Page 53 of Shadowed Spirits

I huff a laugh. “So I’ve been told. Usually, it’s not a good thing, though.”

“Maybe you should take some of the wise advice you dish out. You’re perfect as you are, Izzy. All the rough edges, prickly thorns, and soft and mushy heart you try to hide included.” His lips lift on one side as he tilts my chin to give me a sweet peck on the lips.

I blush at the compliment. “Tell anyone I have a heart and I’ll have to stab you,” I threaten him half-heartedly.

“That’s my girl.” He pulls me into his side and gives me a smile so full of warmth, I feel like I’m basking in pure sunshine. “So, eel or stingray?”

I laugh, the sound more carefree than it’s been in a long time. “Manatee.” We spend another few hours walking around the night market, with Archer making everyone play This or That. My stomach aches from how hard I’m laughing, and my cheekshurt from my constant smile. Spending my birthday with my mates has made this the best one I’ve ever had.

All six of us have our broken and jagged parts that hurt anyone who gets too close. But, somehow, all of our sharp edges fit together perfectly. Like fucked-up puzzle pieces, we find our home in each other. It’s a gift I never thought I’d live long enough or have the luxury to experience. Now that I have it, Lua, the mage council, and anyone else will have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands if they want to take it from me.

CHAPTER 28

LUCA

“Hopefully this cave will have something in it, unlike the other eight million ones we’ve combed through,” Izzy grumbles. My lips twitch up at her disgruntled, half-asleep voice. Over the past few days, I’ve learned that my little mate is allergic to early mornings and is adorably grumpy when she has to get up before six.

Yesterday, we crossed off Siberia and Colorado, and today, we’re starting with the mountain location in Chile before moving on to Italy. Thus far, we haven’t found anything useful. We’re all hoping today will be different.

“I’m sure it will, sunshine,” Archer attempts to soothe. All it earns him is a glare from Izzy, whose narrowed storm gray eyes are shaded from the early morning sun by her hood. Since it’s summer here, the mountains aren’t terribly cold. There’s still enough chill at the beginning of the day to warrant at least a jacket.

Our boots crunch across the green grass dotting the mountainside as we trek in relative silence toward the coordinates. We’re all lost in our thoughts, and Izzy’s looking around at the granite peaks, mountain lakes, and vast meadowswith awe. I have to admit that the mountain landscape is breathtaking, but I’m too deep in my head to appreciate it fully.

Archer didn’t know, but I could hear his entire conversation with Izzy at the night market. I didn’t realize how much pain he’d been carrying around for the past five years. It makes me a lousy older brother that I never knew he blamed himself for what happened and had been trying to make up for it.

I can only vaguely recall yelling at him for skipping patrol that night, but it was only because I had spent the whole night thinking I lost him. When I saw him alive and well, I should’ve hugged him and told him what he meant to me. Instead, I was a selfish prick and screamed at him because it was easier to have someone to blame other than myself for what happened. I never apologized for and had all but forgotten about it until Archer brought it up to Izzy.

The next couple of years, I wasn’t much of a brother to him. But he was there for everything Cain and I needed, even when we were never there for him. He’s had the thankless task of supporting everyone around him and never once asked for any support in return. I’ve continued to think of him as my lovable but irresponsible younger brother without stopping to really see the man he’s become. Archer has earned a hell of a lot more respect than I’ve given him, and I owe him an apology.

I’m ashamed to say that, in the last five years, I’ve only remembered his birthday once, even though he always makes a big deal out of mine and Cain’s birthdays. But that’s going to change. A lot’s going to change because my little brother deserves more from all of us. Izzy’s known him for the shortest time, yet she’s the only one who’s seen the real Archer that the rest of us have missed behind his easygoing smile.

For the past day, I’ve been trying to find time to talk to him, but we’re constantly moving from one problem to another. The next opening I get, I’m going to begin setting things right withArcher. I know it’s going to take more than one conversation to make it up to him, but I have to start somewhere.

The feeling of failing him sits heavy on my shoulders and leaves a bitter taste in the back of my mouth, but I don’t have time to dwell on it right now. We’ve reached the opening to yet another cave. I’m the first one through. Unlike the other ones, it doesn’t open into a cavern. Instead, it’s a narrow passageway that’s only barely wide enough for me to fit through. Even then, I still have to duck my head to fit.

Gray, roughhewn rock makes up the walls, and black pebbles dot the floor, some of them crushed under semi-regular traffic. I hope animals are the only ones who routinely use this cave because I don’t want to run into anyone else out here. It’s already hard enough to protect my little mate as it is, with everyone under the sun gunning for her. Combined with her stubborn streak, self-sacrificing nature, and unwillingness to accept help, keeping her safe is nearly impossible. I wouldn’t trade it for the world, though. Izzy is worth all the headaches and worrying I do about her.

I stop walking and idly trace the dark green moss that forms a patchy covering on one wall. I’m trying to figure out what the best course of action is. Izzy bumps into my back and lets out a cute little squeak. Spinning around, I grab her arms before she can fall on her ass. “Careful, wildcat.”

“I wouldn’t have to be careful if you didn’t stop suddenly.” She attempts to cross her arms, but I’m still holding on to her so she can’t. I smirk at her, and she sticks her tongue out at me in retaliation.

I chuckle before leaning in close. My breath feathers over her ear, and she shivers. “Careful sticking that tongue at me, Izzy. Do it again, and I’ll find a better use for it.”

She scoffs. “Oh, yeah? And what’s this ‘better use’?”

Tunneling my fingers into her hair, I bend her neck back until she’s forced to look up at me. “Licking my cock as I fuck your mouth.”

Her eyes widen, and a flush creeps up her cheeks. She stares at me with her pupils blown but doesn’t say anything. Her obvious arousal at my threat makes me rock hard. My wolf is trying to take control so we can fuck her here and now and prove to her we’re a worthy mate. I grit my teeth as I hold him back, but I’m pretty sure my eyes are pure amber at this point.

“What’s the holdup?” Bishop calls from the back of the line, breaking the moment between us.

I close my eyes briefly to gather myself. “The opening to the cave must be farther down,” I holler back. “If we want to try to find the meeting spot, we have to go down the narrow passage single file.”

Bishop frowns as he scoots past Levi and Cain to get a better look at the cave entrance. “I… don’t like anything about that.”

Izzy snorts. “You don’t like anything about this whole thing, because I’m here instead of safe and sound at home.”

“Your point?” Bishop asks with an arched brow.

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