Page 58 of Ignited Spirits
“I did what now?” I squeak, reeling from the overload of information.
It’s bad enough that I put a mythical being into Archer, but apparently the being I chose is powerful enough to freak out Hades, which is not a good sign.
Sighing, Levi walks to one of the chairs opposite Hades and sits down. “Come here,” he orders. I want to know what’s going on more than I hate being told what to do, so I listen without protest. When I reach him, he tugs me down until I’m sitting on his lap.
“Legion is the king of the hydras. He hasn’t been seen for almost as long as I’ve been alive. Legend has it that he’s only brought forth in times of extreme need, which I think fighting LuaMaterqualifies as. During the healing process, you must’ve called him, and he answered.”
“What does that mean for Archer?” I ask. “And why does Legion refer to me as ‘mate’?”
“It doesn’t mean that much for Archer. He’s stronger and harder to kill than he was before, and he has to share his body with Legion. But because he’s your mate, it doesn’t mean anything for his lifespan.” Levi pauses to consider his words for a moment before continuing. “As to the mate part, well, hydras, like other creatures ofInfernus, have a life mate. You’re his.”
“Thecurais correct, mate. I will not harm your wolf, and I will make his animal stronger when he is finished healing.” I turn around to find Legion standing right behind me, his gravelly, otherworldly voice sending shivers down my spine. “I have searched through many, many lifetimes for the match to my soul, and I found it in you.”
I only barely register him saying that Archer’s wolf is alive because I’m still shocked by the whole mate situation. “What does that mean for me?”
He bends down so that our faces are level. This close, I can see that his eyes darken to almost black next to his slitted pupils. “Nothing that you do not wish it to mean, mate. What happens between us is up to you. Simply finding you and having the privilege of knowing you is enough for me.”
Legion reaches out his hand to touch my face. When I don’t flinch away, he cups my cheek tenderly. He brushes his thumb along my cheekbone as he stares at me with wonder. After a moment, the purple starts to fade away, leaving the aquamarine eyes I know so well.
“He seems… nice?” Archer’s voice gets high at the end, turning his statement into more of a question.
I can’t help my laugh, and Archer rewards me with a heart-melting grin. I sober and duck my head, feeling horrible every time Legion seizes control. “I’m sorry you have to share your body with Legion, sunny boy. I swear I didn’t mean to.”
“I know you didn’t mean to, and stop apologizing, sunshine. You heard Levi. Having Legion along for the ride isn’t going to hurt me. It might actually make me stronger. And I’m gonna get my wolf back eventually, so there’s nothing to be sorry about.” Archer leans in to press a short and sweet kiss to my lips before stepping back.
I swallow down my words of protest because right now really isn’t the time to talk about feelings. Instead, I ask the room, “What are hydras, and why did Hades freak out that Archer is one?”
Hades scoffs. “I did not ‘freak out.’ And hydras, oranguiaas they’re known here, aren’t confined to one realm or bound by the same laws of space and time as we are. Some say they formed with the creation of the universe, while others say theycreatedthe universe. Regardless of how or why they came to be,anguiahave magic older than anything I have encountered and are so rare that most think they’re a myth. If they wanted to,anguiacould easily take over all the realms in existence and wipe all of us out.”
That’s terrifying. I could tell that Legion was old and powerful from the energy pouring off him, but I didn’t think he was quite as old as time itself.
“I still don’t understand how I put him into Archer.”
“Anguiamanifest when someone calls out during a time of great need. Your desperation to save your mate and your need to stop Lua must’ve spoken to him. He might’ve also recognized your soul. Who knows?” Hades shrugs. “You’ll need to ask him if you want a definitive answer, earthling.”
I worry my lip between my teeth. “Could he take control of Archer and never give it back?”
“He could, but I don’t think that’s likely. I doubt he’d want to upset his mate, so count yourself lucky. The rest of us have little protection against the whims ofanguia. Fortunately, they’ve shown little interest in ruling, conquering, or interfering in our affairs, for the most part.”
“Why are we talking about hydras?” a random cura who walks into the room asks. His lime green eyes narrow on my family before settling on me. He shoves his ash gray hair out of his elven face as he tries to figure out something before turning to Hades. “Why is there a gaggle of Earth dwellers here, and since when does Leviathan employ whores from that planet?”
My eyes widen at his insult, and I barely have time to thinkoh shitbefore Archer’s eyes turn the vibrant purple of Legion.
CHAPTER 20
IZZY
Growls sound from all my mates, but my focus is on the being who can probably kill all of us with just a thought.
I’m pretty sure I hear the guy who called me a whore mumble, “Oh fuck,” but I don’t pay it much attention.
I lunge for Legion’s arm as he tries to stalk over to thecurawho should really be careful who he insults. A part of me delights in how pale the tall, buff dude has gone in the face of Legion’s anger.
Legion pauses and turns his glowing amethyst eyes on me. “Do you require something, mate?”
“Yeah. Please don’t kill that guy.” My plea sounds half-assed even to my own ears. While I don’t particularly care about the guy’s life, I don’t really want to start any problems for Hades or derail the meeting about how to take down Lua. I need all the help I can get at this point.
He tilts his head, his serpentine eyes assessing me. “Why?”
