Page 37 of Shadowed Spirits

“How? What?” Dad trails off before finishing his thought, seeming lost on how to respond.

“Oh, it was super simple. I just had my mate from another realm use his fancycuramagic, and all my problems weresolved. Easy as that.” I dust off my hands in awell, that’s thatgesture.

“Did you just say from another realm?” Rhys asks from behind Dad. While Rhys is just as tall as my dad and has the same dark brown hair and hazel eyes, he’s a bit less muscular. He’s still pretty huge, though.

“I’m pretty sure she did, brotato chip.” Aiden thumps Rhys on the back and gets a dirty look in return. His gray eyes that match mine and Mom’s crinkle in mirth.

Oh, good. Both of my brothers are here for this rapidly devolving conversation.

This whole discussion is giving me a headache. I close my eyes and rub my temples, trying to find the magic words to get my family off my case. Unfortunately, I’ve never been great with words, so the only thing I can give them is the partial truth.

I sigh. “Look. I’ve had a long couple days, and I really don’t want to have to defend my choices to everyone. Were they the right choices? I don’t know, honestly, but I did my best to do what I thought was right. We’re only here because I need to know Doyle’s schedule, and I thought it’d be nice for Gran to see everyone.” I gesture behind me at Gran. Everyone stares at her in confusion, since she’s still in her Melinoe form. “You can feel free to voice your objections until the cows come home, but it won’t change anything. All it does it make me feel like shit when I’m trying.” My voice breaks on the last word, and I close my eyes in embarrassment.

I hate sharing my feelings, but I’m still reeling from everything myself. I just don’t have the bandwidth to argue with my family right now.

When I finish talking, I expect the room to explode in my family shouting over each other to tell me what a bad decision it is to confront Doyle again. I mean, I agree with them, but we don’t have any other choice.

Instead, the room is silent as my family stares at me with varying levels of concern. My mom looks like she’s close to tears, Dad looks regretful, and Aiden and Rhys look very confused.

Dad blows out a harsh breath. “I know you’re trying, honey. We all do. We just love you so much and don’t ever want to see you hurt. I’m sorry you’ve had a rough couple days. We can’t know if you don’t tell us, though.”

I let my head droop down because he’s right. “I know. I just don’t want you guys involved in all this.”

“Like it or not, we’re automatically involved in anything you are because we’re family. As much as you wish you could, you can’t keep us safe from everything, Iz. Keeping us safe also isn’t your job.” Dad puts his hand on my shoulder and squeezes me comfortingly.

“It’s my job when I’m the one who puts you in danger.” My family can protest all they want, but we all know that I put them in exponentially more danger just by existing. I’m trying to believe Bishop when he says everyone wouldn’t be better off without all my problems, but it can be hard most days.

Perhaps sensing my turbulent emotions, Cerberus enters the room and makes a beeline for me, their nails clacking as they go. They jump to put their front paws up on my lower leg, their tail wagging as they do so. With a slight smile, I crouch down to pet them, appreciating their attempts at comforting me.

Before Dad can respond, Aiden jumps in, his gaze firmly on my familiar. “Am I seeing things, or is there a three-headed Chihuahua sitting at your feet, sis?”

I snort. “You’re not seeing things. That’s Cerberus. They’re myfamiliaris, which is apparently a familiar forcura.”

Aiden stares at them with his jaw on the floor. “Cerberus? As in the three-headed guardian of Hell?”

“Yep. But don’t worry. They’re chill unless you piss them off, or if you’re a stag. Those are their favorite treats.” At least, Ithink they’re mostly chill. I’m actually not sure, since I’ve only known them for a day.

“Or if he threatens you,”Cer interjects.“We have no qualms eating mortals.”

I choke on a laugh at how serious he is, but I shake my head at them. “As much as he annoys me, please don’t eat my brother.” Things I never thought I’d have to say for five hundred.

“As you wish,sagana.”Bear dips his head, and the three of them go back to standing on the floor.

Aiden snorts. “How exactly would a Chihuahua eat me?” Cerberus lets out a cute little Chihuahua bark before growing into his rottweiler form. All three heads growl menacingly at Aiden. He backs up a few steps until he stumbles into Rhys. “So, I guess they’re not a Chihuahua all the time. I won’t hurt my sister. I’d rather die than let any harm come to her, so we won’t have any problems.”

A pit forms in my stomach at his words. I’ll do anything in my power to stop Aiden or any of my family or mates from ever getting hurt, especially on my account. Clenching my jaw, I try to shove my worry for everyone out of my mind. There’s nothing I can do about it all right now. I stroke one hand through Cerberus’s surprisingly soft fur to calm down.

I have to swallow around the lump in my throat a few times before I can get any words out. “Yeah. His normal form is, like, twenty-five-feet tall, so he can definitely fuck you up.” I turn back to my dad. “Do you have Doyle’s schedule? We need to… talk with him.”

Talk with him, beat him up, same thing, really. While Dad doesn’t like the council, I’m pretty sure he still doesn’t want to hear about any violence toward them.

Dad arches an eyebrow skeptically at me. “I don’t want to know what your plans are, do I?”

I give him a rueful smile and shake my head. “Not even slightly.”

He sighs. “Doyle upped security yesterday. I didn’t know why, but I assume you’re the reason. The only time you’ll have any privacy with him in the short term is probably tomorrow at the council meeting. I can keep the others busy for a little while, which will give you time to get in and out fast.”

Dad would probably be correct on us being the cause, but that opens a whole other can of worms. How did Doyle remember any of it to up his security? Since there weren’t a bunch of council guards staking out our house or my family arrested and thrown in mage jail, I have to assume he doesn’t remember the spirit mage part.

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