Page 80 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

I swallow a lump in my throat. “Does it mention how to avoid being put in a position to make that decision?”

She glances at me. “I’ll draw another two cards for clarification.” She pulls the next one. A woman with a sword and scales. “Justice.” Emi flashes in my mind as Julie goes on. “Whatever this decision is, whilst heartbreaking, will be justified. It is a lesson you must learn, karmic if you like. If you seek guidance, Justice is where you must take advice from. Here, it won’t steer you wrong.” She flips over the next card. “The Hanged Man. Whatever decision you are making, it will be a sacrifice for the greater good. Whilst I’m not surprised we are dealing with karmic energies, the advice from the cards is to accept the loss you will face. Overall, it’s for the greater good.”

I stare at the three cards like they are poison. “Is this set in stone?” I whisper.

She frowns. “Of course not, the cards give guidance to the question you asked. They are showing you the path, but they don’t define it.”

I nod, glancing again at The Hanged Man. “What are my two favorite girls doing?” Duncan asks from the doorway. He narrows his eyes on the cards. “You did a reading?”

Julie smiles at me, and pats my hand. “Natia had a burning question she needed clarity on. Plus, being close to the clear quartz will help heal her soul.” I glance at the crystal. “You should take it with you,” she says, grabbing it and thrusting it towards me.

I push it back towards her. “I couldn’t…”

She shoves it back at me with a scowl. “You know it’s a great insult to refuse a gift from a warlock.” I blink at her and in the next minute the crystal is in my hand and I’m being ushered into the sitting room by an amused Duncan. Zee stands and looks me up and down like I could have come to harm in the kitchen, I suppose with my recent luck I can see it being an issue.

I snag a cookie from the plate. “If gifts are being forced onto me, I’m eating the cookies.”

Aaden raises his eyebrows at my cookie munching ways and focuses on the crystal cradled in my arms. “What’s that?” he asks.

Duncan puts a hand on my shoulder. “It’s a clear quartz crystal, it helps promote healing; psychic, emotional and spiritual.”

“Quid pro quo,” I say, spinning around to Julie, “you got a look into my mind. I want to know something about Duncan’s past.”

She smirks as she takes a seat. Robert launches himself from the sofa onto Duncan and hangs around his neck like a monkey. “Uncle Dunc is the most powerful warlock alive,” Robert shouts.

I blink as Duncan snorts and collapses on the sofa. I sit, still cradling the damn crystal. I do feel a little lighter, like it’s eating the darkness within me. “That true?” I ask.

Duncan runs a hand through his hair. “Maybe?”

Julie scoffs. “You know it’s the truth, don’t be bashful. Own your power.”

Wow, my best friend is Dumbledore.

“Hey, do you guys have something against Harry Potter?” I ask.

Robert bursts from Duncan’s knee like a jack in the box and runs over to the far bookcase, muttering to himself. He draws out a book, then another, then another until seven books sit stacked on each other. He sticks out his tongue in concentration and balances them in his hands before walking towards me. The top one starts to slide, Robert squints and rebalances. He makes it to me and dumps them onto my lap; I snatch the crystal out of the way just in time. “They’re my favorite books!” he says, scrambling up next to me.

I chuckle. “Mine too, I just don’t think your Uncle Dunc likes them.”

Robert’s eyes widen like an owl as he looks at Duncan. “Uncle Dunc has read them to me fourteen times.”

“Is that so?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at Duncan.

He chuckles. “Busted.”

“Dumbledorf my ass.”

Robert gasps. I glance down. “Sorry, this is why I shouldn’t be around kids. I’m not kid friendly.”

He shakes his head. “Mummy says ass all the time. She also calls the man next door a poophead.” He leans in and whispers, “But she uses the bad word for poop. I’m seven, I already know all the bad words.” Everyone laughs. He blinks like he doesn’t understand, but I’m onto his little innocent act.

Robert taps the books on my lap. “You know Uncle Dunc’s special name for Dumbledore. Wow.” He beams at me like I hung the stars in the sky and glances at Duncan, his kid brain working overtime.

“Uncle Dunc, you should ask Natia to marry you. She knows the special name, mummy likes her, and she’s pretty. Also mummy has grandma’s dress in her wardrobe,” he turns to me with a big grin, “it’s so pretty, white and lace.”

I’m imagining myself in harlot red or devil black at this stage. My cheeks heat as Duncan chuckles and Zee roars with laughter. “Stop, Robert, you’re embarrassing poor Natia,” Julie chastises.

“Me and Uncle Dunc are the best of friends. But we don’t want to get married,” I explain. His crestfallen expression hits me in the gut.

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