Page 94 of Seducing Hope (The Hope Legacy)

Jed freezes and blinks. “Where the hell did you find these symbols?” he asks, picking up each one in turn.

“In the cave,” I explain.

His eyes widen. “You never said anything.”

I squeeze his arm. “Don’t take it personally, Smoothie; my agreement with Archan was to give him the Jar, not disclose everything I found.”

Inhaling a long breath, he nods. We work on the symbols using the previously deciphered messages, the internet, and some ancient books of Duncan’s. Jed proves useful, pointing out symbols he knows. After a while, pale orange streaks paint the sky, signaling the rising dawn as we stop for a coffee break.

Duncan summarizes what we’ve found so far. “There’s the owner of the Jar, who ‘sits on it.’ There are five protectors, each sworn to protect either the owner or the Jar. This owner is the key to the Jar. The symbols on the Jar say mankind’s destruction lies in their hands. They’re a powerful ancient who will be awakened when the balance needs to be tipped—”

“Wait,” I start, “Archan said he was an ancient.”

I swing my gaze to Jed, who puts his hands up. “I’m here to help, but I can’t answer certain questions.”

The corner of my mouth tips up. “Fair enough. Your reluctance to answer tells me all I need to know.”

He sighs. “Sometimes you’re too perceptive for your own good.”

“Is the ‘owner’ Pan?” I ask nobody in particular.

Jed grunts. My grin gets wider. An affirmative, then.

“Is Pan good or evil? Is he trying to save or destroy mankind?” I press, frustrated at the double meanings.

Duncan leans over the table and grabs a close-up photo of the Jar. “The symbols on the Jar and the ones in the cave don’t match up. We’ll have to keep working on it.”

Jed makes a frustrated sound.

I pat his thigh. “Use your words, Smoothie.”

He leans his head back and stares at the ceiling. “You need to release me from my promise.”

I frown. “Why?”

“This needs to be shared… before events unfold that can’t be undone,” he declares cryptically.

I shake my head. “No.”

“Fucking stubborn woman,” he grinds out. My eyes widen, and I freeze, shocked.

He stalks around the living area, muttering about stubborn women who don’t know when to trust. He’s so flustered, certain that something we’ve found is important enough to tell Archan, that I almost give in. But I don’t fully trust Archan, so I stand my ground.

My phone starts buzzing in my pocket, and I pull it out—“Unknown Number.” I frown and adopt my passive, yet professional voice. “Natia Waterford.”

“It’s me,” a deep baritone rumbles, sliding over my skin like silk.

I hang up.

Something strange tugs on my mind. I frown. It happens again, stronger this time. Cautiously, I let it in, still protecting my shields.

Archan’s smooth voice rings through my mind.“Was that really necessary?”

“What do you want?”

“We are going to try and lure out Khalkaroth. It will be dangerous—stay at home.”

I stifle a growl and take a deep breath, locking down my emotions. I can almost hear his eye roll that I’m pretty sure he’s learned from me.

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