Page 83 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

I glance around the room. We are in the impressive sitting room of Archan’s house. Despite the comfy sofas, everyone stands. Emi, Aaden, Nathan, Barney and Zac are staring at me being squashed by Jed. I pat his back again. “I’m okay, put me down.”

He releases me with a quick kiss on my head and takes his place in the line before me. Aaden comes to stand on my right side, just as Duncan appears with Zee. They take point on my left.

Zac glares at me. “Why are you dressed like a high-class hooker?”

Should I be flattered that he thinks I look high-class? “That’s your first question? My wardrobe choice?”

Nathan shoots Zac a withering look. “They took you to hell, we would like to know what happened to you.”

I take a deep breath. “Lawrence placed me in a cell with Ty, who was pretending to be Archan. Two other demons were also masquerading as Duncan and Zee. They pointed out my faults and how I will always place them second below saving mankind. Lawrence offered them a deal to abandon me, which they did.”

Jed runs a hand through his hair. “Bloody hell, Natia.”

“Archan left, and Ty replaced him. He tried to get me to see how humans were so far gone we should wipe them out.”

“How?” Nathan asks.

I rub my arms and throw up a mental shield with Freya Ridings “Lost Without You”. Zee rubs my back in comforting circles. “In the next cell, another demon wearing my deceased Grandmother’s face told me I deserved to be in Hell for killing Jack.”

Nathan frowns. “Who’s Jack?”

Tears threaten, I hold them back. Showing weakness in front of these people is not a smart move. “Jack is the man who assaulted me after we banished Khalkaroth.”

Nathan winces, and Zac blanks his features as I continue. “Jack was also there. To tell me I was finally where I was meant to be, in hell. The killer was my Grandmother telling me I should have withstood the assault and not killed him.”

“It’s not true, you know that right?” Jed says.

I shrug. “I killed a man.”

Emi steps forward, her eyes wide. “I am Justice, Natia, and I say your soul is destined for heaven, not hell. Whatever you did, it was justified.”

My lips thin as I stop myself from arguing with her. It would be pointless, I know what they believe, but I also know what my heart feels.

“How did you escape?” Zac grinds out.

“Ant rescued me.”

“The demon from Hell’s Hole?” Jed asks.

I nod. “We were in Lawrence’s territory. We had to fight our way out. I was covered in demon guts, hence the change of clothing.”

“He couldn’t have found you a pair of jeans and a T-shirt?”

“Hey, I was just grateful for the chance to get out of the clothes I’d visited Hell in.”

I glance at the beautiful dress; I feel anything but beautiful in this moment. Jed catches my eye as I look up. “There are some spare clothes in Archan’s room.”

I blink like an idiot. “Why would you have spare clothes for me in Archan’s room?”

Zac snorts. “You arrive naked, bloodied or undressed. We put some spare clothing in each of the places you might turn up.”

My lips curve into a smile. “Aw, Zacy, it almost sounds like you care.”

“Don’t worry, Natia, it’s not for you, it’s so you don’t distract the men with your body.”

Jed chuckles. “What he means, is we all like our heads attached to our shoulders, and if Archan finds out you keep parading around naked… ” He mimes his finger slicing through his neck.

I shake my head. “Archan will have to get over me turning up how I damn well please.”

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