I nodded, and then waved to Claire. Ryan walked up behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders. It was so natural to see them standing next to each other, I couldn’t remember what it was like when Ryan didn’t know the Ryel secret, and he and Claire didn’t spend every waking moment together.
“See you on the plane,” Ryan said with a contrived smile.
I paused. “I’d understand if you didn’t want to go.”
Ryan shook his head. “I’m a marine, Nigh. I live for this shit.”
Jared tugged on my hand. When we reached the Escalade, he sighed.
“You’re worried for them.”
“No,” he said, starting the engine. “I’m worried for us, and what we’ll have to put up with when they don’t have an impending war to keep them entertained.”
Chapter Fifteen
Questioned
Jared drove across town, and then took the highway that would lead us to the warehouse. Once we exited the highway and hit a dirt road, I knew we were close. The night sky was clear, and every star in the universe seemed to be present to watch over us. No wind, not even the sound of crickets or cicadas played for us as we parked and walked down the gravel drive. Jared unlocked the large, rusted lock of the gate, and then I followed him to the side door. Jared pushed the button, and then waited.
Accustomed to waiting ten or twenty minutes, I settled in, but the door immediately clicked, and Jared pulled me inside.
“Now, that’s service,” I said, smiling.
Jared smiled back. “He’s expecting us.”
“Isn’t he always?”
The full moon let in the only light, casting large shadows across the vast cement floor. My sandals scraped against the dirt, and echoed throughout the building. Jared walked across the room, stopping in the middle.
This time was different from the visits we’d made before. This time, I could feel Eli. I could almost smell him. It seemed like he was closing in; that he was in the next room and making sounds to signal he was heading our way, but there was no sound. I could only feel it.
His energy grew stronger, and then he was standing in front of us. The same ensemble as usual, I smiled at his casual sandals. I withstood the urge to hug him. He had saved our hides the last time I’d seen him, but I didn’t know where we stood now.
Eli’s smile was immediate and sincere. “Hello, Nina. You look positively radiant! Doesn’t she look radiant, Jared?”
“She does,” Jared said.
“Time is so inconsistent between planes. It seems like I’ve been waiting ages for you two. I trust the family is doing well?”
“So far,” I said.
Eli held one arm across his middle, and touched the other hand to his mouth as he feigned being lost in thought. “Hmmm…you’re going on a trip, soon? Leaving this weekend?”
Jared nodded.
Eli’s eyes widened. “I heard. You really aren’t going to make this easy for the dark side, are you?”
Jared took a breath. “You don’t seem concerned.”
Eli laughed once. “It’s hard to be concerned when nothing is a surprise. Just once I’d like to say, ‘Ohemgee!’ you know?”
I laughed, and Eli nodded, glad for my reaction.
Jared released my hand, and then rubbed the back of his neck. “This is no road trip. We need protection in the air.”
Eli pulled his mouth to the side. “He’ll remain neutral.”
Jared frowned. “How can I protect her if the plane goes down? This opens us up to any amount of obstacles. Power failure, engine failure…if we end up in the water, we could wind up in a storm with fifty-foot waves. That’s not balanced.”
Eli nodded. “True. I’ll put Samuel on it. Make sure things stay fair. Deal?”
“Good enough,” Jared nodded. “One more thing….”
“Oh, you’re ready, are you?” Eli said, his eyebrows shooting up.
I couldn’t help but smile. “That looks awfully close to surprise to me.”
Eli grinned from one ear to the other. “It feels like it, too. I should probably say, ‘Ohemgee’ to make it official, right? Ohemgee! You’re ready?”
Jared smiled and then looked down, nodding. “We’re ready.”
“For what?” I asked.
Eli’s expression softened. “The last question. The child is special, Jared. The first angel born to earth. As you already know, this child is capable of much, and has powers beyond your comprehension, but your wife is your only responsibility.”
Jared frowned, trying to understand what Eli was trying to tell him.
I gripped Jared’s arm. “But I thought once the baby is born, it’s protected. Isn’t that true?”
“Yes,” Eli said. “But Jared is not its protector. He is yours.”
Jared put his hand on mine. “Ask your question, Eli. Ask the only question left.”
“Can you trust her?” he said.
“Nina?” Jared said. He looked at me, confused.
I could see Eli staring at us. His words were soft and slow. “A mother’s love is everything, Jared. It is what brings a child into this world. It is what molds their entire being. When a mother sees her child in danger, she is literally capable of anything. Mothers have lifted cars off of their children, and destroyed entire dynasties. A mother’s love is the strongest energy known to man. You must trust that love, and its power. Can you do that?”
Jared never took his eyes from mine. “Yes.”
Eli nodded. “Then have confidence to carry out your plans.”
I looked to Eli to tell him goodbye, but he had vanished. I took a deep breath, and threw my arms around my husband. “Do you feel better?”
“Not that I think you incapable, but I’m not practiced in the art of spectating.”
“He just told us we could go to Jerusalem and be safe! He just said everything will be all right! Didn’t you hear him?”
Jared frowned. “I heard him tell me to hand you total control.”
I smiled. “And I heard you say you would.”
Jared nodded, clearly frustrated. “I know. I will.” He took my hand and led me to the Escalade. I shot him a warning glare, and he winced. “I swear.”
“I don’t think he means that I should lead the operation. My love for our child will keep it safe. I take that as a good thing, and it sounds very simple.”
“Too simple. I don’t want you thinking we’re going to land and take a taxi to the Sepulchre and everything work out as planned. It’s going to get messy, very fast.”
I squeezed his hand. “We can do it. We have to.”
Jared took my face in his hands and pressed his lips against mine. I grabbed his blue T-shirt in each of my fists and pulled him closer. My stomach kept us farther apart than usual, but I was as close as I could get for the moment.
“Whoa!” Jared said, backing away.
I grabbed my stomach and laughed. “You felt that?”
“Of course I did. Think Bean’s trying to tell us something?”
“That we’re grossing him out?”
