Chapter 38

" I t's way too early to be awake," Archer grumbles as he sleepily stares at his plate of eggs, sausage, and bacon.

"It's seven-thirty, sunny boy. It's really not that early." I hold in my laugh at the glare he gives me. I've got class in half an hour. Even though I told my mates they don't have to get up when I do, they all insisted. So, we're eating breakfast together in the Nightshade's dining room.

It's been three days since we broke into the council. I've been staying at the Nightshade pack house with all of my mates this weekend. I didn't want to be alone after the emotional roller coaster Friday was. Being alone with my thoughts is dangerous right now.

I thought my anger would've cooled over the weekend, but it hasn't. If anything, I've just gotten angrier at the council and mages as a whole. Somehow, I have to spend all day around the snobby mages at school and not murder any of them.

Speaking of the time, I should probably get going. I shove one last bite of yogurt into my mouth before I grab my backpack under my chair and stand up. When I turn around, I bump into Luca. "Be safe today, wildcat." Luca wraps me up in a hug, holding me tight, like he's worried something bad will happen.

"I'm just going to school, wolf boy. I'll be fine." I'm not sure if my soft words reassure him, but Luca reluctantly lets me go after a moment.

Archer, Cain, and Bishop all give me hugs as well. Their casual affection and concern for my well-being make my insides feel like goo. My secret sappy side laps it up, while I try to play it cool on the outside. I know I'm fighting a losing battle to resist my mates, but I also know it's safer for them not to mate me. My heart and mind are at war, and I don't know which one I want to prevail.

Shaking my head at my thoughts, I walk over to Levi. He's portaling us to school. We're heading to his office, so no one sees us arrive together. Dean Murphy would probably love to know I've spent the weekend with one of my instructors. I'm pretty sure that sleeping in the same bed as a teacher violates HGU's code of conduct, so Dean Murphy would take great joy in expelling me.

"Ready to go?" Levi asks as I reach him. I give him a nod, and he holds out his hand for me to take. Once my hand is in his, Levi walks through the portal and tugs me along behind him. I'm not sure I'll ever get used to his weird portals. They don't feel like anything. No stickiness, no thick air, no gooey feeling. It's just like walking in a normal room. Only, one second, we're in the dining room, and the next, we're in Levi's impersonal office.

"Thanks for the lift, screech owl."

"Anytime. Where's your ghost?" Levi perches on the edge of his desk and watches me with his otherworldly black-and-red eyes.

I shrug. "Hell if I know. Aggie does whatever the fuck she wants."

"Can you call her to you? I'd feel better if you had her just in case today." Levi is staring at me with worry in his eyes, so I can't help but want to reassure him.

"Yeah, I can do that. Everything's going to be fine, though. No one saw us on Friday." I pull on my magic that connects me to Aggie.

Aggie poofs into the room with a confused expression on her face. She looks around and lets out a small squeak when she sees Levi. "Kid, why'd you pull me to tall, dark, and scary's office?"

I snort. "He's not that scary, Aggie. I'm at least fifty-four-percent positive he won't hurt you."

"That's not reassuring, kid!"

"Simmer down, ghost. Little raven likes you. I'm not a danger to you, as long as you stay on her good side. If you hurt her? Well, now, that's a different story." Levi lets the red rings consume his irises as he threatens Aggie. It's unnecessary but also kind of sweet.

Aggie just stares at Levi in horror, making me chuckle. "You'll be fine, Aggie. Moving on, are you okay with following me to class? The boys are worried something's going to happen today, so demon boy wants you to follow me around." I don't know what has them so worried. I've done a ton of illegal things and haven't gotten caught.

After tearing her gaze from Levi, Aggie processes what I said. "It'll be boring, but I can do that."

"Cool. I've really got to get to class. Moore will flip his shit if I'm late." I give Levi a hug before walking out of his office because I'm apparently the type that gives out hugs now.

The walk to the Gallagher building and the first part of Moore's advanced magic class are uneventful. I'm struggling not to fall asleep out of sheer boredom when the classroom door bangs open. Six council guards in full tactical armor storm into the room. All the guards have military buzz cuts, stern expressions, and are bulky by mage standards. They're still not as muscular as my mates, though. They scan the room until every guard's gaze lands on me, one by one.

Oh, boy. This is so not good.

I subtly look at Aggie out of the corner of my eye. She's wearing the same oh, shit expression I probably am.

"Isabel Gallagher," the tallest of the guards booms. "You're under arrest." My classmates gasp in delight at the new juicy gossip they're about to have. I roll my eyes at them and try to tune out the quiet chatter that's already starting up.

"For what?" I ask, genuinely confused. I've done a lot of illegal things since I was a teen. They really need to be specific about what they're pissed at me for this time. Although, I'm pretty sure it's about our activities on Friday. I wonder if they had cameras we didn't catch or something because I'm one-hundred-percent sure no one saw us.

The tallest council dude looks me dead in the eye and says the phrase I've been dreading for fourteen years. "You're under arrest for being a spirit mage."