Veiled Spirits

“I know because of my non-demonic powers, wolf. It’s the Power Play Arcade in Lockwood, isn’t it?” Levi raises one black brow at Archer, daring him to disagree.

Archer turns wide eyes to Levi. He opens and closes his mouth a few times, trying to figure out what to say. “It is. Holy fuck. That’s some creepy-ass shit right there, demon eyes.”

I also turn to Levi and see him fighting a grin. “Why do I have the feeling you like fucking with people, demon boy?”

Levi’s eyes dance with mirth, and he gives me a shrug. “If you’re done with your dramatics, wolf, shall we go to the arcade?”

Archer sputters at being called dramatic, but he can’t help his smile at the banter. Without another backward glance, Archer walks into the portal and disappears.

“Why are your portals different than normal, screech owl?”

“That’s a conversation better had when we’re not at school, little raven.” He offers me his hand, and I take it. We walk through the portal together. Only, this time, I don’t feel like I’m falling. I don’t feel the normal sticky air surrounding and coating me, either. Instead, I just feel like I’m walking in the hallway. It’s only the bright, flashing lights and games galore that let me know we’re no longer at school.

Before I can ask Levi about that wild portal experience, Archer snags my free hand and pulls me along after him. He animatedly talks to me about the music playing and every game we pass until we reach the bumper cars. Even Levi joins us. I laugh so hard while we’re in the bumper cars that it feels like I’m going to puke and cry at the same time.

The crazy laughter doesn’t end for the entire time we’re at the arcade. Archer delights in showing me his favorite games, playing laser tag, and racing go-karts. He’s happy to include Levi. Laughing and playing silly arcade games and gorging myself on junk food for hours straight with two of my mates heals something in me I never thought would be whole again.

Before I know it, the arcade closes, and we’re kicked out. I don’t how we managed to spend so much time just goofing around, but I enjoyed the time not thinking about everything that happened earlier. I know it’s all going to hit me when I’m alone in my room, trying—and failing—to fall asleep.

Maybe Bishop will let me sleep over tonight. I’ve spent the night with him every time Mason and Richard tried something. Bishop wrapping me up in his protective embrace all night allows me to sleep without being bombarded by the memories. I’m sure Bishop has noticed that I cry myself to sleep every time I sleep over, but he never pushes me to talk about it. Bishop always knows exactly what I need even before I do.

“Is it okay if we head to Bishop’s place?” I ask Levi as he prepares to open a portal to take me home. He gives me a questioning look. “I don’t think I can sleep alone tonight.”

Levi’s eyes soften in understanding. “I can do that, little raven.” When he opens the portal, he reaches out his hand for me. I grab his with one hand and Archer’s with the other. Hopefully, Archer won’t feel like he’s tumbling from the top of a roller coaster if he holds on to me while I hold on to Levi.

We step out of the portal in front of a three-story, red-brick building. The bottom floor houses several small businesses, like a candle shop, a specialty grocer, and a boutique. Bishop converted the top two floors to apartments. Although there are four lofts available, Bishop is the only one who lives there. He doesn’t need the income from renting the other spaces, so Bishop would rather have the peace and quiet of living alone.

I guide Archer and Levi around the back to the stairs that lead up to the second floor. Once we’re at the top, I knock on Bishop’s door.

CHAPTER 23

BISHOP

Icollapse onto my bed, not caring about my damp hair getting my pillow wet. I’m exhausted from yet another day at Elemental, followed by working for the Nightshade Pack all evening. At least I don’t have an operation tonight. Though I’m drained from the long days and nights, I would do this for the rest of my life to protect Izzy.

If only the stubborn woman would mate with me, it would be ten times easier to protect her. When mages merge power to complete the mate bond, it allows mages to know where their mate is at all times. Plus, it would allow me to send her extra magic remotely if she ever drains herself, which, knowing Izzy, is always a possibility. She’s incredibly reckless with her own safety.

I’m only lying on my bed for a minute before I hear a knock on my front door. Groaning, I want to ignore it. It’s probably work related. Knowing I have to answer, I mutter, “Circumspicere,” to bring up the mage camera at the front door. I like to know what I’m walking into before actually answering.

A live image of Izzy, Archer, and Levi standing there causes me to bolt upright in bed. If Izzy is here this late, something happened. Izzy hasn’t asked to sleep over in probably six months.

She won’t talk to me about what happens to make her spend the night when she’s usually so against sleeping over. She won’t tell me what makes her cry herself to sleep. She won’t let me in, and I hate it.

Grabbing my jeans from the floor, I pull them on as fast as possible. I don’t bother with the button as I’m rushing to the door to see what she needs.

When I unlock and pull open my front door, I’m greeted with Izzy’s gray eyes haunted with sadness and pain. Rage simmers in my chest at whoever put that anguish in her gaze. When she finally tells me who it is, I’m going to enjoy slowly and agonizingly killing them.

“Can I spend the night, St. James?” Izzy’s voice is small and unsure as she meets my eyes hesitantly.

I stuff down all the rage and plaster a non-threatening smile on my face. Izzy doesn’t need to know about that violent part of me. She needs me to be calm and stable for her. “Of course, sweetheart. You want Arch and Levi to stay?”

Izzy bites her lip in indecision. She flicks her gaze between her other two men before landing on Levi. “It’s up to you, little raven. Whatever you need.”

Then she looks to Archer. “Yeah, sunshine. I’m happy to stay or go. It’s your choice.”

She meets my eyes again. “You really don’t mind?”

“Not at all, sweetheart.” I open the door wider and let her, Archer, and Levi in. While I’ve gotten to know Archer pretty well over the years, Levi is a wild card. There’s something about him that’s not quite right. As long as he treats Izzy well, I won’t dig into whatever Levi is hiding.