“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.