Page 56 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

“Do you know if it’s possible?” Duncan asks.

“It should be possible. But the right witch, with the correct lineage will have to write it, and the correct person will have to weld it.” I shiver again as I sense all these idiots staring at me.

“Thank the gods,” Nathan utters, which I find hilarious given he’s thanking himself. “My power’s back.”

His particular brand of healing is a harsher version of Duncan’s, but so much more potent. I suck in a breath for what feels like the first time in hours. I try to move. Someone’s hands clamp my shoulders. I blink my eyes open and stare into Zee’s spring green gaze. “Stay there, Natia. Let Nathan do his job.”

“I’m okay,” I whisper, my voice hoarse.

His eyes glisten and he blinks the emotion back. “I could feel your pain, Natia. The scolding agony racing through your veins? You were not okay.”

I gulp, my dry throat sticking. “I’m okay now, good as new.” Which is the truth, Nathan is crazy powerful.

“You put yourself in danger.”

“I was the best person on the team to help keep us alive,” I argue.

He frowns. “Why not let me help?”

“You’re powerful, Zee, but you need training from Zac.”

“What?” Zac whisper roars.

Zee’s burning gaze promises retribution for outing him. “I need help to get to grips with my elemental power as fast as possible. Jed suggested you were the best person for the job.”

Zac groans. “I don’t have time to train baby witches the art of lighting a candle rather than burning down a house.”

“Wouldn’t burning down the house be more effectual?” Zee asks as he releases my shoulders. Duncan and Nathan haul me up, the room sways left then stops. Good enough.

“It’s about control, not brute force. If you wield your power like a blunt weapon, expect it to destroy everything in its path, friend or foe.” Zac looks at me. I roll my eyes.

“Fine, Sensei. When this shit is over, you can train me,” Zee mutters.

Zac looks mortified that he backed himself into a corner. I try and fail to hide a snigger behind my hand, if the warning look Zac gives me is any measure.

“Let’s go see what’s happening inside this temple and locate us some three hundred missing people,” I say, feeling better with each passing moment.

“Unless they’re all dead,” Mr. Happy Pants points out.

I glare at Zac. “Let’s hope for the sake of whoever is in here, that’s not the case.”

“Why?”

“Because you won’t need to worry about Zee sledgehammering his way through the gods. I will nuke them myself.”

Chapter Sixteen

Natia

Taurus’ were born ready to fight for everything they want. They do not give up.

“Which one?” I ask as we stare at the three wooden doors, each embossed with an ancient symbol which makes zero sense to me. The scrawl above the doors even less. Nathan and Duncan keep muttering to each other as they try to decipher the words.

“Give us a minute,” Nathan says over his shoulder. I’m leaning against the back wall of the cavern next to Zee. Meanwhile Zac stands perpendicular to me with his arms crossed and a permanent scowl on his face.

“Does it take energy to be angry all the time?” I ask him.

He blinks at me. “I’m not angry all the time.”

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