I smiled, grabbing his hand. “That’s how you smell.”
“I do? Hmmm. Good to know,” he said, nodding his head in thought.
“So…Samuel…?”
Jared nodded, his eyes darkening again. “He’s noticed an increase in activity in the area.”
“What kind of activity?”
Jared swallowed and shifted closer to me on the bed, holding my hand tighter. “The Others don’t understand my draw to you…even with me being half-human. It’s interesting to them. So their visits here have increased.”
“But I haven’t…they haven’t bothered me.”
“They don’t engage us unless they have to.”
I swallowed. “So you’re saying when you’re near, they won’t hurt me?”
Jared’s eyes clouded over. “They don’t want to cross that line, trust me. They know better than to get too close to you when I’m near.”
“That’s why you had Claire sit with me the night you were with Mr. Dawson.”
He nodded. “I don’t want you to be afraid. It’s only an issue in my apartment; they’re drawn to the dwellings of Hybrids. Remember I told you that they’re attracted to those that are aware of them?” I nodded. “Claire, Bex and I, and those like us, are very aware of them. Our lineage enables us to see them even when you can’t. I’ve noticed more of their kind coming and going. They’re curious about you.”
I held his hand tight. “Should I be worried?”
Jared offered a comforting smile. “You let me do the worrying.”
I took a deep breath and nodded. “What did Samuel tell you?”
“They’ve noticed…,” Jared rubbed the back of his neck, “they’ve noticed that we’re spending more time together. Both sides. The Archs are unhappy about it. It’s unusual — and heavily frowned upon — to become involved with one’s Taleh. It’s considered more of a taboo than falling in love with a human. Even though I’m half-human, they find it irresponsible. Samuel is concerned that the Archs won’t be inclined to help if things get messy.”
“Why would we need their help? I thought you said they wouldn’t come near me when you’re around?”
“I’m not talking about a dozen or so Others, Nina. Samuel wouldn’t be concerned if it wasn’t serious.”
“How serious is it?”
Jared sighed. All of his energy seemed to have been sucked from him. “Hell is familiar with our fathers. Being their children in addition to our unique circumstance…we’ve become people of interest, so to speak. The Others made a game of trying to catch my father off-guard. With me having a stronger reason to protect you…,” he choked off. He swallowed and then began again, “Samuel came to warn me.”
“Warn you,” I repeated. My head was swimming with confusion and the whiskey still saturating my system.
“Our relationship could unintentionally provoke Hell.” Jared rubbed his temples. He was having trouble focusing as well. “Samuel informed me that the curiosity they already have, coupled with Jack’s death…we could have bigger problems than just the increasing visits.”
I shook my head. “What does Jack have to do with it?”
“The men that killed your father knew how to bypass Gabe because of who they work for. Those cops, and a few other enemies of your father’s, are employed by a man named Shax. Except…he’s not a…he’s not exactly a man.”
“He’s Other?”
Jared attempted a smile, but the tension on his face twisted it into something that resembled pain.
“Shax is a Duke of Hell. He is also a renowned thief and takes great pride in his spoils. Somehow Jack made an enemy of Shax, and I’m going to guess that he took something that Shax felt belonged to him. Not something you want to do to an aristocrat of Hell.”
I nodded, unable to speak in a calm voice.
“Samuel advised that we…see less of each other.”
“What? No! You’re not…you’re not going to listen to him, are you?”
Jared took my face in his hands. “I promised I wouldn’t leave you again, didn’t I?”
I nodded. “You did. You promised,” I said, more to myself than to him.
Jared returned his elbows to his knees and lowered his face in his hands. “I have made a mess of everything, Nina,” he groaned. “You’re in more danger than you’ve ever been. I see now why Jack forbade me to see you.”
I positioned myself behind him, wrapping my arms around his middle and pressing my cheek against his back. “So we have to jump through some hoops to be together. Who doesn’t?”
Jared twisted, looking at me with an incredulous expression.
I sighed. “For us to be together…it’s a miracle isn’t it? A Hybrid and his human, in love when everyone from Heaven to Hell says we shouldn’t be. The starvation of a multitude turned into miraculous fish, the enslaving of a nation brought on the parting of the sea, blind men to see, lepers healed, a mother’s grief brought back the dead…it takes a nightmare to earn a miracle.”
He laughed once. “In this scenario I’m the nightmare — you’re the miracle.”
“Jared?” I asked, pausing for a moment while I reconsidered broaching the subject again.
He sensed my trepidation and touched my cheek. “What, sweetheart?”
“What do you plan on doing with the information Samuel gave you?” I braced for his eyes to cloud over but to my surprise he smiled. His eyes even brightened a bit.
“We’re going to fight through the nightmare to earn the miracle, right?”
I smiled back. “Right.”
He kissed my cheek. “I’ll let you get dressed.”
“Are we going somewhere?”
“To see a friend,” Jared said, jogging downstairs.
I thought about that for a moment. “A human friend?”
“Negative,” I heard him say from the kitchen.
After my shower, I descended the stairs still feeling a bit woozy. I felt even worse for Jared, who didn’t even enjoy the debauchery before feeling the consequences of it.
Jared kept the accelerator to the floor, making the buildings of Providence blur by. I fidgeted with the temperature until finally resorting to the air conditioner. The stream of air blew against my face, and I closed my eyes.
Jared touched my knee.
“It’s helping with the nausea,” I said, knowing he would be just as relieved to have a small fraction of my symptoms alleviated.
The Escalade slowed to a stop beside the fence of an abandoned warehouse. We were just outside of town, no more than ten miles from Jared’s loft. I immediately felt a bit skittish, but the fear disappeared with Jared’s warm touch. He took my hand and didn’t let go as we hiked along an aging, gravel walkway and stopped at a gate harnessed with rusting chains. He pulled a key from his pocket and twisted it in the large vintage lock.
Jared pressed open the heavy gates and led me around to a side entrance, where he pressed a button on a small grey box. No one answered, but we were buzzed in.
Jared led me by the hand across the vast concrete. Pane after pane of glass lined the walls, shooting beams of sunshine to the floor through the decades of dust. He stopped in the center and smiled at me before calling out into the huge, empty space.
“Eli?”
We waited for almost half an hour. I wanted to ask Jared if he was sure his friend was there, but as long as he was being patient, I would play along.
“Oh, c’mon. She knows,” Jared said suddenly, rolling his eyes.
I watched him, the corners of my mouth turning up. It was amusing to see him talking to himself.
“Eli, we need to talk. You know she’s important.” He looked at me and then impatiently peered up to the extensive ceiling. “You’re being ridiculous!” he shouted into the air.
I stifled a giggle.
Jared turned to me. “What?”
“Nothing,” I said, forcing the corners of my mouth straight.
“Great. Now she thinks I’m nuts,” Jared called out t
o the massive room.
A tiny giggle escaped my throat, and Jared angled his neck to face me, attempting an insulted expression. He failed miserably when a wide grin stretched across his face.
“Admit it. It was funny,” a voice came from behind us.
I flipped around, instinctively hiding behind Jared.
A platinum-haired man stood in front of us with an amused smile. He was taller than Jared, though not by more than a few inches. I was surprised at the way he was dressed. I was expecting the crisp, white, buttoned-down dress shirt, but I hadn’t anticipated it un-tucked and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, or the holes in his jeans, or the light brown leather sandals. I was certainly not expecting the faux hawk.
He surpassed attractive, and his physique was as incredible as Jared’s, noticeable even under his clothes. Even though he was fair, warmth emanated from his skin, almost a muted, dewy glow. His ice blue eyes appraised me, and then looked to Jared, who pulled me to his side.
“Eli,” Jared said, nodding.
“Yeah. There will be none of that nodding crap, Jared,” Eli said, pulling us both in for a hug. “How have you been? I assume the moping has ceased since you’ve found a way to finally introduce yourself?”
Jared nervously laughed, looking at me from the corner of his eye. “I’ve been fine, and you?”
“Heavenly,” Eli said, with a wide, dramatic gesturing of his arms.
Jared rolled his eyes. “Quit it.”
“Hello, Nina. I’ve heard…,” his eyes widened for a moment, “lots about you. It’s nice to finally meet you…formally.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too.”
I extended my hand and Eli took it, appearing pleased with my bravery. His hand felt normal, a little on the cool side. Not at all like Jared’s feverish temperature.
“We don’t have to run a fever to keep up with what we can do,” Eli smiled.
“Oh,” I said, nodding.
I looked to Jared, who watched me with an expression as amused as Eli’s.
“You were expecting a toga and a harp?” Eli asked, winking at me.
“Leave her alone, Eli,” Jared warned.
“I’m just having a little fun, Jay. You know I don’t get to do this often,” the angel said, letting go of my hand.
Jared turned to me. “Eli isn’t an Arch. He is the Angel of the Divine Plan. He watches over spiritual evolution, and when called upon by humans, he assists Him in helping humans to find the correct path.”
“Him? As in…your boss is…?”
Eli seemed bored with Jared’s explanation. “I am a traffic cop for the Archs and a glorified guidance counselor, Nina. Don’t let the title intimidate you.”
I tried to stifle a laugh, but the best I could do was to cover my mouth when I giggled. I had expected somewhat of a formal meeting, and Eli had gone from an ominous being to a pleasant surprise.
“I’ve started experiencing some changes in my senses, Eli. Do you know what that’s about?” Jared asked, impatient with the pleasantries.
“I do. Have you become physical with your Taleh?” Eli asked matter-of-factly.
“In what respect? If you’re meaning sex, then no,” Jared said, impervious to such a forward way of asking a delicate question.
I began to feel a bit dizzy by the sudden turn of conversation. I wasn’t sure how many times I could be taken off guard in my condition. Jared pulled me to his side, supporting some of my weight.
Eli eyed us speculatively. “In any respect, Jared. When you revealed yourself to her, the connection became stronger. As you spend time with her, it becomes stronger. Every time you touch her, it grows stronger. As your feelings for her deepen, so does the link between you. If you’re with her in an intimate way, the connection becomes a solid, permanent bond. There will be a noticeable difference in how you’ll sense her presence, her pain and her emotions when a physical commitment is made. You should keep that in mind. It could hinder your duties as her protector.”
Jared nodded, immediately taking Eli at his word.
“You mean he’ll be more susceptible to sickness and pain?” I asked.
“It’s certainly a possibility. Of course, those things would always be in connection with you, Nina, but only in theory. We don’t have much experience with this type of thing. The two of you are only our seventh case since the dawn of humans’ time on earth. And you would be the first half-breed/human case.”
“Hybrid,” I corrected.
Both Jared and Eli looked at me with a strange expression.
Eli smiled, clearly amused. “Hybrid, then. You’re right, that wasn’t very nice of me, was it?” he said, winking at Jared, who looked away, trying not to smile.
Jared cleared his throat, getting back to business. “I’m told we could have some legions to worry about.”
Eli looked up for a moment and then back to Jared. “So far it’s just the humans.”
“Is there something I can do to get them to back off of her?” Jared said with a noticeable change in his tone. There was a distinct edge of desperation to it.
“I’m afraid the damage has already been done, Jared. You were warned,” Eli said without judgment.
Jared glanced at me and then let go of my hand, walking away with his hands on his hips. He kept his back to us, looking down at his feet and then up to the ceiling.
Eli nodded at me with a patient smile. I forced the corners of my mouth to turn up.
Only Jared’s profile was visible. His jaws worked just beneath the skin. After several moments he began speaking in a language I didn’t understand. It was more beautiful than French or Hebrew; it was the most beautiful language I’d ever heard. The words came out of Jared’s mouth like a symphony.
Eli answered him in the same language, and then I understood. They were speaking the language of Heaven. After Eli’s lengthy response, Jared turned around with tears in his eyes.
“Can I do this alone?” Jared asked.
“None of us can do anything alone, Jared. That is why we exist in families.” Eli’s expression was calm, the opposite of Jared’s. I felt an overwhelming urge to go to Jared and hold him in my arms until the tortured look left his eyes.
Jared seemed to understand what I did not. He pulled me to him, kissing the top of my hair. I wrapped my arms around him.
“It’s going to be okay. Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out,” I assured him.
He smiled, but his face crumpled around it. “I’ve put you in serious danger, Nina. You’re father was right, I should have stayed away. I’m so sorry.”
I shook my head. “I’m not,” I said softly.
Eli sighed with satisfaction. “She’s a keeper, Jared. She has faith. Maybe it will rub off on you.”
Jared’s eyes softened. “Maybe.”
In the same moment, we were alone. We made our way back to the SUV, and then Jared opened my door, lifting me to the seat.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to move back to Andrews right now,” he said with an apologetic expression.
I touched his cheek, worried about his reaction. “Jared, I can’t keep staying with you. What will people think?”
He laughed once, but he was perturbed at my question. “I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks. I’m more concerned with keeping you alive.”
I smiled patiently and kissed his cheek. “I’m staying with you on the weekends, remember?”
“It’s not enough, Nina. I need you with me at all times.”
I raised my eyebrows in protest. “Well, you can’t. I have class…and friends. I have a life outside of this craziness. Jack didn’t move in with you, and he had more enemies than I do.”
“If my mother was Gabe’s Taleh, he would have moved her in. If Gabe had created a fun new game for a legion of demons to play, he would have moved her in,” Jared said, rubbing his forehead with his fingers.
“Do you have a headache?” I asked.
Anger exploded across Jared’s face and
he walked away from me, paused a few feet away, and then walked back, still furious.
“Nina! For God’s sake, your life is in danger! And it’s my fault! Quit worrying about me!”
I sat there, stunned. Jared walked away, picked up a baseball-sized rock and hurled it at the warehouse. I lost the rock with my human eyes before it crashed through a window.
“Impressive,” I said.
Jared flipped around and seemed to contemplate yelling some more before wrapping his arms around my waist and burying his head in my lap. “Will you please take this seriously? Before I’m consumed with guilt?”
“Do you want me to be afraid?” I asked. Jared looked up at me with a pained look on his face. “Do you want me to be angry with you? Do you want me to scream at you and hate you for coming into my life?” I shook my head and cupped his cheeks with my hands. “I can’t do that. I know one way or another, everything will work out. It will.”
My optimism didn’t help Jared’s agony. His face fell, and he let his head fall to my lap again, pulling me to him, grasping at my back. I hugged him and touched my cheek to his hair. I didn’t know what else to do for him, but I refused to let my emotions betray me.
When the sun began to set, Jared’s head hadn’t moved.
“Jared, it’s getting dark. We should go,” I said, running my fingers through his hair.
After a few minutes, he stood up and slowly walked to the other side of the SUV, in no hurry to get back to town.
“I’m taking you to Brown,” Jared said, pulling away from Eli’s warehouse. “We’ll get the rest of your things, I’ll get you a dresser, make you some closet space….”
“Jared…no.”
His eyes darted to mine. “Nina, I’m sorry but this isn’t up for negotiation. I have to fix this, and then you can go back to Andrews.”
I kept my voice calm. “I’m not going to hide, Jared.”
Despite my quiet tone, Jared became increasingly angry. “I realize you haven’t a clue with what we’re dealing with here, but I’m telling you now: You’re packing, and you’re coming home with me. I don’t know for how long.”
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