Page 67 of Ignited Spirits
What’s left unspoken iswhen I never thought I’d have one. Spirit mages aren’t exactly known for our longevity, so it was a reasonable expectation. And with the way things are going with Lua, it still might be what happens.
Bishop’s arm tightens around me and Cain’s eyes darken at the mention of me not having a future.
Cain cups my face with one hand, tenderly brushing his thumb along my jaw. “Well, once we get rid of Lua, you’ll have plenty of time to think about what you want your future to look like. How’s that sound, angel?”
Terrifying.
Life’s a lot simpler when you don’t have to plan for the next couple hundred years. The prospect of living for so long honestly scares the shit out of me.
But I don’t say any of that. Instead, I give Cain what I hope is a genuine-seeming smile and lie. “It sounds great.”
CHAPTER 23
IZZY
“Nice of you to finally join us,” Hades comments as we push through the doors to a room in their quarters.
It’s a smaller conference-type room than the one we were in yesterday. This one is cozier, with cream upholstered chairs, calming blue walls, and fragrant flowers dotted along the big, light wood table.
I roll my eyes at his sarcasm because I didn’t even know there was a meeting going on until fifteen minutes ago.
There was a reason Bishop walked in on Cain and me, apparently, and that was to bring us to the strategy meeting. The one that I’m walking into, smelling like I just got thoroughly fucked by two of my mates. The same meeting attended by my great-grandparents, who can definitely smell what just happened.
My face turns bright red as I process that information.
I definitely should have taken a shower before, but I didn’t even think about it. Plus, Bishop and Cain were both adamant that I shouldn’t clean up.
Fuck my life.
The only saving grace is that my parents and brothers are blissfully unaware of why we’re late. Although the way Archer is waggling his eyebrows at me might clue them in.
With a hand on my lower back, Bishop guides me to an open chair between Luca and Levi. Archer is on Luca’s other side, next to Poseidon. Bishop and Cain take their seats on the other side of Levi. Rhys is directly in front of me, with Aiden on one side and my parents on the other.
I drop down and studiously avoid everyone’s gaze. At least until Hades says in a voice lined with laughter at my expense, “Sleep well?”
I lift my gaze to glare at him and am unsurprised by the shit-eating grin on his currently very punchable face.
Seph is sitting next to Hades and glaring at him too. Zeus is on her other side and is redder than even I am. He’s looking anywhere but at me. Poseidon has a slight smirk but seems generally unfazed by it all.
“I did. Thanks for asking,”dickface, I tack on in my head while trying to incinerate Hades with my gaze alone. Unfortunately, I still don’t have any cool powers like that.
Seph leans in to whisper something to Hades that I can’t quite make out. Whatever she says makes him pale. He nods his head before turning back to me, looking sufficiently chastised. “Sorry, earthling.”
Unlike Hades, I like Seph more and more each time I see her.
She catches me smiling at her and gives me a wink. Seph leans in and whispers to Zeus, who’s turning a concerning shade of purple as he studiously avoids my gaze. Whatever she says to him has him chuckling and relaxing, although he still won’t look at me.
“What am I missing?” Aiden asks as he volleys his gaze between me and Hades.
“Nothing!” I say way too quickly. I cough and try to seem like everything’s fine. “So, what were we discussing?”
Aiden rolls his eyes. “Real convincing, Iz.”
I wait for my mom to look away before flipping him off. He cackles but doesn’t press the issue any further, thankfully.
Rhys surprises me by being the one to answer my question. “We were discussing strategy for infiltrating the council.”
I don’t know why I was surprised, because Rhys is in charge of most of the strategy for Elemental. He has a very analytical mind that thrives on strategizing and making plans. My oldest brother is a bit of a nerd that way, but we love him for it.
