Page 29 of Ignited Spirits
She sighs at me, which is pretty normal for how our conversations go, but she doesn’t say anything more. I think sheknows as well as I do that we don’t have a whole lot of options right now.
Breaking the silence, Aiden says, “As far as plans go, it’s not the worst one I’ve ever heard.”
I roll my eyes at the backhanded compliment. “Gee, thanks, Aiden. That’s what I aim for. Not the worst.”
He winks at me and flashes a smile. “Always happy to help, baby sis.”
“Let’s say I’m even on board with your insane plan. How are we going to get Mom to another realm? And how are we going to get Dad out?” Rhys arches an eyebrow at me like he doesn’t expect me to have the answers.
Joke’s on him. I totally have the answer to at least one of those questions.
“For the first one, Levi or I will open a rift. It’s an interdimensional portal thingy that comes in super handy. If Mom doesn’t want to walk five hours, I can try opening a portal directly into Hades’s throne room, but no promises. For getting Dad out, I’m still working on that part,” I admit.
Rhys sighs at me, and I throw up my hands in exasperation. It’s not like I’ve ever done something like this before.
“I feel confident we can figure out how to free your dad, little raven.”
I appreciate Levi’s vote of confidence. I could really use the boost right now. I feel like I’m drowning in problems that I have no idea how to solve.
“Yeah, sunshine. Luca, Cain, and I have done tons of things way more illegal than breaking someone out of jail,” Archer supplies, trying to be helpful.
Luca and Cain give himwhat the fucklooks for admitting that in front of my mom.
Archer is oblivious to their stares, and I can’t help but smile at my super sweet mate who lifts me up regardless of what’s going on.
Luckily for Luca and Cain, my mom isn’t fazed by that. She knows generally what Rhys and Aiden get up to at Elemental, so she won’t judge my wolves.
“We specialize in extraction at Elemental, so I know we can figure something out,” Bishop chimes in. “It’s not all up to you, sweetheart.”
I hold back the tears that burn my eyes at Bishop saying everything isn’t up to me. It feels like it is most of the time. Like I have to come up with answers to problems no one’s ever solved all by myself. Like I have to save the entire world on my own.
But I don’t have to.
I have mates, family, and even a whole underground city of jaguars on my side. It’s not weak or failing to ask for help. I’m stronger when I work with other people instead of trying to do it all on my own.
Rhys walks over and opens his arms for a hug.
When I step into them, he squeezes me like he did when I was a little kid and too terrified of my own magic to sleep. “I didn’t mean to put it all on you, Iz. As much as I hate the idea of us having to break Dad out, you’re right that it’s our only option.”
“I’m sorry for getting Dad into this. I really didn’t mean to kill Doyle,” I mumble as Rhys lets his arms fall away.
He snorts. “It’s not your fault. Doyle had it coming to him, and I know there are quite a few people glad the old man’s gone.”
“I one hundred percent believe that. I don’t know a single person who actually liked Doyle.” I glance over at my mom. “Are you ready to go?”
Untying her apron, Mom throws her shoulders back and lifts her chin, like she’s daring the world to mess with her. I’ve alwaysbeen proud of how strong my mom is through everything, and this is no exception.
“Yes. Let me just grab mine and your dad’s go bags first.”
It only takes her a few minutes before she’s back with one light blue and one black backpack.
When I get a nod from my mom, I close my eyes and funnel my magic into a rift, hopefully to Hades’s throne room. I really hope portaling there wasn’t a fluke because I so don’t want to walk five hours right now.
When I open my eyes, a swirling, pitch-black rift hovers in front of me, giving no indication of where it leads. I don’t know howcuradeal with the leap of faith anytime they need to get anywhere.
“Who’s coming with us? It’ll be a quick stop, so pretty much everyone else can stay here.”
Bishop rolls his eyes at me. “The five of us go anywhere you go.”
