Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30

IZZY

" W hat is he?" Rhys whispers from behind me as we watch Levi remove the wolf's memories with morbid fascination.

Mage memory reading is an invisible process that's pretty quick. It certainly doesn't involve a black mist and the person getting their memories removed writhing on the ground.

I shrug and realize I'm still holding my favorite blade. Her name's Olga, and she's beautiful. The knife has a wicked-looking curved blade, with a silver skull on a torch as the hilt. The dagger has apparently been in my mom's family for a while. When I started going on super-secret spy missions with Rhys and Bishop, Mom gifted her to me.

How do I get my blade back home? Conjuring is definitely not a mage skill. Mages can't just pull things from other places. While mages can shape their raw magic more than, say, shifters or vampires, we're still limited in what our magic can do. Every mage, other than me, can't make something out of nothing or transport anything without a portal.

That's the problem with my weird magic. It does things on its own that I have no idea how to do when it goes away.

Shaking my head, because I always have more questions than answers when it comes to my magic, I open a portal to my room behind me. As I step through, I hear Luca call, "Where are you going?"

My lips twitch up into a smirk at riling up Luca as I walk through the portal without answering him. I let it close behind me as I walk over to my desk to put Olga in her drawer. Why, yes, she does have her own drawer. She's special like that.

Being alone for the first time since I woke up, everything is trying to slam into me like a five-mile-long freight train. But I definitely don't have time to panic about everything that's gone horribly wrong since last night. Or what I assume was last night. I'm not actually sure how long I was out.

Shoving all my feelings into a dark corner of my mind, I try to blank my face as I open a portal back to the dining room. When I step through the rip in time, I come face-to-face with a very angry alpha wolf. Luca has crossed around the table to stand where I was before I portaled back to my room.

Peering around Luca, I don't see the wolf who tried his luck with me. Levi must've dealt with him while I was in my room.

"Where the fuck did you go?" Luca hisses at me as he steps into my space. He leans down until his lips are inches from mine, and his aquamarine eyes try to stare into my soul. Good fucking luck finding it, my dude. I'm pretty sure I was born without a soul. In its place is a pit of pure snark.

"To my room, wolf boy. Calm the fuck down." Does saying calm down actually make anyone calmer? Probably not, but Luca getting up in my space is pissing me off. Or it could be all the feelings I refuse to deal with coming out, but who knows, really.

"How am I supposed to be calm when you disappear to who knows where? What if you got hurt or needed us?"

Ah, shit. Now I know exactly why Luca is upset, and I feel a little bad. I did just almost die on him. I'd be pretty anxious if the roles were reversed, and he disappeared without a word.

Rubbing my hands over my face, I blow out a breath. "I'm sorry." Luca's blond brows jump at my apology, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes at him. "I am capable of apologizing and admitting when I'm wrong, wolf boy."

"I know. I guess I just expected more of a fight." Luca settles his hands on my waist as we talk. I want to lean into his touch, but I'm still not on board with the whole mating thing. It's still more likely than not that I'll die. I don't want to take them down with me.

"I can argue with you if you want."

Luca lets out a rare laugh, and I fight the smile that's trying to break out at his joy. "I'm good, wildcat."

"Are you two lovebirds done over there? 'Cause I'd really like to eat sometime in this century," Aiden calls. I peer around Luca to glare at my annoying brother. Aiden just grins at me.

Stepping out of Luca's hold, I walk over to my brother and flick him in the pec. He yelps, and I smile sweetly at him. "You're such a dick, Aiden."

Aiden snorts and gives me a quick hug. "I'm glad you're okay, Izzy." He sounds a little choked up, which is rare for my goofy brother. I squeeze him back hard to reassure him that I'm fine.

After I pull out of Aiden's hug, I go over to Rhys next. He ruffles my hair and then hugs me tight. "You scared us, Iz."

"I'm sorry," I say for what feels like the millionth time. It comes out a little muffled because my face is smooshed into Rhys's chest.

"Just take one of us with you next time, okay?" Rhys peers down at me with hazel eyes that shine with concern.

Seeing how worried my family was makes a lump form in my throat. "I can do that." Rhys holds me for another moment before thoroughly messing up my hair. I glare daggers at him, and he laughs at me.

Brothers are the worst.

I walk over to my dad next. He's the same height as Rhys, with brown hair just a touch darker and hazel eyes a bit greener. My dad is also a little more muscular than my oldest brother. He can be super intimidating when he wants to be. Right now, my dad is just watching me with worry in his gaze.

I walk up to him hesitantly, unsure whether he's mad at me. "Hi, Dad." I stare at his shiny black dress shoes that match his slacks to avoid meeting his gaze.

My dad is silent for a beat at my hesitation before pulling me into his arms. I lay my head on his gray dress shirt and soak up the comfort. "Hey, sweetie. I hope you know you can always come to me if you need help. I'll help you, no questions asked. I'll even handle your mom for you."

"Sean!" my mom says in exasperation. A small giggle slips out at their dynamic.

"I know, Dad. I just didn't want to bother you. You have so much on your plate." My dad works around the clock at the council. He's always trying to help the lower mages, and I don't want to take his attention away from that.

"You're never a bother, Izzy. I always have time for my favorite daughter."

I snort. "I'm your only daughter."

Dad grins down at me. He hugs me tight for a moment before stepping back. "Be that as it may, I'll always have time for you. My job will never be more important than my family," my dad finishes seriously.

I nod at my dad before changing the subject because I don't do well with mushy feelings. "We should probably sit down for dinner before not-your-favorite son expires of hunger."

"Hey! I'm totally the favorite. I'm fucking delightful, unlike you two losers," Aiden informs me and Rhys with a huff.

"Language, Aiden Michael," my mom chastises, like he hasn't been swearing since he could talk.

I chuckle as I take a seat at the absurdly large table. My mom sits to my left and Levi sits to my right. The wolves, Bishop, and Rhys are on the other side, with Luca directly opposite me. Dad sits next to Mom, and Aiden sits next to Levi.

When everyone's seated, I take in the bone china plates, expensive linen napkins, and probably real silver cutlery. Combined with the huge wood table, tufted cream high-back chairs, and the gold chandelier dripping with what I hope are crystals and not diamonds, the whole room screams money.

"This is a fancy-ass dining room you've got, wolf boy." Luca's lips twitch, but he shuts his smile down and narrows his eyes at me. I grin at him because I've got his number. He totally finds me funny, even if he doesn't want to show it.

"Izzy!" my mom hisses as she nudges me with a bony elbow.

"What?"

"Be polite! You want to make a good impression."

I can't contain my laugh. "Oh, come on, Mom. Have you met me? I don't make a good impression on anyone. Wolf boy over there knows exactly what to expect when it comes to me. For some unknown reason, he's not running for the hills yet. There's still time for him to change his mind, though."

I try to be flippant about the possibility of any of my mates deciding I'm not worth it. But the thought feels like a dagger ripping through my heart.

"I won't ever change my mind, wildcat," Luca tells me seriously.

"Bold words for a wolf who has no idea what he's getting into with me." I still don't think the wolves quite grasp just how dangerous being with me is. They also don't know about all of my freaky extra abilities.

"You could drag me to the depths of hell, and I'd happily follow, Izzy. I don't care where we are or what we're doing, I just want to be with you." The conviction in Luca's tropical ocean gaze never wavers as he stares me down.

Fuck me, man . Who the hell let Luca be so damn sweet, my teeth ache? I'd like the raging asshole I first met back, please. He's much less dangerous to my secretly sappy little heart than this version of Luca.

I look away first and stare down at the cream-and-gold napkins like they're the most interesting thing ever.

I'm saved from any more conversation by a few wolves striding into the room with huge platters of food. There's a gigantic ham, gravy, a variety of salads, mashed potatoes, rolls, green beans, and more. They set the mouthwatering spread on the table before leaving back the way they came.

We all serve ourselves from the communal food dishes. I've just shoved a delicious bite of ham, smothered in gravy, into my mouth when Bishop asks, "So, when are we breaking into the council headquarters?"