Page 108 of Seducing Hope (The Hope Legacy)

I’ve never met anyone as strong-willed and determined. She’s a storm that can break anything in her path. Every time she’s knocked down, she fights harder. This will be no different.

I touch my cheek, remembering her hand. This woman has humbled me again with her trust in me when she was so vulnerable, despite hurting her earlier. I didn’t deserve it, but I did relish it.

I sense Jed behind me. He comes around the bed to see her face, his hair disheveled. “How is she?”

“Physically, fine. Emotionally… she will get through it.”

He regards her with awe. “She’s strong.”

Deeply asleep, her face twists with emotions, as her mind struggles to process all she’s been through. Not just the attack, but her powers, surviving the Eitr poison—and, it seems, me. “You’re stronger than anyone I’ve ever known,” I mutter to her.

“Duncan teleported into her room when he couldn’t rouse her. He saw the blood, the ropes, and the body. He turned up in reception twenty minutes ago, and he’s refusing to leave until he sees her.”

I stiffen. “Does he think I hurt her?”

He shakes his head. “No. But somehow he knows she’s here and is obviously concerned. What do you want to do?”

I roll off the bed and stand. She whimpers and scoots into the spot where I had just been. I run my hands over my face, conflicted. “We promised her.”

“I know. I don’t have a good solution.”

“Is it only Duncan?”

“Yes.”

“Bring him.” I’m resolved, even though I could be making a decision she may never forgive me for.

A minute later, Jed appears with Duncan. Nathan joins us.

Duncan takes in her small body wrapped in countless blankets.

“What happened?” he asks, forcing his voice to remain neutral. He is trying to hold in his emotion. Good luck with that.

“The people in this room are the only ones who know what happened. I haven’t asked her the details. She will tell someone if she wants to. She made me, Jed, and Nathan promise no one else would find out.” He goes to interrupt me, but I continue, “Let me finish, Duncan. You’re smart enough to put the scene together. But you’ll need to wait for her to tell you.”

He sits on the bed. She softly murmurs a prayer for mercy, and he reaches for her, his eyes turning glassy.

I place my hand on his arm. “You can’t stop the nightmares. All you can do is be there for her.”

He drops his head in his hands. “How bad was it?”

I swallow. “Bad.” I can’t bear to tell him any more—at least he can be spared the details I wish I could forget.

“Anything permanent?”

“No, she’s fully healed.”

“That’s something,” he mumbles.

She shifts closer to him. An irrational jealousy floods my veins. I know he’s her friend, but it doesn’t stop me from wanting to throw them all out of the room and protect her.

Her nose crinkles. “Duncan,” she whispers softly.

“I’m here.” His voice breaks as a tear escapes down his cheek. He’s not embarrassed to show his love and compassion for her. I envy him this. I haven’t felt that in so long, I’m struggling to process the emotions Natia stirs in me.

Her eyes flutter open. Her features relax until she takes in the scene of the four men in front of her. I watch as the memory of the attack crashes into her.

She locks her pained eyes with mine. “You promised.”

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