“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 tell 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.”

“Still 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 tell 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 finally pulled it open. Jared stood in the hallway, his hands in his pockets.

I crossed my arms. “You look like you lost your best friend.”

“Did I?” he asked, miserable.

My shoulders fell.

“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 still there, and I had the same desperate need to be closer to him. He smelled just as amazing, and his skin was still 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.