Page 137 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

“Are you going to share?” Zee drawls.

I tap my fingers on my knee. “The plan as before still goes ahead. Except it’s not me being ransomed, it’s Gramps. Nothing has changed.”

“But you swore an oath,” Duncan says.

I nod. “I did.”

“But if you break that oath your soul will belong to him.”

“Not if he’s dead.”

Stunned silence surrounds us.

“Will that work?” Aaden asks Emi.

She purses her lips. “I don’t see why not. The way the oath was worded means as long as Natia brings Ty the Jar, she has fulfilled it.”

Except that’s not the totality of the oath I made. I worry the end of my tank top with my fingers. There were a few more things I needed to prepare before the showdown. I stand and make my way to the door. Zee catches my arm. “I can sense you’re worried. We will get him back.”

I nod at the floor. “I know.”

“Both of them.”

He doesn’t release me, so I meet his spring green gaze. He studies my face and frowns. I hate this bond.

“Don’t feel guilty. It could have been any of us he took. He figured out how to make you conform and went for your jugular, family.”

“I need some time to prepare,” I mutter. “Clear my head.”

Zee tugs me to him and wraps me in a bear hug. “You can do this,” he whispers.

I pat his back, he releases me. I scurry out of the room and into my own, shutting the door behind me. I dig out the elegant business card, Marsha’s name glinting in the candle light.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Natia

It’s hard to tell that a Taurus is a lonely soul, but trust me, they are.

White isn’t my color, but I am rocking the knee-length, gypsy style dress with my shit kicker black boots. It successfully hides the runes painted on my body, after I’d drawn them on with a specific mix of essential oils that Marsha had given me. I’d primed my body to be a vessel of power.

A hesitant knock sounds at the door. I open it with a flourish, coming face to face with not one, but three gods. I arch an eyebrow at Jed, who points at Zac. “He has something to say to you.”

His jaw ticks like it’s painful for him to grit out his next words. “I am sorry for stopping Jed from healing Duncan.”

I fold my arms. “You didn’t.” He frowns. I sigh. “You tried. I moved you out of the way, and Jed healed him. Also, it’s not me you owe the apology to, it’s Duncan.”

“I’ve already done that.”

“Good.”

“So we’re okay?” he checks.

Holding a grudge at this stage will not help us defeat Ty. “I wouldn’t say good, but we’re okay.”

I switch my gaze to Jed. “Have you returned it?”

He nods. “Yes.”

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