Providence

“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 wil 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 al times.”

I raised my eyebrows in protest. “Wel , 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, stil 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 basebal -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 yel ing some more before wrapping his arms around my waist and burying his head in my lap.

“Wil 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 wil work out. It wil .”

My optimism didn’t help Jared’s agony. His face fel , and he let his head fal to my lap again, pul ing 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, pul ing away from Eli’s warehouse. “We’l get the rest of your things, I’l 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 tel ing you now: You’re packing, and you’re coming home with me. I don’t know for how long.”

I shook my head slowly.

His jaws tensed. “Nina, don’t be stubborn. Please trust me.”

“I do trust you. That’s why I’m not going to hide,” I said again.

He jerked the Escalade onto the shoulder of the road and shoved the gear in park. “I’m not asking, Nina. I am tel ing you. It’s that serious.”

I narrowed my eyes at him and he sighed, hitting his steering wheel with the heel of his hand.

“Don’t do this to me! It’s bad enough knowing I’ve put you in this situation without you refusing to let me keep you safe!”

“Jack didn’t want you to tel me the truth because he didn’t want this. He didn’t want me to live in fear or in hiding. If you lock me up you’re giving them what they want.”

His knuckles were white as they gripped the steering wheel. “What makes you think you know what they want?” His voice was low and deliberate.

“Because Jack wanted the opposite,” I whispered.

Jared stared at me, considering my words. “Jack wanted you safe. These things don’t show mercy, Nina. They don’t care that you’re an innocent teenage girl.”

I swal owed. “Eli said we were only dealing with humans for now. Let’s concentrate on that.”

Jared thought for a moment and relaxed a bit. “Okay. We’l do this your way. While we’re stil dealing with humans, you can stay at Andrews. The second Shax cal s out even a fraction of one of his legions, you’re coming with me. And I don’t want to hear a single word about it.”

I nodded. “Fair enough.” I pul ed my arms around me, bracing myself. My curiosity outweighed my need to remain oblivious. “What are Legions?”

Jared grimaced, obviously wishing I hadn’t asked. “Shax has thirty legions under his command. Don’t ask me how many demons that is. You don’t want to know.”

I nodded again, swal owing the bile rising in my throat.

“Nina?” Jared asked, feeling my forehead.

“I don’t feel wel ,” I said, reaching for the door handle.

I ran to the grass, hearing both car doors shut simultaneously. As soon as my feet touched the soil, Jared was beside me, pul ing my hair away from my face. It didn’t take long for the dry heaving to commence; I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast.

After my stomach relaxed and the gagging ceased, Jared lifted me into his arms and returned me to my seat.

“I’m taking you to the loft,” he warned, putting the gear in drive.

I was too exhausted and sick to argue.

Jared carried me up the two flights of stairs and gently placed me on my side of the bed. I let my body melt into the mattress while I listened to the water run in the bathroom. Moments later a cool, folded wash cloth was laid it across my forehead.

“Déjà vu,” I said.

“I wasn’t taking your condition into consideration when I drug you out to see Eli, and I should have gotten you something to eat. I’m sorry.”

“Quit apologizing. You didn’t force me to drink too much last night. How are you feeling? Like me?”

“I’m not sick, just uncomfortable. I’l make you a deal. I’l quit apologizing if you quit worrying about me,” he said, brushing my hair back from my face.

I smiled but didn’t make any promises. Jared kissed my cheek. “I’m going downstairs to get you some crackers and soda to settle your stomach.

Try to rest.”

“I’m real y fine. You don’t have to fuss,” I said, pushing myself up against the pil ows.

“I’m just trying to make you comfortable.” He had a strange expression on his face, almost sul en.

“Your bed is a thousand times more comfy than my bed at Andrews, and even my bed at home. And neither of them smel s like you.”

Jared fidgeted before speaking. “So…why is it that you’re so against staying here? Is it me?”

My eyebrows immediately pul ed in, hurt that he would ever come to that conclusion. “No! I’m not against staying here. I love staying here. I just need to go back to Andrews.”