Varys' words weren't enough. Nothing was enough. Hope imagined what would happen to Vincent and Max if Ethan got his hands on them and bit her lip so hard blood seeped into her mouth.
"Hope, calm down."
Varys' words were as if they were underwater. She could hear them, but they were dull and couldn't break through the wall of panic.
She was going to lose her only family. She was going to lose him in the most horrible way possible, and Ethan would make sure it hurt her. He would delight in it.
"Hope!"
Varys was nose to nose with her now as he folded her in his arms. "Varys?"
"Hope, I don't know where you're going on in your mind, but you need to break out of it, now."
"I can't," she whispered as she pushed at him. She had the strength of a kitten. "I have to save them."
His hold tightened on her. "Them?" it was the dangerous growl of a predator.
"My uncle Vincent, and Max," she whispered.
"Max again," Varys spat. "Why are you worried about him?"
"He helped me," Hope replied. "And he's all my uncle has. I don't want anyone dying because of me, being tortured because of me." She swallowed. "You've looked into Ethan's past. You know what kind of monster he is."
"If I help you-"
Hope glared at him. "You already said you
was before I saw your desperation," he replied with his arms crossed
if?" Hope
want you as mine, Hope. Promise that, and I'll put my life on the line to keep those two safe and
condition," Hope held out
just mine."
to my condition, Varys, now," Hope glared at him. After all she was doing, he
to save Ethan's life either. If your condition is either of those
him. "My condition is that you come back safe, Varys! If you die on me, or let Ethan get hold of you I swear I'll never forgive
twitched. "That's your condition? Hope, you need to have more faith in me.
don't know Ethan like I do," she replied. "Please, just promise
Hope. I want to
alive Max was far better than a dead one. He might pretend to be tough, but she was the only one that knew what Ethan was
lips. If the situation wasn't as tense as it was, she would
be yours and no one
he ever looked so grateful or so happy without the
voice was thick as he took her hands in his. "I promise I'm going to save those two for you, and when this entire debacle is done, we're going to get
Marriage? "What?" she squeaked.
we're going to belong to each other, it only makes sense that we're married. But first, I'll take care of
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