Page 2 of Ignited Spirits
Already knowing what my choice is, I wordlessly push to my feet. Bishop’s arms fall away, and he makes no move to stop me. Looking around the shiny black rock cave, it takes me a moment before I spot Archer’s translucent ghost crouched down by his body. The spirit is huddled up in a ball, which must be why I missed him earlier.
Without conscious thought, I open a portal to the ledge Archer’s on. Stepping through, I don’t even try to fight the tears that start up again when I see the mangled and bloody mess of Archer’s chest. I drop to my knees again and cradle his head in my lap, brushing his sweaty blond hair off his forehead.
His face looks surprisingly peaceful despite all that happened. Glancing over to the right, I see Archer’s spirit with his knees tucked against his chest and his arms wrapped around his legs. He’s staring off into the distance blankly as he rocks back and forth, not seeming to have any idea that I’m right here.
I think it’s safe to say that Lua damaged his soul as well as his heart, based on the state he’s in. Fury burns like acid through my veins at the thought of the cause of all this heartache.
She made a massive mistake going after one of my mates. Before, I felt like it was an obligation to stop her from destroying the world. No one else was going to do it, so I had to. Now, however, it’s fucking personal. I will hunt her to the ends of this world and every other one. When I find her, I’ll tear her apart piece by piece until she can never hurt anyone again. The only way I’ll stop is when one of us is dead.
Gritting my teeth, I focus back on the here and now. Helping Archer takes priority. My revenge can wait. “How do I grab his spirit?” I rasp, my voice roughened by my tears.
“Wrap your magic around his soul,”Bear whispers in my mind.“That will keep it from traveling to the next life.”
I blow out a breath, since I’ve never tried to capture a spirit before. Usually, I just pour my magic into a ghost, and it heals them without me having to do much. I have no clue how to lasso a spirt, but I guess I’m about to figure it out.
Stretching out a hand to Archer’s soul, I picture my power flowing out and gently wrapping around him. Swirling blue-and-purple magic shoots out from me to wind around Archer. His spirit doesn’t show any reaction to my magic. I’m unsure if that’s a good sign or a bad one.
“What are you doing?” Luca’s gravelly voice calls up from the cavern floor.
Swallowing hard, I gently lay Archer back down and stand. I make sure to keep my magic securely around Archer’s spirit. Walking to the edge, I peer over, expecting Luca’s face to be contorted in rage that I’m up here with his little brother. Instead, his expression is disturbingly blank.
My heart aches for Luca. I rub a hand over my breastbone, trying to make it hurt a little less. “I’m saving Archer.”
Luca’s eyes widen and fill with hope for a split second. Then he shutters his expression and narrows his gaze on me. “How? We all saw what happened. No shifter can come back from that.”
“Mycuramagic and the River Styx will be able to heal him. I just have to get him and his spirit toInfernus.” That’s easier said than done. I’m using a considerable amount of magic just keeping his spirit with us. I have no clue how I’m going to get all of us to the Styx, but I’ll figure it out.
Luca shoves to his feet, his hands balled into fists and his face set in a mask of determination. “If you really think you can bring him back, then I want to help. What do I need to do?” He lifts his chin, wordlessly daring me to try to keep him out of this.
I wouldn’t dream of it.
“I could use someone to carry Archer. I don’t want to risk my hold on his spirit.” Although, I’ll have to be the one to open the rift toInfernus. With Levi still passed out cold on the floor, I’m the only one who can do it. “And can someone carry Levi?”
“On it,” Luca growls. He starts scanning the cave for something, likely a way to get up to this ledge.
I’m about to open a portal for him when Bishop lets out a tired sigh, just about as done with today as the rest of us. “Here.” A portal ringed in Bishop’s blue magic springs to life in front of Luca.
Nodding gratefully at Bishop, Luca steps through the portal and out onto the already crowded ledge. I flatten myself against the rough stone wall as Luca bends down to carefully lift his brother into his arms. He turns and strides back through the portal to the lower level without saying a word.
I’m moving to walk back, too, when Cer rumbles,“You need to bring his heart. Creating a whole new one is much more difficult than repairing an existing one.”
My stomach lurches at the thought of having to touch a human heart, but I’m willing to do anything for Archer. Steelingmyself, I bend down and scoop his mangled heart up in my hand. It leaks blood down my arms and squishes between my fingers.
I gag but forcefully shove down the bile that’s trying to come up. We don’t have time for me to be squeamish right now. I’ve wasted enough time as it is.
Shaking my head at myself, I pull on my magic containing Archer’s spirit. It easily lifts the ghost, who doesn’t seem to notice that he’s moving.
Going through the portal, I walk out on the main floor with Archer’s spirit floating behind me. Cerberus gives me an approving nod when they see that I have his ghost firmly tethered.
Cain has Levi slung over his shoulder. Concern bubbles up at the fact that Levi is still unconscious as I wonder if Lua did more serious damage than we can see. The thought of Lua also taking Levi from me is too much for me to handle right now, so I shove the worry to the back of my mind.
If Levi does have any damage,Infernusis the best place for him, anyway.
“Everyone ready to go?” I ask. I try to force my voice to be strong, but it sounds weak and thready, even to me.
“Ready to go, angel,” Cain responds softly.
“Ready,” Luca agrees.
