Page 49 of Ignited Spirits
As I watch, the storm seems to shrink back into Joseph until the cell looks normal, like nothing out of the ordinary happened inside. “How long were you in there?” I ask.
“Three months.”
I gasp in horror. “Three months? That’s insane.”
I thought they would’ve killed him and been done with it far sooner than three months. The council probably revels in the suffering they cause people like Joseph and my dad, though, so I really shouldn’t be surprised.
“They certainly were trying to drive me insane. Unfortunately for them, I found ways to keep it together just to spite them.” He flashes me a savage grin. “Now, can we get out of here? I’m sick of being locked up.”
“Yeah.” I turn to Mateo. “Can you lead the way?”
He snorts. “Sure. I would’ve thought our savior would know how to navigate a simple prison.”
Mateo walks back out of the cell, and the rest of us follow behind him.
Rolling my eyes, I huff. “I’m fated to stop Lua, not to navigate confusing underground cities. It’s really your fault for making the layout so unintuitive.”
Archer walks up behind me and places his palm on my lower back. I instantly soften at the contact and tip my head up to look at him.
He smiles down at me. “Yeah, it’s totally their fault, sunshine. Don’t feel bad.”
I return his smile. “Thank you, sunny boy.”
“So… how’d you end up with a bunch of shifters as your mates?” Joseph asks conversationally as we wind our way back through the prison.
“I have no idea how I got so lucky.” Because I did. I got so damn lucky to have the five of them as my mates. As much as I fought it at first, I couldn’t imagine anyone else better for me. “Probably the same way I ended up with spirit magic and power from another realm.”
Joseph’s mouth drops open in shock. “What do you mean by another realm?”
“Earth isn’t the only realm out there,” I tell him with a shrug. “Apparently, there are tons of others, but I’ve only ever been toInfernus.Speaking of that, you have two choices. You can chill out here with the jaguars. Or you can follow us toInfernus.It’s up to you.”
Bishop lets out a long-suffering sigh. “Do you think inviting a mage we just met to the realm that’s our only safe haven right now is a good idea?”
I fall back so that I can walk next to him, letting Joseph, Archer, and Levi pass me. “I think it’s a fantastic idea. That’s why I invited him.”
He rolls his eyes at me, and I laugh, enjoying messing with him.
Joseph looks at me over his shoulder, his eyes pinched with worry. “I won’t hurt you guys, and I’d never tell the council where you’re hiding. Anyone who has a problem with the council is fine by me.”
“I know. St. James is just a grumpy old man who has trust issues.” I give Bishop a shit-eating grin. He narrows his eyes at me, which only makes my smile grow.
I hear Bishop grumble something about spanking me later under his breath. Heat rushes to my cheeks because I’m pretty sure Mateo can hear Bishop’s quiet threat. I try to ignore the heat that pools in my core at the thought of his promise because now is so not the time.
Seeming to debate his options, Joseph eventually says, “I think I’ll stay here if they’ll let me. I’m all for traveling, but going to another realm is a lot to wrap my mind around.”
“You get used to it,” I tell him.
A matter of months ago, I never would’ve thought I’d be traveling to another realm, battling the council, or trying to take down a war goddess, but here I am.
We come to a stop at the entrance to the cells. Mateo stares directly into a large circular camera above our heads until the doors chirp and start to slide open. Once we’ve marched out of the lobby and back into the cave, he asks, “How long do you want to stay here, mage?”
Joseph looks helplessly at me.
I sigh. “I don’t really know how long he’ll need to be here. At least until we take down the mage council.”
Mateo nods like that makes sense while Joseph whips around to stare at me in shock. “You’re taking down the whole council?”
“Yep. I don’t have much of a choice at this point. They’re working with a war goddess who lost all her marbles a long time ago, and they’re draining lower mage kids. They have to be stopped.” As much as I’d like someone else to do the stopping, it seems like I’m the only option.
