Page 66 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

“Natia, it’s me.”

My gaze snaps to his face. Gold eyes search mine. My lungs inflate then get stuck. It can’t be that easy, nothing ever is. My other hand reaches for my sword, I grasp empty air. Of course he’s taken my swords, why arm the prisoners?

“Oh yes, Nathan’s spell has reversed the situation in this vessel. Right now Archan has the reins and Ty is riding shotgun,” Lawrence drawls.

“That makes no sense,” I mutter, keeping my eyes locked on Archan’s dangerous gold ones. “If you are holding the reins then you’re on a horse and there is no shotgun.”

“Archan is in control, Typhon is still there. I need to swap them back. In the meantime, you’re roommates. Make the most of it. You have precious little time left with him. Once we open the gates of-” My head snaps to Lawrence.

“Hell?” I shout. “You’re trying to open the gates of hell?”

Lips tilting in a slimy smirk, he darts his gaze between me and Archan, who’s pushed up against my outstretched hand. “Enjoy your time together, lovebirds. Once the spell is reversed, we will open the gates, the King will be whole,” he points at me, “and you will be his Queen.”

“Hell won’t have to be on Earth for that to happen. It would have to freeze over.”

His head tilts. “You don’t have to be willing. The wealth of power you hold at your fingertips can be wielded by force.”

“I will do nothing to aid either of you.”

Like a disappointed parent, he shakes his head and shoves his hands in his suit trousers. “If you were a cold-hearted bitch lacking in both love and connections, your plan might work. But your nature works against you. You’re pre-programmed to protect those you love fiercely, damn the consequences, and that is your biggest weakness.”

My mind makes plans to get everyone I love into the bat cave until this is over. “And before you make plans to sequester everyone you love into a hiding hole somewhere. What would your reaction be if I held the life of an innocent child in my hands? Could you do it, Iris? Could you let them die in place of doing his bidding?”

I gulp, the words of denial getting stuck in my throat. Damn Nathan, deceit would be useful right now.

“My purpose is to save the life of every innocent.”

Lawrence throws his head back and laughs. “True innocence is so rare, and you are wrong. Your purpose is to judge whether humankind is worthy of your protection and power. I’ll skip to the end… they aren’t.” He blinks out of existence as my body trembles with the effort of digging for my well of power. A warm hand wraps around mine, his power trickling in a buzz over my flesh. “Stop trying to use your power, Natia,” Archan says. I glare at Archan.

“Why?” I will my body to tug away from him. It ignores me.

“Your power doesn’t work here.”

I glance around the typical evil villain cell. “Is it a magical prison?”

He shakes his head. “It’s not the cell. We are in hell.”

I freeze. “Hell?” My head swings to Duncan. He nods.

“Why wouldn’t my powers work in hell?”

Archan squeezes my hand, drawing my attention. “Your powers are rooted in earth and come as gifts from the gods. They aren’t born of hell, therefore they don’t work here.”

“But Lawrence’s powers work on Earth.”

“He’s weakened on Earth, but violence lives on Earth, therefore his power is fueled there.”

I glance at Duncan and Zee. “Are you powerless too?”

Zee rubs a hand over his hair. “That’s right.”

He looks casual about the whole thing. I narrow my eyes and study him and Duncan, their relaxed posture, lazy eyes and general lethargy.

Archan pulls me close, crushing our chests together. A lock of hair falls over his eyes as he studies my reaction. Tracking his outline, I find his flaming aura still doused with an oppressive darkness. “Your aura is different.”

He slides a finger under my chin and tips my head back. “I still hold the beast, he’s not gone, Natia. Just suppressed.” He brushes his lips against mine, a scrape of flesh which ignites my senses. My mouth parts as he pushes a hand into my hair.

Zee snorts. I glance to the side as Archan holds my head immobile. “What?” I snap.

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