Page 9 of Shadowed Spirits

I huff at Bishop but turn back around because he’s right. I did promise to try this whole teamwork thing.

“I’m not provoking her,” Luca grumbles.

I grin and stick my tongue out at him because he totally got called out too. He just rolls his aquamarine eyes before facing forward again. We walk silently for another minute until we come to a stop at a grassy area in front of a pitch-black river. Only, the grass is neon purple instead of green. The bright plant life reminds me of the spirit realm, which seems a little ominous.

Dragging my gaze from the river, I look up and up and up at a massive castle made entirely out of obsidian. The shiny black stone seems to glow from within, casting a soft purple light across the river that I’m just now realizing is a moat.

I wander closer to the river that’s probably fifty feet wide, pulled in by an invisible force, as I call over my shoulder, “How are we going to get across?”

“The ferryman will take us.” Levi’s voice sounds kind of far away, but I don’t pay much attention to it, as I’m transfixed by the river that I swear is whispering to me. I reach out a hand to touch it when Levi’s voice lashes out like a whip. “Don’t! Don’t touch the river, Isabel! It can kill you.”

His panicked shout breaks me from my trance. I shake my head to clear it as I stand back up to head a safe distance away from the creepy river. Taking a step away, my foot slips on the slick purple grass, propelling me back at the jet-black waters. Myarms windmill as I try to regain my balance, but it’s no use as I fall backward.

Oh fuck.This is how I die, isn’t it?

My terrified gaze meets Levi’s. His mouth is open on a shout I don’t hear as I close my eyes and brace myself for impact.

CHAPTER 6

IZZY

Strong arms wrap around me before I have a chance to touch the probably frigid waters of the river. “Careful, littlecura,” a deep voice rasps behind me. I wilt in relief against a hard chest as I try to calm my racing heart before stiffening as I realize I’m being held by a stranger.

Levi sprints over and pulls me from the stranger’s arms to crush me to his chest. I breathe in his brimstone and magic scent as I try to calm my heart frantically thudding in my chest. Levi turns me around so my back is to his front. “Fuck, Onyx. If I didn’t owe you my life before, I certainly do now for saving my mate.”

I get my first good look at the stranger. He’s as tall as Levi, but he’s slightly less muscular, at least as far as I can see through his floor-length black cloak. Onyx has navy hair that waves around his angular face and sharp jaw, and his eyes are an electric blue, seeming to be lit by a perpetual glow. His lips are quirked up in a half smile as he looks between Levi and me. “Mate, huh? The waters of the Styx wouldn’t have hurt the littlecura, even with how young she is. The earthly creatures, on the other hand, should avoid falling in. You owe me nothing, Leviathan.”

“Cura? Are you sure?” I try to twist to see Levi’s face, since he seems pretty concerned about me being acura, whatever that is. But his arms are like steel bands holding me in place. With a huff, I give up and lean against his muscular chest.

Onyx chuckles. “Very.”

“What’s acura?” I’ve never heard of that type of magical species before. Although, if they’re from another realm, it makes sense why I haven’t.

“Curaeare guardians of the realms. And you being one certainly explains some things.” Levi finally releases his iron hold on me to gesture between Onyx and me. “And this is Isabel Gallagher, my mate. Izzy, this is Onyx, one of my oldest friends. His father, Charon, is usually in charge of ferrying people over. Where is he, anyway?”

My eyebrows raise at Levi casually mentioning the mythical ferryman of the underworld like it’s no big deal. Apparently, Hades rules this realm, and Charon helps people cross the River Styx. Is everything from legend true? I sure hope not, because most of the gods and goddesses from myth are mildly horrible people who have the emotional maturity of a stale cracker.

Before I can ask about it, Cain sweeps me into his arms and holds me to him. After a long moment, he pulls back to look at me with concern written all over his face. “Be more careful in the future, angel, okay?”

“Okay,” I whisper, hating that I worried them by being a clumsy idiot.

“Congratulations, Leviathan. And it’s a pleasure to meet you, Izzy. Dad’s taking Mom on a tour of the realms now that Nova’s grown up. You would think, with sixteen children, she’d be a little less heartbroken about her youngest moving out.” While Onyx’s tone is exasperated, his mouth is tipped up in a small grin. It’s clear he loves his parents and isn’t anywhere near as put out as he’s trying to seem. “But she was pretty bummedabout being an empty nester, so Vesper, Nico, and I are rotating crossing duty until they get back.”

“Your parents have sixteen children?” I squeak in surprise. I can’t imagine being responsible for one kid, let alone an entire hockey team.

He tilts his head curiously at me. “Yeah. Do your parents not have a similar number of children?”

“Hell no. My two brothers and I are way more than enough trouble for my poor mom.” Let’s be honest here. I cause pretty much all the trouble for her. If I were the firstborn, she’d probably have given up on having any more kids.

“Most families here are as large as Onyx’s, since people from this realm live so long,” Levi explains before turning, glancing back at his friend. “Izzy’s from the mortal realm. She didn’t grow up here.”

Onyx’s mouth parts in shock. “What? How?”

“That’s one of the many things I’m trying to figure out.” Levi’s forehead is wrinkled in concern, and his eyes are pinched from the strain of the shit show that is my life. “I’m hoping my brother will have some answers.”

“Does he know you’re coming?” Onyx asks.

Levi flashes him a wide, mischievous smile. “Nope.” Butterflies swarm in my stomach from seeing this side of Levi. He’s always so serious that I like seeing him carefree with one of his friends.

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