“Who’s they?” Lillian asked. She was concerned, but not in the way a typical mother might be. She didn’t seem overly worried about Jared’s well-being. It was clear she was years ahead of me as far as experience with hybrids. She knew exactly what her children were capable of, and I wondered if I would ever have that same peace of mind.
“Donovan,” Jared said.
“Interesting,” Lillian said, thoughtfully. “How do you plan to resolve that, son?”
“We’re going to need help that won’t come,” Jared replied, clearly frustrated with his own words.
Claire’s eyes narrowed. “You talked to Samuel?” Jared nodded and she continued, “Eli?” When Jared nodded again, she shook her head in disgust. “It’s that bad?”
“Eli talked about a balance,” I said. “They won’t get involved.”
“You know,” Claire said, leaning forward in her seat, “if it gets to that point, we could force them.”
“That better be one frightening, desperate point,” Bex said. “That would mean war.”
Lillian held up her hand. “That would be a last resort.” She stood, making her way to me. “Nina, what I’m about to ask you will be very difficult, but I need the truth.”
“Okay,” I stuttered, worried what she was going to ask.
Lillian lowered her chin. “What did Gabe say to you on the plane?”
Jared frowned. “What are you talking about? He didn’t come to her on the plane.”
I bit my lip. “Actually . . .”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he said, noticeably angry. Before I could answer, he began again, “Don’t you know that everything is important now?”
“Jared,” I said, embarrassed, “he said to go home. He said not to see Claire. I knew you wouldn’t leave her there alone until you knew she was all right.”
Jared looked to Claire and then to Lillian. “Does he talk to you?”
His mother smiled. “At night. Only if it’s important. She knows about Kim now?”
“Yes,” Jared answered.
Lillian’s mouth pulled to the side, disappointed. “That was a mistake. Your main focus should be the book. It’s vitally important that you have it in hand.”
“Kim and I made a deal,” Jared explained. “She’ll help us obtain the book if we help her return it to Jerusalem under the Sepulchre where her ancestor found it. She wants to free her family of it.”
Lillian’s eyes flitted about as she thought. “If she’s helping you, why would your father try to keep Nina away from her?”
“Away from Kim?” I asked. “She’s harmless.”
“Is she?” Claire snipped.
“Dad is wrong this time. We need her,” Jared said, clearly uncomfortable. Gabe was the foundation of their family, a fallen angel from Heaven, pure-blooded. The thought of him making a mistake was a hard pill to swallow, and even Jared wasn’t convinced of his own words.
Everyone at the table sat silently, processing the situation. Finally, Bex spoke. “We’re all here. Let’s go get it.”
“We need a plan,” Jared said. “And we can’t leave Nina unprotected.”
“So Bex watches Ryan and Nina, and you and I go,” Claire said.
Jared rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve already tried. I’m telling you we need a plan.”
“You went there and didn’t leave with the book?” Claire said, raising an eyebrow.
“He had it in his hands,” Bex said, chuckling. Jared shot Bex a sharp look, and the boy’s smug expression immediately vanished. “Sorry,” he said, clearing his throat.
“I was a little outnumbered,” Jared explained. “By eighty or so.”
“So?” Claire said, unimpressed.
Jared huffed. “We’ll talk about this later.”
The ride home was long, and the air in the cab of the Escalade was thick with tension. I didn’t dare talk first. Jared’s jaw was tight, and his knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel. He drove closer to Bex’s typical speed, impatient with the stop lights and traffic.
Jared parked in the drive and then appeared at the passenger door. Without a word, he helped me to the ground. I wrapped my arm around his, and we walked in quiet understanding.
After a long shower, I set out clothes for fall classes the next day. Jared waited for me, sitting on the end of the bed.
“You’re not staying,” I said, more of a statement than a question.
He stood. “Bex will be outside. I won’t be far.” He tightened the belt of my robe and then encompassed me in his arms, leaning down just inches from my face. “I’ll see you in the morning,” he said, pressing his warm lips softly against mine.
He intended the kiss good-bye to be quick, but his lips lingered on mine. I ran my hands over the perfection of his chest and stomach and then made my way to the bottom of his shirt, reaching underneath the fabric to touch his soft feverish skin.
“You could stay,” I whispered, smiling against his mouth.
“I want to,” he said, his voice strained.
“Just for a little while? I won’t keep you long,” I began to raise his shirt, but he gently restrained me by the wrists.
“Bex is downstairs.”
“Crap,” I said with a grimace. My hands fell to my sides, and I blew my bangs from my face in a huff.
Jared left me alone, and I ambled to the bed. Once my head hit the pillow, I was surprised that the yearning for his warm body beside me or thoughts of Ryan or Jack or the upcoming day of tedious bombardment of syllabi and introductions never crossed my mind. Heaviness came upon me, and I gladly succumbed.
~*~
“Nina!” Beth shouted from the end of the hall. She rushed to catch up and then threw her arms around my neck. “Can you believe we’re back already?” She looked around, scanning faces of passing students.
“No,” I said, grinning at her endearing over-enthusiasm for everything.
I didn’t bother bringing my laptop; every class would be the same. Beth filled me in on the last few details she’d taken care of at Titan, and we discussed the monstrosity that was Sasha and the fact that she would be staying on.
“How far does she think she’ll go in that company, now that she’s made an enemy of you?” she asked, rolling her eyes.
“You make the mistake of believing she thinks. She did take on the Christmas party. It makes me wonder what she has up her sleeve.”
“Hopefully breath spray,” Beth said, covering her mouth. “I can’t believe I just said that.” Beth giggled and I shook my head.
My attention was diverted to a group of boys that walked through the door. Josh led the group. As Ryan’s best friend, he wasn’t a fan of mine and made it quite clear that he’d rather not be around me. Chad admitted that Josh accused me of being the reason Ryan left. Beth came to my defense, of course, but that didn’t make him wrong.
Once Josh caught a glimpse of me, his eyes became unfocused. He looked right through me before pretending to be deeply engrossed in whatever his friends were saying.
Beth glared at him as he found his seat. “He really needs to get over himself.”
“He’s just being the same kind of friend to Ryan that you are to me,” I mumbled, fiddling with my pen.
“Guess I can’t fault him for that.”
I found myself fighting the urge to tell her that Ryan was not only back, but just a few minutes away. Not being able to see him when he was so close was bad enough; even though I had thought of several different scenarios where I could happen across that information, I couldn’t tell Beth until Claire gave me the green light.
“Good morning,” the professor said, passing out the intro packet for the class.
I sighed when Beth handed me a stack of papers, and I took my own, passing on the rest. I didn’t bother thumbing through the pages like the other students, but settled into my seat, making a valid effort to pay attention. The mundane pieces of my life used to be what I was so desperate to hold on to. In the last m
onth, it was all I could do to make an active effort to be a participant. College seemed trivial compared to the other part of my life.
After classes, I smiled at the sight of Jared’s Escalade waiting in its usual spot. He had warned me that morning that I wouldn’t see him at lunch. He said it was to give me time to catch up with the girls, something about “holding on to a shred of normal.” I was too busy being offended to hear.
He quickly opened my door for me, and I wrapped my arms around his middle.
“Well, hello,” he said, amused at my eager affection.
“Oh, like you didn’t miss me too,” I said, smiling up at him.
He raised one eyebrow. “Do you even have to ask?” He watched me settle into my seat and then sighed. “I thought I should tell you Claire called. Ryan should be released soon.”
“Can I see him yet?” I said, a bit more enthusiastic than was appropriate.
Jared tried to hide his disappointment at my words. “He hasn’t told anyone he’s here. How would you explain your visit?”
The tightness around his eyes gave him away. He was still worried. Now that Ryan had been wounded and was home after such a long time away, I imagined his concern was at a new level.
“Ryan and I are different people now. Everything has changed,” I said, touching Jared’s cheek with my fingertips.
“As long as Ryan is in love with you, I will always have reason to worry.”
I leaned in to kiss him. “How can I convince you?”
Jared pulled away from me, shifting uncomfortably.
“What is it?” I said, frowning.
“Don’t get mad,” he began.
I crossed my arms. “A disclaimer? This should be good.”
He took a deep breath. “Until we find the book and figure out a way to keep you one-hundred-percent safe, I think the intimacy should be kept to a minimum.”
“Oh, for the love of God, not this again,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“It happens all the time, Nina. We can’t risk it,” he said, covering my hand with his.
I smirked. “You can’t use your abracadabra to figure it out?” I leaned in to kiss his neck. “Haven’t you heard of the rhythm method? We’ll put our own spin on it.”
“I would consider myself an intelligent person, but no, can’t say I’ve heard of it.”
“You just figure out when I’m ovulating, and we abstain for those few days.Voilà! Birth control. We have the hybrid edge.”
Jared’s nose wrinkled in disdain. “That doesn’t seem like a solution to me.” He leaned away from my kisses, and I crossed my arms in a pout.
“It’s better than your proposal.” I frowned. “Are you saying you can’t do it?”
“What makes you think I can?”
My eyes narrowed. “Eli said once we were intimate your senses would change. You’ve never once mentioned how or even if they have.”
“That discussion is better left alone,” he said, maneuvering out of my embrace. He faced forward, clearly unwilling to elaborate.
“Tell me I’m wrong,” I said, lifting my chin in defiance.
Jared quickly commandeered the driver’s seat, shoved the gear shift into drive, and pulled into the street. “Nina, I shouldn’t have to tell you this, but I will. I love you more than anything on this earth, more than anything in the universe. I love you more than life, more than my family, and I love you more than I love being with you in that way. Your safety is, and will always be, my first priority. This isn’t the kind of risk I took sitting beside you on that bench the night we met or telling you what I am. Making a mistake concerning an accidental pregnancy will mean an all-out war, because that is exactly what will have to happen to keep you alive.”
The smile or wink I was hoping for never came. He had always been careful to protect me from the truth without telling a lie, but the seriousness of the situation warranted a bluntness Jared usually avoided.
It took a long time for me to reply. My initial reaction was to complain, but Eli’s words echoed in my mind. He had told me it was time to break away from being the victim. He was very clear that my time to feel sorry for myself was over.
That gave me an idea.
I attempted a small smile. “I understand you know better than I do what will happen. You know exactly what consequences to expect when a choice is made—especially if it’s the wrong one. I’m human, Jared, but that doesn’t make me frail. You have to give me more credit than that. It’s time you teach me some of what you know.”
Jared’s forehead wrinkled. “Like what?”
“How to shoot a gun, for instance, and basic self-defense wouldn’t hurt.”
Jared pinched the bridge of his nose. “A gun isn’t going to help you in this particular situation, sweetheart, much less a solid knee to the groin.”
“You don’t think I can do it.”
“Why would you need to when you have me?”
“What if you’re busy?”
He raised an eyebrow. “You mean too busy to do my job? The one that includes protecting the love of my life from certain death?”
He was trying to scare me, but I stood my ground, determined to prove my case. “Do I have to remind you of the night at the restaurant? Claire stayed behind while you took care of business?”
“That’s different. I would’ve never left you if Claire hadn’t been there.”
“If I had known how to shoot a gun, I could have helped. That’s all I’m saying.”
“Teaching you just enough to make you dangerous is not helping. It gives you the impression that you’re capable of more than you actually are.”
My mouth fell open. “Now that’s just insulting. Do you really see me as helpless?”
Jared laughed once, amused. “No. Definitely not, but we’re not dealing with Graham anymore, Nina. Others are an enemy you don’t want to piss off by shooting at.”
“Fine,” I said, a fake smile tightening my face. “I’ll have Bex or Claire teach me. She’s offered before.”
Jared clenched his teeth. “Neither of them will do it without my explicit permission, and if they do, you’re going to start something you can’t take back.”
“That’s not fair!” I said, fully recognizing the whine in my tone. I waited until my voice could sound calmer and then spoke again, “I happen to know there’s a gun club in Cranston.”
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?” Jared said, slowing as he pulled into the drive.
“Probably not, no,” I said. Jared huffed in frustration. “It’s just that I . . . It’s suffocating being in your shadow. According to you, my life is constantly in danger and I have to wait for you to save me. It would be nice to know if for whatever reason I’m alone that I can do something to protect myself.”
Jared’s eyes met mine and then he nodded once. “Okay. We’ll start Saturday.”
11. Favor
Jared’s lessons were not easy. When I caught a break from him, Bex pushed me further. When I wasn’t at school or Titan, the three of us were in the field by the oak tree, aiming, punching, blocking, ducking, attacking, and subduing. It was mentioned more than once that I was a fast learner, and Bex said that I was a natural with any gun they put in my hand.
Jared didn’t agree. He thought I was clumsy, slow, and impatient.
Sleep came more easily than ever. Every night, I fell into bed, my muscles screaming for rest. Dreams of Jack were replaced with calculated moves and steps I would take to get the upper hand in hand-to-hand combat. Jared would tend to my sore spots. Regardless of his efforts, the area would inevitably be a series of purple splotches in the morning.
The weeks passed, and once the trees shed their leaves, winter wasted no time covering the debris of fall with a blanket of white. Ignoring Cynthia’s protests, the boys moved the furniture in the great room to transform it to a sparring ring.
The target practice, weight training, and sparring were nearly a daily ritual. Jared and Bex were always present. On
ce Claire caught wind of our new hobby, she came when she could. I always looked forward to the days she would join us.
Claire was more than capable of doing everything her brothers could, but I related to her with the knowledge that she had to work that much harder to prove herself. I would never be as fast or as strong as the hybrids, but I earned their respect with my stubborn refusal to quit or rest. Claire understood my resolve, and when she looked at me, she assumed strength when the boys assumed weakness.
The mirror was proof of not only my mistakes from the bruises but my hard work. My arms weren’t nearly as tight as Claire’s, but they were taking on a toned look that I was proud of.
The day before Thanksgiving, Jared finally offered his first word of encouragement.
“Better,” he said with an emotionless nod.
That single word gave me the determination to continue. I was only human, but if I could keep up with Jared, Claire, and Bex, I could hold my own with Donovan or Shax’s other human minions. At least I could try.
Thanksgiving Day arrived. Cynthia attended the Macy’s Day parade in New York with some of her charity chums, and I helped Claire and Lillian in the kitchen while the boys set the table and kept the dishes washed.
Every one of my favorite spices and herbs permeated the air. Laughter was the background music to the busy atmosphere. Lillian noticed a difference in me right away and wanted to discuss my training. She took a keen interest in it, wishing she had thought of it as well.
Bex set the turkey on the table and sat beside his mother. Claire grabbed one of my hands. Jared took the other.
“Our Lord in Heaven,” Lillian began, “thank you for our many blessings: the wonderful food on the table, the health and safety of our family, and that we are all sitting together on this day of thanks.”
“Amen,” Jared said, nodding.
“Aye Men!” Bex said, digging into the various dishes on the table.
Partway through dinner, I noticed Claire was quiet, thoughtfully chewing and smiling at the appropriate times in conversation. Jared of course noticed when I did, and he watched his sister.
“Claire?”
She met his eyes but didn’t speak.
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