Providence

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 cal ed out to 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 tal er 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 rol ed 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 pul ed me to his side.

“Eli,” Jared said, nodding.

“Yeah. There wil be none of that nodding crap, Jared,” Eli said, pul ing us both in for a hug. “How have you been? I assume the moping has ceased since you’ve found a way to final y 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 rol ed his eyes. “Quit it.”

“Hel o, Nina. I’ve heard…,” his eyes widened for a moment, “lots about you. It’s nice to final y meet you…formal y.”

“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 al 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 cal ed 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 pul ed 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 wil be a noticeable difference in how you’l 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’l 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 pul ed 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’l 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 wil 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.