Page 75 of Ignited Spirits
Giles’s space is in complete disarray, with papers and books scattered everywhere. The councilman is currently hunched over a filing cabinet, frantically shoving things into a black duffel bag.
“I told you I needed an hour! I can only move so fast,” Giles throws over his shoulder nervously before turning around, wringing his hands. His washed-out blue eyes, that are the same shade as his sons’, widen when he does.
We’re apparently not who he was expecting, because his terrified expression morphs into haughty fury as he runs his gaze over us. His mouth curls into a sneer when he notices me.
I roll my eyes at him. People from Hawthorne Grove need to get more creative. Their obvious disdain does nothing more than annoy me these days. It’s kind of hard to care what B-level mages think about me when I know how much else is out there and how low on the food chain mages really are.
“How did you even get in here,vilis?” He flicks his gaze to Bishop before understanding and disapproval roll across his face. “I will never understand how a girl like you landed someone like a St. James. As I told my sons, you’re the perfect sidepiece. Pretty enough to fuck, and unpopular enough that no one will believe you if my sons want to explore more… depraved interests that aren’t suitable with girls they’ll marry.”
I hear static as the world around me grows fuzzy as I desperately try to process what Giles just said.
Apparently, at least one other person knew what they were doing to me and not only didn’t care but encouraged it.
I don’t know why I’m so shocked that a councilman knew and did nothing about it, but I am. I distantly hear myself asking, “What?”
I sound dazed, but I can’t find it in me to care. Not right now, when all of my mates and my oldest brother are on the cusp of learning something I’ve tried for so long to keep secret.
Giles scoffs. “You’re stupid, as well as magicless. You thought my sons did anything without my approval? Who do you think encouraged them to pursue you,vilis? They dodged a bullet, with St. James making you his problem now. Not that any of you will live long after breaking in here. You have no idea the power I have access to now. Especially with all the other council members gone.”
Before I can even begin to formulate a response, Legion is in my space, his gaze swirling with emotion that I can’t quite decipher. “What is going on here, mate?” His voice is soft, but it’s impossible to miss the edge of danger in his voice.
His glowing purple eyes are narrowed on me, and his expression is lined with anger. Even though I haven’t known the hydra all that long, I can still tell that his fury isn’t directed at me. It’s on my behalf.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that something not awesome happened with the way I’m shaking like a leaf. My eyes are wide, and I’m sure I’m paler than usual. As much as I would like to pretend that I’m fine, that ship has sailed.
“I can’t…” I shake my head as I trail off, my voice sounding weak and pathetic to my own ears.
I hate that I can’t just get over what happened. I hate that any of them ever touched me. I hate that Mason, Richard, and Tyler still have such a fucking hold on me and make me feel so ashamed about something I didn’t even do that I can’t talk about it with anyone.
Giles, apparently not reading the room, laughs. “What, you didn’t know your little whore slept with my sons and councilman Whelan’s son? I don’t know how you put up with the playing-hard-to-get routine she likes to use. As if she wasn’t begging for it like every other slut.”
The only thing I was begging for was them to stop. To stop touching me. To stop hurting me. To stop making me feel so weak and powerless.
After the first few times, I learned that pleading for it to stop only excited Mason and Richard. Once I realized that, I stayed silent as a small act of rebellion. It pissed them off and gave me a tiny sliver of my power back.
But Rhys and my mates don’t know that. Everyone except Levi, Archer, and Bishop doesn’t know anything about it, because I can’t talk about what happened with anyone. So, all they know is that I supposedly got it on with three dudes at some point, possibly after meeting my mates.
I know it’ll break something inside of me if Luca, Cain, Archer, Legion, and Rhys are angry at me over this. But I can’t force any words past the lump in my throat to defend myself.
Closing my eyes in resignation, I wait for the accusations and insults and disgust. But it never comes.
Instead, I hear a scuffle before Bishop growls, “You absolutely disgusting piece of shit.”
Then I hear crashing noises and what sounds like someone punching someone.
Legion pulls me against his chest and blocks whatever is happening with his broad shoulders. “Do not look,” he whispers into my hair as he holds me close. His strong arms ground me and keep me from shattering into a million pieces as I process everything that happened.
I walked into the council HQ, worried about Lua. It never occurred to me that a secret I had kept for years would come out instead. Part of me had honestly hoped that I could just leave it all in the past and never talk about it again. I suppose that was naïve because everything comes out, eventually.
He doesn’t say anything else, and I can’t help but worry what the hydra is thinking.
“Are you mad at me?” I mumble into Legion’s soft blue shirt as the loud fighting continues behind him.
He freezes before squeezing me tight. “Why would I be upset at you,dimidium animae meae? I do not know the full story, but I can gather that you were not a willing participant in what happened. You did not do anything wrong. I would never be angry at you for how people hurt you. I am, however, furious at those who thought they could touch you without your consent. You can rest assured that I will rain hell down on them and make them beg for a death that will not come.”
His promises of violence on my behalf are weirdly sweet and heartwarming. I’m not sure what that says about me that I find what he said endearing, but oh well. It’s probably the least messed-up thing about me.
“What does that mean? What you called me?” I ask distractedly as my attention keeps getting yanked back to whatever is happening behind Legion.
