Page 107 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

I glare at his handsome face as his eyes dance with humor. “You can’t see into the future,” I mutter as he grabs my hand and tugs me forward again.

“No, but the biggest threat you’ll ever face is very much present.”

“Where are we going?” I huff as the tunnel opens to a small catacomb with a mosaic floor.

“Before we go anywhere, do you have the blade?” he says.

I hike up my dress and slide the blade from my thigh holster. He follows the movement with a wicked smirk. “You are like my personal fantasy come true.”

I arch an eyebrow as I hand him the blade. “Whiplash smart and badass do it for you?”

He tucks it inside his jacket pocket. “Add wickedly sexy and dangerous and you have my perfect woman.”

“We could never work.”

He tilts his head. “I guess you’re right. We would be too explosive.”

I shake my head, a smile creeping on my lips. “Okay, let’s go with that if it helps your ego.”

He smacks a hand to his chest. “My ego is a fragile thing. You are meant to be my friend and take care of it.”

“Uh, okay. You know I can’t lie, right?”

He snorts a laugh. “How are you at interdimensional travel?” he asks.

I frown. “Is that the same as teleporting?”

He shakes his head. “No, but it’s the way you teleport.”

“Huh,” I glance at my pretty dress. “Do I need to arrive clothed?”

He chokes out a laugh as he swings to face me and grasps both hands. “Ideally, but only because I don’t want you to be any more of a distraction than you already are.”

I sigh. “I guess you better do the teleporting.”

He gives my hands a little squeeze. “Stay close, Natia. Make no deals, promise nothing to anybody. Use telepathy to talk to me if you’re unsure how to proceed. The aim is to get the poison giving nothing away.”

“Nothing in life is free, Ant.”

He smirks. “Indeed, but let me negotiate.” The room twists, stealing my breath as my heartbeat races. The comforting slide of colors breezes over my skin as warmth and peace bursts from my heart, like I’m about to float away. Ant grabs my arm and settles me next to him.

I glance around. “Why aren’t we stopping?”

He waves a hand and the ribbons of color part, revealing massive marble columns threaded with gold. Steps form out of the cloud-like floor, leading us towards the rhythmic pounding of hypnotic music that makes my skin tingle.

Passing under an arch dripping with flora, a tiny guy with skin the color of strawberries greets us in a loincloth. Sporting a podgy baby face and green eyes, he throws his blonde curls away from his eyes and rumbles, “Welcome to Olympia,” in the deepest voice I have ever heard. At my expression, the guy rolls his eyes before glancing at Ant. He dips into a bow and mutters, “Welcome, Sire.” I snap my gaze to Ant, who frowns.

“I’d rather fly under the radar tonight, Barry. Pass it around.”

The guy’s gaze stays pinned to the ground. Interesting, he must be really high up with the amount of authority he garners wherever he goes. I assumed it was confined to the club. “Of course, Sire.”

Clucking his tongue, Ant grabs my elbow and pulls me forward. “The cherub with the voice like he’s got elephant balls is called Barry?” I ask.

“He’s not a cherub, he’s Seraphim.”

“What’s the difference?”

“Cherubs are blue and pander to the gods, serving them. Seraphim are red and surround the thrones of the gods as fiery guardians.”

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