Page 49 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

I lean forward. “We have the key. Zac’s real identity is Ares, the god of War. Him and Emi have a long running disagreement.” Emi snorts, making my lips twitch. “There’s also a nasty Minotaur wandering around the basement of Reinheart and Hunter which will suck the happiness out of your soul.” I suppress a shiver.

Uncle Charlie’s eyebrow twitches. If we were in the same room, I’d be sliding back in my chair to escape the blast zone. Something else occurs to me. “Oh, and I’m responsible for giving Zee his power, because I donated blood and saved his life. He’s now bound to me, which no one can explain, because it’s something only gods do.” He opens his mouth. I raise my hand, cutting him off. “And… I think I’m going to live for a long time, like maybe forever, barring death by misadventure, demon or godly anger.”

Tumbleweed… where are you when I need you?

“What news from the outside world?” Duncan asks. I blink at him as he regurgitates a famous line fromLord of the Rings. He has either got the best poker face or it’s yet another epic world he’s missing out on. When this is over, Duncan needs educating on the fictional fantasy world. He’s over two hundred years old. He should have these important life experiences.

Zee smirks at my bewildered expression. Gramps stares at him… that’s one oldie I’ve educated in the fictional world. Duncan remains deadpan. Wow, just wow.

Uncle Charlie focuses on Duncan. “There’s been a large number of disappearances in a remote village on a small Greek island.”

“How large?” Aaden asks, switching from doting boyfriend to analyst in a heartbeat. Instead of looking pissed, Emi gives him the side eye and smiles, and I like her a little more for it.

“About three hundred people.”

I snap my head towards the screen. “Three hundred? How large is the village?”

Uncle Charlie sighs. “About three hundred.”

A lump forms in my throat. I have a bad feeling about this. “An entire village is missing?”

Uncle Charlie nods. “Since yesterday. We have dealt with the local authorities. The scene is secure.”

“Why do you think it has anything to do with this situation?” Aaden asks, frowning as he taps on his ever present laptop.

“For one, the village is in Greece. Also, there has been a sizable amount of magic registered in the area, concentrated in one location.” Please don’t be underground, please don’t be underground… or in a graveyard.

“Where?” Duncan asks.

“A small temple, on the island of Samos.” Phew, not underground, a pretty temple.

Jed and Emi groan. “What?” I ask, looking between them.

Jed squeezes his eyes closed and runs a hand through his hair. “It’s Hera’s temple.”

“And Hera enjoyed playing games, we will be tested if we are to enter,” Emi adds.

“But the temple itself is in ruins,” Uncle Charlie points out.

“The structure above ground is for the human worshippers. The main chambers are underground,” Emi says, wiping out my hope of a serene temple mission.

Aaden’s fingers fly on his laptop. The screen with Uncle Charlie and Gramps splits and an image of a single white column surrounded by rubble, blocks pops up next to them. “You’re saying we have to go under the ruins?” Aaden checks.

Emi nods. I drop my head back on my shoulders. Why is everywhere we go underground or in some creepy cave?

“The Vatican wasn’t underground,” Zee says, reminding me of our mission to steal what we believed was a replica Jar. I snap my head towards him and frown. He points at his temple. “You’re projecting your thoughts.”

I turn to Duncan. He shakes his head, Aaden does the same. I blink. “No, you’re sensitive to my thoughts,” I tell him.

“It’s because you’re bound,” Emi explains. “He’s tuned to your emotions and thoughts.”

“He can hear everything?”

Emi shakes her head. “No, being bound means protecting your maker. He will pick up on heightened emotions, and he might hear your thoughts at those points. It’s possible the situation is compounded by him being one of the five, sworn to protect Pandora.”

“You must use your techniques to protect your thoughts more often,” Duncan says.

I grin as Zee groans. Scanning through my vast mental playlist, I pick “Can’t Get You Outta My Head” by Kylie, and settle in for the rest of discussion. Zee chuckles.

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