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I leaned in to to kiss him "How can I convince you?"

Jared pul ed away fro unco

"Don’t get an

I crossed ood"

He took a deep breath "Until we find the book, and figure out a way to keep you one-hundred percent safe, I think the intimacy should be kept to a ain," I said, rol ing my eyes

"It happens al the ti my hand with his

I sure it out?" I leaned in to kiss his neck "Haven’t you heard of the rhythm method? We’l put our own spin on it"

"I would consider ent person, but no, can’t say I’ve heard of it"

"You just figure out when I’rave;! Birth control We have the Hybrid edge"

Jared’s nose wrinkled in disdain "That doesn’t seem like a solution to me" He leaned away from my kisses, and I crossed my arms in a pout

"It’s better than your proposal," I frowned "Are you saying you can’t do it?"

"What makes you think I can?"

My eyes narrowed "Eli said once ere intie You’ve never once mentioned how, or even if they have"

"That discussion is better left alone," he said,out ofto elaborate

"Telmy chin in defiance

Jared quickly coear shift into drive, and pul ed into the street "Nina, I shouldn’t have to tel you this, but I wil : I love youin the universe I love you more than life,with you in that way Your safety is, and wil always bebeside you on that bench the night wean accidental pregnancy wil mean an al out war, because that is exactly il have to happen to keep you alive"

The s for never came He had always been careful to protecta lie, but the seriousness of the situation warranted a bluntness Jared usual y avoided

It took a long time for me to reply My initial reaction was to complain, but Eli's words echoed inthe victim He was very clear that ave me an idea

I attempted a smal smile "I understand you know better than me il happen You know exactly what consequences to expect when a choice isone I’ive me more credit than that It’s time you teach me some of what you know"

"Like what?" Jared said, dubious

"How to shoot a gun, for instance…and basic self-defense wouldn’t hurt"

Jared pinched the bridge of his nose "A gun isn’t going to help you in this particular situation, Sweetheart, roin"

"You don’t think I can do it"

"Why would you need to when you have me?"

"What if you’re busy?"

He raised an eyebrow "Youthe love ofto scare round, deterht at the restaurant? Claire stayed behind while you took care of business?"

"That’s different I would’ve never left you if Claire hadn’t been there"

"If I had kno to shoot a gun I could have helped That’s al I’h to ives you the impression that you’re capable of more than you actual y are"

MyDo you real y see hed once, a with Graham, anymore, Nina Others are an ene at"

"Fine," I said, a fake s my face "I’ll have Bex or Claire teach me She’s offered before"

Jared clenched his teeth "Neither of them wil do it withoutto start so you can’t take back"

"That’s not fair!" I said, ful y recognizing the whine in my tone I waited until ain, "I happen to know there’s a gun club in Cranston"

"You’re not going to let this go, are you?" Jared said, slowing as he pul ed into the drive

"Probably not, no," I said Jared huffed in frustration "It’s just that I…it’s suffocating being in your shadow According to you, er, and I have to wait for you to save me It would be nice to know if for whatever reason I’ to protect myself"

Jared’s eyes met mine, and then he nodded once "Okay We’l start Saturday"

Chapter Eleven

Favor

Jared lessons were not easy Where I caught a break from him, Bex pushed me further When I wasn’t at school or Titan, the three of us were in the field by the Oak Tree, ai It was mentioned more than once that I was a fast learner, and Bex said that I was a natural with any gun they put in ht I was clumsy, slow, and impatient

Sleep caht, I fel into bed,for rest Dreams of Jack were replaced with calculated et the upper hand in hand-to-hand coardless of his efforts, the area would inevitably be a series of purple splotches in the

The weeks passed, and once the trees shed their leaves, Winter wasted no tinoring Cynthia’s protests, the boys moved the furniture in the Great Rooet practice, weight training, and sparring was nearly a daily ritual Jared and Bex were always present Once Claire caught wind of our new hobby, she came when she could I always looked forward to the days she would join us

Claire washer brothers could, but I related to her with the knowledge that she had to work that much harder to prove herself I would never be as fast or as strong as the Hybrids, but I earned their respect with my stubborn refusal to quit or rest Claire understood th when the boys assumed weakness

The mirror was proof of not only my mistakes froht as Claire’s, but they were taking on a toned look that I was proud of

The day before Thanksgiving, Jared final y offered his first word of encouragement