Page 73 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

“When?”

“What?”

“When did Archan say you couldn’t access your power?”

“Just now in hell.”

He sighs and runs a hand down his face. “Archan was never there.”

“He was, before Ty took back over.”

He points at my plate. “Eat woman, I can’t have you swooning at my feet.”

I roll my eyes, but follow his instructions, feeling a little dizzy.

“Ever heard of the self-fulling prophecy?” he asks as I finish the last of the salmon and scoop a forkful of potatoes.

“I’ve had just about enough of prophecies. But yes, I understand what you mean.”

“Someone tells you can’t do something, therefore you can’t. The effect becomes more profound the deeper the trust between the two people. Hell is a construct to pray on your darkest fears and tear down your defenses. If it needed Archan rather than Ty to burrow under your skin and make you feel helpless, that’s what it gave you. Your Gran was part of it, the woman you no doubt looked up to.”

Swiping the potato through the melted butter, I pop it in my mouth and chew. They sent Jack and Gran to tear me down. Makes sense, I guess. “She raised me,” I explain. “I wanted to believe it was her so much.”

“I understand, but the things she said, were they an accurate reflection of your grandmother?”

“She said I deserved to be in Hell for killing a man.”

“I believe I know what you are talking about. The man called Jack?”

I drop my head, my hair shielding my eyes. “I murdered him.”

Fingers glide under my chin, I swivel to find him on his knees before me. “You acted in self-defense.”

“Then why do I feel this crushing guilt? I’m pretty sure I damned my soul.”

His eyes scrunch as he studies me. “I can tell you without reservation that you are destined for heaven, Natia. The laws of souls aren’t black and white, they are shades of grey. They manipulated Jack to attack you, but his soul was black enough to let in the demon. They can’t take root unless the person is already swayed to the dark.

“If it wasn’t you, it would have been someone else, likely someone who couldn’t fight back. You fought for your life, Natia, there is no shame in that, and very little taints your soul. I can tell you have experienced heartbreak, but you use it to fuel your fierce protectiveness of those you love. Anyone would find it a gift to have your kind of loyalty.”

“Duncan and Zee don’t see it that way, and if my closest friends see evil in me, I have to believe it’s true.”

He frowns. “What are you talking about?”

“Duncan and Zee left me in the cell to rot.”

“They have been searching for you in every nook and cranny of this world, they have Zac, Jed and Nathan hunting your ass in their dimension. When they couldn’t find you, they called me. They are tearing the world apart trying to find you.”

“But Duncan and Zee were with me.”

He shakes his head and taps my temple. “Construct to pray on your worst fears.”

My throat tightens as a sob builds. “They were never there?” I whisper.

“No, and when I wrap my hands around Lawrence’s neck, I will snap it, over and over again.”

My lips twitch despite my broken heart scrambling to find the pieces to sew itself back together. “You surprise me for a demon.”

He leans back. “How so?”

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