Page 135 of Living Legend

I placed my hands on my thighs. "That makes sense, I guess. One thing, though. How in the hell do you plan to send me to a past moment in Dani's head? She doesn't even remember it. She doesn't remember anything before she woke up in Purgatory."

Natalia quirked up one side of her mouth in a sly smile. "Just because we can't actively remember something doesn't mean that the memory doesn't exist."

I considered this. "Alright, again, that makes sense, but how do you plan to get in her head without her here? Isn't that kind of a requirement when you’re trying to pick someone's brain?"

Natalia pursued her full lips and scooted towards the edge of the bed. "Yes and no. If it was between you and a stranger, then yes, they would need to be here, but with Dani, no. You should be fine to see inside her head."

My face must have made her laugh, because that's exactly what she did. "What? It's not going to hurt. Not much. Maybe like a little pinch. I've only done it a few times, but it's completely safe, I promise."

I waved my hand at her, trying to get her to stop talking. "No, no, go back. You said that Dani doesn't need to be here because I already have a connection with her?"

"Oh, that. Yes, it's really quite simple."

"Simple?"

Natalia rolled her eyes. She legitimately rolled her eyes, as if I was an idiot for even asking. "Nicholas, you don't have to explain what happened with you and Dani while we were separated, but you can't tell me you two didn't become closer. You came all the way here to ask me about something she told you, when we both know she told you because she trusted you with the information. She doesn't seem like the type to reveal this about herself to just anyone. As much as you probably don't want to admit it, you have a connection with her, Nicholas."

I placed my face in my hands, knowing my voice would sound muffled in my palms. "I think we have different ideas ofconnection."

I felt her get off the bed, standing right in front of me, hovering. "Nicholas, I'm not stupid. I'm well aware that you were physical with each other."

Ha. Physical. My abs are still sore from tensing up every single time I thrusted inside of her. I didn't say anything back, though.

"A physical connection is great and I'm not making assumptions, but we both know you aren't just here for the sake of Jonah. You are here for her, because you care, Nicholas. You may not want to admit it, but you don't want anything bad to happen to her. Because. You. Care."

I groaned into my hands. "You think that will help me get into her head?" I lifted my head. In the bright sun, she barely looked real.

"It will."

I pressed my tongue inside my cheek, contemplating. "I do…care. I care about her. I don't know what it means, but I do care, alright? But I'm mainly doing this for Heaven's Gate." Somehow adding that last part made my former admission seem less important.

Natalia turned away from me and walked towards the door. Where was she going?

"I'm glad you can admit that, Nicholas. We will use the connection you have with her, but with help from a lock of her hair." She started to open the door, but I shot up from the couch, causing her to look over at me quickly.

"A lock of her hair? I thought you could use my connection with her."

She let out a light laugh. "I can. I was truthful about that, and I have done something like this on connection alone, but you’ll get a much more accurate picture if we use the lock of hair. Like you said, she doesn't remember it enough to even give you small pieces, so I need something stronger to tether you to her."

I shook my head in shock, walking over to her. "Wait, so did you just want me to say I cared about her?"

She shrugged. "Maybe."

"Wow, alright, how in the hell did you even get a lock of her hair?"

Natalia pressed her palm to my cheek and patted it twice. "I'm going to help you Nicholas, so just be grateful, okay?"

"Did you bring Dani here without us?" I asked, ignoring her request and already knowing the answer. How else would she have gotten a lock of her hair? Then again, Natalia had her ways, so she could have done it any time. Hell, she could have a lock of all our hair hidden somewhere.

She let her hand fall away from my face and winked at me. "I'll be right back." She closed the door in my stunned face.

How had I surrounded myself with the world's most stubborn women?

Chapter Twenty

NICK

My patience was starting to wear thin when Natalia appeared again, closing the door behind her. She was holding a tiny bottle with a cork pushed into the top. The clear liquid sloshed on the inside as she dangled it between her fingers. I had settled myself on the couch bed and was resting my head against the wall, but I sat up straighter when she held the bottle out to me. She hadn't been gone long, but it had been long enough for me to almost fall asleep once or twice.

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