“It’s Claire.”
“I don’t want to talk to you, either.”
Claire, being Claire, walked in anyway. She sat on the bed next to me, crossing her arms. She sat silent for the longest time, and final y took a breath.
“I get it, you know. They don’t tel me nonessential information, either. It’s crap.”
“It’s demeaning is what it is.” I frowned in her general direction. “I’m his wife. I understand I’ve been the token human that doesn’t understand the rules of the universe, but for the love of all things holy. I know enough by now. He should trust me.”
“It’s not that he doesn’t trust you. He tries to keep your life as normal as possible. He knows how important that is to you.”
“It’s a moot point these days, wouldn’t you agree?”
“I would, but I don’t love you like he does.”
My mouth pul ed to the side. She was fighting dirty. Jared loved me, and at times let that fact cloud his judgment. It was impossible to stay angry at him for it. Jared keeping Grant a secret from me defied logic. It simply didn’t make sense.
“He should have a good reason for keeping things from me, and he doesn’t have one.”
“It’s a very human reason, actual y.”
“Enlighten me.”
“Grant’s been in love with you for ages. Why do you think Jack was constantly pushing him in your direction?”
“That doesn’t make sense, either. Jack didn’t want me with Jared because of the prophecy. He definitely wouldn’t want me with an Arch.”
Claire raised an eyebrow, and the same side of her mouth turned up. “What do teenage girls do when their parents tel them not to do something?” Claire said. “If Jack told you to stay away from Grant, you would have run straight for him.”
“Ick,” I said. “No one’s that stubborn.”
“You are.”
I sighed. “Why didn’t Jack use the same logic with Jared?”
“He didn’t have to. He forced Jared to stay out of sight. That solved the problem. Grant didn’t take orders from Jack.”
“Oh, yes, he did. I saw it on many occasions.”
“You saw what they wanted you to see.”
“Stil doesn’t explain why he kept it from me,” I huffed.
“Jared might seem divinely perfect, but he’s human, too, Nina. He can make decisions based on the fear of losing you to someone else just like any other insecure boyfriend. It hasn’t been the first time.”
“He’s not my boyfriend any more.”
“Once he waited to tel you, it was something he’d kept from you. It was already too late, wasn’t it?”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“Of course I am,” Claire said, pulling me to my feet. She slapped my backside. “Now go kiss and make up with your husband who is more than likely kicking himself right now.”
I walked to the door, hesitated, and then final y pul ed it open. Jared stood in the hal way, his hands in his pockets.
I crossed my arms. “You look like you lost your best friend.”
“Did I?” he asked, miserable.
My shoulders fel .
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I swear that’s everything. You know everything else.”
“I think I’ve heard that before,” I said, walking to him until I was just inches away.
Jared touched each side of my stomach and looked down, his eyes dark with worry and guilt. I wrapped my arms around his neck and touched my cheek to his. We stood silently for a long while in that embrace. Holding him felt just as good if not better than the first time. The electricity was stil there, and I had the same desperate need to be closer to him. He smel ed just as amazing, and his skin was stil as soft. Too many months had passed since we took a moment to ourselves just to hold each other. I tried to be present in that moment and be aware of everything possible. We would leave in eight days, facing the fight of our lives. I didn’t know when this moment would happen again.
His hand slipped to my lower back, and he pul ed me closer. I lifted my chin, and his lips touched mine. I dug my fingers into the skin of his arms, and then deeper into the muscle. His tongue slipped into my mouth, but then he pul ed away.
“Ahem,” Ryan said.
I turned to see the source of the interruption standing next to Claire at the top of the stairs.
“Figures,” Jared grumbled.
We returned downstairs together, joining Bex and Lil ian in the foyer. I hugged my mother-in-law goodbye, smiling when her enthusiastic hug became a bit too tight.
“I love you,” she said, kissing my hair. She looked to Jared. “Be good to each other.” Jared nodded, and she waved goodbye.
I walked into the dining room, and Jared, Claire, and Ryan fol owed.
Ryan and Claire began clearing the table. Ryan smiled and elbowed her. “Your mom loves me.”
“She loves everyone,” Claire sneered. “You’re not special.”
“You don’t love everyone. I’d say that makes me pretty special…since you do.”
Claire glanced at Jared and me, clearly embarrassed. “You wish!”
“Just say it,” Ryan said.
“Stop tel ing me what to do,” Claire snapped back.
He crossed his arms. “It’s because I’m human, isn’t it?”
Claire’s eyes narrowed. “Seriously? It is possible that I just don’t like you.”
“Me?” Ryan said, pointing to his chest. “Nah,” he said, dismissing her suggestion. “You’re a strong woman. I get it. Not many can handle it that their girl could kick their ass. Even fewer soldiers, and even fewer Special Forces guys. But I get it, and I can keep up with you more than anyone else could. I’ve had training…and we’ve pretty much been told by the Creator of the Universe that we have to spend all of our time together. How much proof do you need?”
Claire turned and swiped her leg under Ryan’s feet, throwing him to the ground, flat on his back. “First of all , you can’t keep up with me. Second of all —”
Ryan kicked forward, and then leapt to his feet. Claire crouched in a defensive position. Ryan smiled at her reaction. “I can keep up with you.”
“I doubt that.”
“Try me. If I can’t, I’ll leave you alone.”
Claire looked at Ryan from under her brow. Her ice-blue eyes turned murderous, but under them was a mischievous smile.
I frowned. “This is a terrible idea.”
“Too late now,” Claire said.
She bent her knee and shoved her boot into Ryan’s stomach. He flew across the room and flattened against the wal , fal ing to the ground. He stumbled to his feet and sucked in a few times, the air knocked out of him.
I cringed. “At least she’s not wearing stilettos.”
Ryan shot an annoyed look my way, and then coughed a few times. He stood on wobbly knees and lifted his hands, palm-out to Claire. “You should know by now that I don’t give up.”
Claire grinned with devilish intent. “I’m going to enjoy this.”
“Not as much as me,” Jared said. I glared at him, and he shrugged. “What?”
Claire attacked, and Ryan turned. With a different adversary, he would have turned at the precise time to avoid a landed punch, but Claire was faster than the supernatural y fast—and she preferred kicking.