Veiled Spirits - Page 69

While we could talk with our team on the outside with magic, mages expect that. Security measures at council HQ are designed to stop magical attacks or espionage. They don’t think about attacks with tech, even though they use magic-enhanced tech to secure everything.

Technology is one of the mage world’s biggest blind spots. While magic can do everything tech can do and more, technology can now do a lot of what magic can do. Tech now replaces a ton of tasks that were huge magic sucks, like viewing places from a distance and keeping doors locked. Even as more and more mages use technology, they still don’t think to guard against tech attacks or things like tiny microphones or cameras.

It’s baffling but super convenient. Elemental makes use of the tech blind spot to get a lot done.

“Yes, sir. I’m looping the cameras now. Gimme a moment to unlock the door,” Aiden’s disembodied voice replies in my ear.

“I’m not a sir,” I correct him.

“Oh, trust me, the wolves anxiously watching my every move are well aware of your titties.”

“For fuck’s sake, Aiden,” I grouse at my embarrassing brother.

I turn to commiserate with Bishop about how annoying Aiden is when I find his gaze locked on my boobs. They do look quite nice in this dress, if I do say so myself. Bishop slowly drags his stare up my chest to my face. When we lock eyes, his baby blues are full of heat he doesn’t try to hide. My cheeks grow pink under his intense stare.

“Doors unlocked. You’re good to go.” Aiden’s voice shakes me free of Bishop’s bewitching gaze.

I hurry toward the door to avoid any awkward conversation. I don’t get more than a few steps before someone grabs the back of my dress to stop me. My arms windmill as I try to keep from falling over.

Bishop’s rainy forest scent surrounds me as he presses his front to my back. He puts his hands on my waist to steady me. “Where do you think you’re going? You agreed not to rush in first, sweetheart. I expect you to keep your word,” Bishop rasps in my ear, his warm breath caressing the side of my face.

His deep voice feels like it arrows straight to my core. My thighs clench as I fight a shiver at his words. I bite my cheek to keep from asking or what because that’s not a game I want to play with him. Not now and probably not ever. My horny self doesn’t need to know whether Bishop would enjoy punishing me as much as I think I’d like it.

Fuck. Right now is really not the time to be getting turned on.

“Sorry,” I manage to force out through my suddenly dry mouth. It comes out breathy, but it’s the best I can do right now.

Bishop lets out a deep chuckle, knowing exactly what he’s doing to me. With a warning squeeze on my waist, he strides calmly ahead of me to the door. It’s entirely unfair that Bishop gets to be so unaffected while I’m trying not to combust.

“Are you okay, little raven?” Levi’s voice is tinged with amusement. When I turn to glare at him behind me, one side of his mouth kicks up in a small grin.

“Just fantastic, screech owl. Thanks so much for asking.” I give him an overly sweet smile to go with my sarcasm. Levi huffs a quiet laugh before nudging me forward with his hand on my lower back. I go willingly because we really don’t have time to waste. Who knows when someone could come wandering down this hall.

When we reach the door, Bishop is there, waiting for us. He heaves open the large metal door and peeks inside before waving us through. The sterile white room is empty. It’s the end of the workday, plus a council meeting is going on. We were banking on the place being pretty deserted.

Things are going according to plan. At least, for now. Here’s hoping our luck continues.

I glance around the room, taking in the white tiles, white walls, and white ceiling. The long tables in the center of the room are also white. Bright fluorescent lights harshly illuminate the windowless room.

Shelves line three of the walls. They’re filled with an assortment of beakers, jars, and other scientific-looking lab equipment. Most of the glass containers are empty, but some have dried plants or murky liquids in them. We poke around the shelves for several minutes without finding anything.

“Think we should move on?” I don’t turn around to look at the boys, because I’m having a staring contest with an eyeball floating in green liquid. Yep, an actual fucking human eyeball just chilling out on the shelf. I probably don’t want to know why they have an eye in a jar.

I’ve worked on tons of potions with Anya. None of them ever called for any type of eye, much less a human one. The eye isn’t for any normal potion, but maybe there’s a reasonable explanation for it being here.

“Yeah, it doesn’t look like there’s anything here.” Bishop’s voice sounds to my left. I finally rip my gaze from the creepiest jar I’ve seen and glance at him. “You good, Izzy?”

I give him a sharp nod. “Yep.” As weird as the eyeball is, that’s far from the worst thing I’ve seen while doing work for Elemental.

Bishop’s sky-blue eyes bounce between mine a few times before he turns around. He heads down the hallway on the far side of the room. That’s the only wall without shelving. The bland white wall is broken up by a large, cased opening.

Levi and I trail behind Bishop. We wander down the seemingly never-ending hallway until we reach a door on the right. Bishop jiggles the silver handle, but the door doesn’t budge. “Can you open this, Aiden?”

“Yepperoni, bro.” I sigh at Aiden. Why is he like this? I’m pretty sure he’s deathly allergic to responding to anything like a normal person. After a beat, he tells us, “It’s unlocked. Have fun, my guys.”

“Thanks, man.” Bishop pushes open the door and freezes. “What the fuck?”

CHAPTER 35