Page 88 of Seducing Hope (The Hope Legacy)

“Let me do a bit of research first. I think once you figure out how to access your power, the rest should come fairly easily.”

Zee grabs his towel and water. “Right, well with that pitiful workout, I’m off to the gym.” He pats me on the head as he strolls out. “Don’t worry, Natia. You’ll figure this out.”

Duncan and I head back to the apartment. But the buzz of energy surging through me has hardly dissipated, and it’s making me jumpy. I head to my room, grab some flip-flops, and throw a bathrobe over my bikini.

Jed glances up from another epic sandwich. “Hot tub again? Naked?” My nakedness is becoming an issue—won’t they just let it lie?

I eye the sandwich. “No, I’m going for a swim. Zee is in the gym, so I won’t be alone. Save one of those for me?”

Jed jumps out of his seat. “There’s one in the fridge already made. I’m coming anyway.” He gives me his best hard stare. “If you refuse, I’ll tie you to the bed.” I glare back. “Andcall Archan,” he adds with a wink.

“Fine,” I snap, opening the apartment door.

Jed grabs the belt on my robe, pulls me back inside, and shuts the door. “You can travel first class now, baby—no need to slum it.” Then we’re being pulled through space. The experience is similar to the one with Archan, but quicker. We land next to the empty pool, and I cling to Jed.

“You okay?” he enquires, rubbing my arms.

“A little dizzy… but it’s passed. Nothing to worry about.” Someone pounds on the window overlooking the pool. Zee’s holding a large weight in one hand, mid curl, and looks at us with a questioning expression.

I point to the glass. “You go work out with Zee, if that’s your thing. You can both protect me from there.”

“Okay. How much trouble can you get into in an empty swimming pool with two of us watching over you, anyway? One of them incredibly handsome and irresistible.”

I chuckle. “Don’t tell Zee that’s what I think of him; I’ll never live it down.”

Jed pulls an imaginary knife from his heart. “You wound me, fair maiden.”

“Smoothie, if I’m a maiden, then Lucifer has been welcomed back into heaven.”

He chuckles before disappearing and reappearing next to Zee before I can blink. Zee jumps and mutters—presumably—a curse at his sudden arrival.

Dumping my bathrobe on a chair, I double check all my bits are covered in the white bikini. I snap my head up in response to another bang on the window, revealing Zee and Jed appraising me. I roll my eyes and dive into the water. I didn’t plan on swimming for too long, assuming exhaustion would set in soon. Thirty laps later, the pent-up energy hasn’t gone anywhere. If anything, it’s worse.

Twisting onto my back and staring at the ceiling tiles, my mind drifts to thoughts of Archan, the poison, and my powers. My life has changed so much in a matter of days—it’s no wonder I’m agitated. Who the hell is the mysterious being in the cave? I’ve contemplated returning to have a discussion with the self-professed bestower of my powers to see if he can’t give me a handbook of how to use them, as well as an explanation of everything that’s going on and what it has to do with me.

I’m trying to take it all in my stride, deal with it in typical sarcastic Natia fashion, which generally staves off the panic that might consume me. However, I think I might be reaching my heavy shit quota for the week. I’ve barely accepted that we’ve stumbled into some kind of biblical prophecy when the universe chucks magic into my personal mix, with a side helping of sexy alpha male who makes me question everything I believe is important. What is love? Affection, the need to be with someone, to protect them, never cause them harm or humiliation, a chemical reaction in our brains? I’m not sure who can define love. Poets, authors, and musicians offer their interpretations—maybe it’s different for everybody?

A shadow scuttles across the ceiling, moving unnaturally. I tense, blink my eyes clear of water, and right myself. Scanning the room, I spot the shadow in a corner, and a putrid smell licks up my nostrils.

“Khalkaroth,” I whisper.

He crouches at the edge of the pool, out of view from the window. “You know who I am. Good, but do you knowwhatI am?”

I grit my teeth. “You’re the ball sack who knifed me in the heart with poison.”

He laughs and raises his hands. “Yet, here you are… one of the few in eons to have survived the Eitr poison. Only gods have beaten it, and they always come out stronger. Do you feel stronger, Natia? Is the power growing inside of you? I know who you are. But I think, my dear, you have no clue.”

My entire body trembles as his twisted face melts like candle wax, before settling back into humanoid features. He continues his speech, unaware of the pitching water beneath my feet. “If you come with me, I can teach you how to access and harness that power. I can tell you who you are and what your destiny is.”

“And why would you do that?”

He grins, displaying a set of sharp yellow teeth. “You’re powerful. More than you know. Your very will can level this world.”

“Why on Earth would I be interested in doing that?” I spit at him.

“Look around,” he jeers. “This twisted paradise you call Earth… it’s falling apart, Natia. Spinning out of control. It’s on the brink of destruction.”

“And you want to save it?” I scoff.

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