Page 126 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I mutter, focusing on where I need to end up. I keep losing the thread.

“Try focusing on Zee,” Duncan suggests.

I nod, because being a bonded protector means the poor guy is attached to my ass. Metaphorically, as that would be uncomfortable.

The world shifts and I move through the colors, eyes that contain the universe catch mine, and his ethereal smile makes me catch my breath. I go to reach out to him, a second before I land hard on my ass, the cold stone ground making me gasp.

“Knew it,” Zee mumbles. I look up to find him with a stretched out peach towel. I glance around, finding Uncle Charlie with his back turned. Of course they expected me to arrive naked. I stand and grab the towel from Zee. He keeps his smirk and his eyes on my face.

“You don’t need to sound so smug,” I mutter.

Zee grabs his phone and taps out a text. Seconds later Duncan and Aaden appear. Duncan looks pleased.

He pulls me into his arms. “You made it.”

“Naked.”

“Hey, it’s progress.”

I disentangle myself from Duncan as Aaden hands me my clothing I must have left behind. I rummage around in my jacket pocket. My hand comes away in a fine layer of dust. Grr… that was my evidence.

“What will it take for people to believe the end is coming in the form of spiders and zombies?”

Everyone freezes.

“Like zombie spiders?” Zee checks.

I roll my eyes on the way to my room. “Don’t be ridiculous. The spiders will come first; infect us all with the evil virus that will turn us into flesh eating zombies that can’t die.”

I grab the first thing I find in my suitcase, skinny jeans and a slouchy, off-the-shoulder black top. It also gives me a chance to discuss what I need from the gang. I haven’t asked them for anything specific, that was about to change, and I was going to test their loyalty and trust.

When I emerge, it’s to a silent quartet of tense faces. Coffee permeates the air as I notice a steaming mug on the table. I snatch the mug with a smirk. The slogan reads, “Curiosity didn’t kill the cat, Natia’s lack of caffeine did.”

“Who’s responsible for the mug?” I ask, taking a sip.

Everyone stares at Zee as he shuffles on the sofa. I plonk myself between him and Jed. “Thanks,” I tell him. “I love it.”

The faintest tinge of pink touches his cheeks.

“We need to know what Marsha said when she put the rest of us on ice,” Duncan says.

Uncle Charlie’s eyebrow twitches as he locks eyes with me. It’s not natural or comfortable for him not to be in control, this situation is testing his short supply of patience.

“So she gave me the spell,” I nod at Duncan who places it on the coffee table.

“So she’s clear it will work?” Duncan says.

“It will draw the beast from Archan.”

“Good, so we have everything that we need. Now we lay the trap,” Uncle Charlie says.

I take a deep breath. “There is something I need from you first.”

Uncle Charlie’s blue eyes snap to mine. “What?”

“I need us to swear an oath of loyalty. That’s what Marsha froze you for.” That was part of it. “There is a small ritual we can do.”

“We are already loyal and would do anything to protect you. Why would you need more?” Uncle Charlie says.

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