Page 128 of Seducing Hope (The Hope Legacy)

Aaden spits some coffee back into his cup. “As in, ‘Pan’ is Pandora? We are looking forPandora?”

Zee frowns. “But it’s a jar, not a box.”

I shake my head. “Common misconception. In the myth, Pandora was the first human woman. Zeus created her to punish man for receiving the stolen gift of fire from Prometheus. He made sure she was irresistible by getting the gods to gift her with beauty and so forth. Then he sent her to Prometheus’s brother, who married her. Zeus gave her a jar as a wedding gift but warned her never to open it. However, Pandora had been gifted with curiosity, meaning she couldn’t resist; she released the evil it contained upon the world. If I remember rightly, she managed to close the Jar before she released hope—the common interpretation is that she saved hope for mankind. It was a sixteenth century scholar who misinterpreted the text and turned ‘jar’ into ‘box.’”

Zac glowers at me. “You seem very knowledgeable.”

I shrug. “I took classical studies.”

“Why now?” Aaden queries. All eyes snap to him in confusion, and he flushes under the attention. “I mean, what has caused you to search for Pan now? And why right now, at this point in time, are you seeking to open the Jar?”

Nathan taps a finger on his chin, clearly thinking through his answer. “Pan’s power leaves a trace. It’s been absent for many years, and until recently, we could barely follow it.”

“Also, the prophecies are clear about the timing. It will happen before the end of the year.”

I blink. “That gives us a little over a week.”

Archan strides over to the window and blocks me in. “This is confusing at best, but in light of this information… I will refrain from killing Pan. For now. But I do still need to find her. Do you know where she is?”

“No. If you believe opening the Jar will save mankind, why don’t you just open it?”

“We need Pan, or the key.”

My stomach flips as I picture the star-shaped object tucked away in the bottom of my wardrobe. I could end this now—give them what is clearly the key to an object meant to either save or destroy us. I blank my features and recite Taylor Swift’s classic advice, “Shake It Off.”

Archan narrows his eyes and grips my chin. “What aren’t you telling me?”

I pull out of his grasp and scramble for an excuse. “Lawrence found me.”

Duncan’s eyes go wide, and Archan curses.

I point at Zee. “He tried to kill Zee.” Zee tips his head back, showing the faint pink scar.

“He wants me to go with him. He knows about my powers.”

Zac narrows his eyes. “He wanted you before your powers. Why?”

I shrug and play dumb. “If you’re talking about my kidnapping, he wanted to eat me. I think?”

Zac continues to give me that x-ray stare before rolling his eyes. “I don’t buy it,” he snarls.

“It’s the only answer you’re getting. He’s given me a week to join him, which was three days ago, then he’ll start killing people I love and care for.”

Out of nowhere, Jed stands and punches the wall, part of the plaster crumbling underneath his fist. “Why didn’t you tell me?!”

I blink at his outburst. “It wasn’t important to what’s going on here.”

“You’re right, but it’s just as important.”

I unfold myself from the window seat, push past Archan, and go to Jed. “You’re joking, right? We’re talking about mankind’s destruction, and you think my life is important in comparison?”

He pauses, his eyes burning as he grasps my face. “I’m not going to say your life’s not important, Natia, so if that’s what you’re wanting to hear, I’m sorry. The Jar and Pan are important, yes, but Lawrence seems to be the most pressing issue here. We can’t have half your team dying when we’re this close to ending this. And we can’t lose you, Natia… ignoring this won’t make it disappear.” He blushes and turns away.

I throw my hands in the air. “I’m not ignoring the threat. Duncan is looking into banishment circles to see if we can find one strong enough for him.”

Archan laughs. “You won’t. I’ve already told you—he’s a prince of hell.”

I arch an eyebrow. “Really? And the banishment circle I placed you in earlier?”

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