhaps more than any othercurawe’ve encountered before.”Cer’s voice is thoughtful.
