Page 93 of Seducing Hope (The Hope Legacy)

“The Jar also says Pan holds the key to the destruction and will tip the balance,” Nathan adds.

Michael looks around at all of us. “So… trap or wait?”

“Trap. I need this over with. Set it up,” I mutter, not admitting my decision is in part to get away from Natia. Jed’s right, I make her unstable; she needs space to deal with everything that’s happened to her, and I need to focus on my mission. Then I remember the binding promise I made her. I sigh. “We need to include Natia on the plans to lure Khalkaroth.” Apart from Michael, they stare at me in disbelief.

“I don’t think that’s—” Zac starts.

I interrupt him, “I made a binding promise to let her in on any plans to capture or kill Khalkaroth. But I won’t mention Pan. If Pan comes, I will deal with Natia and her team.”

“Was she aware of what she was doing when she bound you?” Michael asks. My squad shifts their eyes to me.

“No. Unlike most of her kind, she’s direct and doesn’t like leaving loopholes.”

Zac shakes his head. “On the subject of Natia… she’s getting more complicated by the day. She hides her mind behind the strongest mental shields I’ve ever seen. She works for a secret organization that kills supernaturals. She’s a skilled fighter, with unusual strength and senses. She’s a late-developing, but strong, elemental witch. She survived the Eitr poison, and to top it off, she suddenly develops the ability to communicate telepathically. Who the fuck is she?”

“Let’s not forget she argues with—and refuses—Archan. Even though it sounds like you pulled out the big guns last night—romantic walkanda dinner? Now that’s quite a power,” Barney quips.

“Otherwise known as a date,” Nathan mumbles.

“When have you known him to date? Normally, it’s ‘Hello, pretty,’ and they’re putty in his hands.” Barney laughs.

“You forget the part where we were attacked and she almost died.”

He shrugs. “Eh, semantics… She won’t forget it in a hurry. Something to tell the kids when you tell how you met.”

Michael chokes on his scotch. “You’ve known the girl days. Is it that serious?”

“No—” I start, just as Barney interrupts with, “You’ll see for yourself when you see them together.”

Zac thrums his fingers on the window. “Maybe taking her isn’t such a bad idea. Khalkaroth wants her.”

I resist the urge to punch him. “You want to use her as bait?”

Michael puts a hand on my shoulder. “We have the Jar as bait. Natia is an incentive, and she’s coming anyway, given the promise you made. We’ll keep her safe.”

She will not be coming if I can help it, but given Natia’s proclivity for doing the exact opposite of what I want and her stubbornness, I doubt she’ll listen to my advice to stay home.

Chapter Thirty

Natia

Taurus—I’m not stubborn; I’m just right.

Zee, Duncan, and Aaden move to the dining table to begin deciphering the pictures of the symbols on the walls and the Jar. I consider Jed, as he sits next to me on the sofa. He’s not aware of the extra symbols or the ritual I undertook to retrieve the Jar. My instinct is to trust him, despite him working for a man whose intentions aren’t clear—well, other than to destroy me emotionally. Beg… The man wants me to beg. It’ll be a cold day in hell before that happens.

I go for a direct approach with Jed, hoping to read his indigo and silver aura for any sign of deception. Holding his eyes, I give him the choice. “Smoothie, there are some things we need to discuss. You aren’t aware of all the information, so I have to decide whether to let you stay and help, with the understanding that anything you see or learn will stay within these four walls. Or you leave.”

He doesn’t hesitate and stares right in my eyes. “Stay and help.”

“I need a promise,” I tell him.

He grins and grasps my hands. “I promise nothing I learn here will leave these four walls.”

“Truth. He stays,” I inform the guys.

Jed jumps up and strides to the dining table. “I can help with the deciphering. I know some of the symbols.”

Duncan’s eyes gleam. Typical—excited at the prospect of picking a fellow nerd’s brain. We spread the photos of the symbols across the table.

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