Authors: Cindi Madsen
Even Jax, no matter how much he claimed he’d understand, wouldn’t if he knew the truth.
If he knew that the enemy he fought so hard against had made her what she was today.
As Persephone gathered her books from her locker, she felt Jax standing behind her. He’d left her alone most of the day—well, he hadn’t talked to her. He’d still hovered, like the giant bodyguard he thought he was.
“I’m going to be playing soccer again,” she said without looking at him. “We play every day after school.”
Jax leaned against the locker next to hers. “Actually, I was kind of hoping there might be an extra spot so I can play. I’m sure I can keep up.”
“Geez, cocky much?”
“Only around friendly girls like you.”
“I guess I’ll have to start punching you in the face then,” she shot back. The more she thought about playing with him, though—about not holding back—the more it appealed to her. “I’m sure the guys will be cool with you playing.”
“Doing normal things like playing sports is something I always wanted to do. All my schooling was in the middle of the woods, where we spent our days learning how to fight and survive, even with limited supplies. I might not have had it as rough as you did, but I didn’t exactly have a normal childhood either.”
“I’ll try to keep that in mind when you’re driving me crazy.”
“And I’ll keep in mind that you just need some practice being nice before you figure out how to do it right,” Jax said.
Mouth hanging open, she turned to him. He had a huge grin on his face, and it was impossible not to return his smile, even though it was totally at her expense.
He nudged her with his elbow. “Come on, miss thang, let’s go get some of that aggression out on the field.”
Persephone raised an eyebrow. “Oh, I plan on it, and I know right where to aim it.”
“Bring it on.”
The guys didn’t argue when Persephone said she wanted to guard Jax. As she lined up opposite him, a surge of excitement shot through her stomach. She was finally going to get to see what it felt like to go all out.
Luis and Dean faced each other, ball between them. Dean had won the toss, so he was kicking off. Persephone tensed, ready for the pass.
Dean kicked the ball to her, and she dribbled toward the goal. Jax stuck on her. Rob was open, so she passed to him.
Rob passed to Dean.
She ran down the field, then cut toward the center.
Dean kicked the ball her way.
But Jax intercepted it.
No one intercepted passes meant for her! Desperate to correct her mistake, she rushed to cover him. He dribbled the ball, not leaving an opening for her to steal, like he’d played all his life. He neared the goal…
Persephone backed off a bit.
Then charged around his other side, stole the ball, and passed it to Dean.
Jax looked at her and she flashed him a big smile, then hustled down the field. Jax caught up with her as Dean passed her the ball. She kept it close, moving toward the goal. She slowed. Jax came closer. She scooped the ball, sending it between his legs, darted left, and shot.
In her excitement, she kicked harder than normal. It barely missed Terrell’s head.
And went in.
Persephone pumped a fist in the air. “Yes!”
Jax put his hand on her back and moved his lips by her ear. “Just so you know, that’s the last goal you’re getting this game.”
She twisted toward him. The competitive glimmer in his eyes sent a rush of adrenaline through her. “Less talk, more walk.”
Jax was wrong—she scored another goal. But that was after he blocked her again and again. He’d scored two on her, and after being tied for twenty minutes, they called the game. Persephone couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so blissfully tired.
“That was fun,” Jax said to her, after they’d said goodbye to the others. “I’m exhausted, though. You’re not an easy person to keep up with.”
Persephone smiled at him. “You’re pretty hard to keep up with yourself.”
He gave her a half-cocked grin. “Wow. A compliment and everything.”
“I’ll take it back if you’re going to be obnoxious about it.”
“Sorry, it’s already out there. You can’t take it back now.” He shouldered his bag and put his arm over her shoulders.
She thought about pulling away, but it was a friendly gesture, and she supposed it wouldn’t
kill
her to get along with him while he was here. Not to mention how good it felt to be close to someone.
“I’m cooking you dinner tonight,” he said as they walked toward the car. “And I’m a pretty good cook, if I do say so myself.”
Persephone shook her head. “Wow, you really take the cocky thing to a new level.”
“It’s a survival tactic. If you think you’re going to lose a fight, you usually will. Plus, you know, there’s the whole trying to impress you thing.”
“Unfortunately for you, arrogance doesn’t impress me. I’m more impressed with humility.”
“You say that, but you keep everyone at a distance, so my only chance is to charge right in and pretend I totally know what I’m doing.”
Persephone stepped out of his grasp and scowled at him. “I said I hold back sometimes, that’s not the same as keeping everyone at a distance.”
He gave a pointed look to the space between them. “Yeah, I don’t know where I got that idea. Obviously I’m way off.”
He pulled open the car door for her. “You still haven’t told me anything about the dagger. In fact, you haven’t even confirmed you
are
a Sentry. But I know you are, so whenever you’re ready…”
Persephone climbed in the car. For a moment she considered driving off without Jax, just to show him how much distance she could put between them. That seemed too mean, though, so she waited for him to get in.
He didn’t say a word, but looked at her with this expression that drove her crazy, like he thought she was going to divulge all her secrets right now.
What was even worse, she actually wanted to.
Jax felt like if he could find the right thing to say, Persephone would finally open up. Since his attempts at getting her to talk weren’t going so well, he asked her to help with the cooking, hoping working together would make things between them easier.
But she still wasn’t talking. She was focused on the bell peppers, chopping them like they’d personally insulted her.
He took another stab at breaking the ice. “So, you usually eat Ramen or frozen burritos? Like every day?”
“Pretty much. Then I drink pomegranate smoothies to get some vitamins in.” She thrust the chopped bell peppers at him and he added them to the strips of seasoned beef in the skillet. Fajitas were his specialty.
He set the cutting board in the sink. “I’d think you’d want to mix it up a little more.”
“I buy whatever’s quick, cheap, and easy. The smoothies are my splurge, and I probably shouldn’t get them, but I can’t seem to give ’em up.”
“How do you afford rent and food, if you don’t mind me asking.”
“Gran put me on all her accounts. My name’s on the title of the Mazda, and her will states the house goes to me. Since I’m a minor, things are still a little tricky. So until I’m eighteen, my gran’s friend, Rose—the same woman who I stayed with when I first came to New Orleans—helps me out. She’s not in the Order, but she can see through demon’s projections. I don’t like getting her too wrapped up in my life, though, because it’s not safe. But moneywise, as long as I’m careful, I should be okay until I’m in my early twenties and can get a job.”
Her gaze dropped to the floor and she mumbled, “If I even live that long.”
Jax put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t say that. You know I’m going to protect you, no matter what.”
“I know you’ll try, but…” She shook her head. “There are just some things you can’t protect me from.”
“Like what?”
Tears bordered her eyes. “I wish I was stronger. But I’m not, and it’s pointless to pretend things are going to be okay, just because you’re here.”
The sadness in her voice sent his protective instincts into overdrive. He wanted to take away her pain and make sure she never sounded so sad again. He drew her to him and hugged her.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. He didn’t know what to say, so he didn’t say anything, holding on to the moment before it passed.
Because with her, it always did.
She pulled back and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Okay, I’m going to go die of embarrassment now.”
He grabbed her hand as she started to turn away. “You don’t have to keep up your front with me. Don’t be embarrassed, and if you’re sad, be sad.”
She hesitated, then lifted her eyes to his. “What about your front? Don’t pretend you don’t have one, too.”
Using his grip on her hand, he tugged her closer to the stove and used his free hand to stir the fajitas. He then set down the spatula and returned his attention to her. “What do you want to know?”
“Are you really as confident as you seem?”
“When it comes to fighting and knowing I’m supposed to be here with you, yes. I’ve trained since I was young, and I’ve killed a lot of demons. A few months ago, I ran into a Druid. He told me that my Warrior job was important, but it was secondary to the other task I’m meant to do. He told me I’d find the last Sentry, and that when I did, I needed to keep that Sentry safe. He said the balance between Heaven, Earth, and Hell depended on it. That’s why I know, without a doubt, it’s my job to protect you.”
“So I’m a job?”
He smiled and squeezed her hand. “The most challenging job I’ve ever had.”
She shot him a dirty look, but it was missing the anger she usually threw into them. Her hand felt small in his, and the way his skin hummed against hers made him never want to let go.
“Honestly, before I met you, I was getting kind of lonely. I always knew I was supposed to go wherever the demons were—that being a Warrior meant being alone a lot of the time.” He looked into her gray eyes and was struck once again by how pretty she was.
It took him a second to remember what he’d been talking about. “Anyway, I guess that’s my front. I don’t always love my job, and when it comes to you, I feel out of my league—not with the protecting, but with everything else.” He tugged her closer. “Challenging as you are, I’m still happier since you came into the picture.”
A small smile touched her lips. “You mean since you forced your way into my life?”
He grinned down at her, and his pulse picked up speed.
Would I be taking advantage of her if I kissed her right now?
Stop being such a wuss and just go for it.
“I think you better stir that again,” Persephone said, eyeing the skillet behind him. She pulled her hand from his and removed a couple of plates from the cupboard.
That hesitation ruined his chance. He turned to take care of the food, cursing himself for acting like the unsure idiot he usually wasn’t.
***
The lights from the television lit up Jax’s face. Turtle had curled up beside him, and Jax scratched the spoiled cat’s head.