Eden Read Online Free PDF

was
hesitant.
    Eli sensed my fear, and smiled. “Don’t
be afraid, Nina. You may speak.”
    “ Um….” I looked to Jared,
who’d told me just the opposite just a few minutes before. Any
caution was absent from his face. “Jared didn’t kill Isaac,” I
said. My voice was soft, but firm. Even if I incriminated myself, I
couldn’t let Jared take the blame for my actions.
    Eli nodded, knowingly and patiently.
“The actions leading to Isaac’s death are why we’re here, Nina. You
may enter your argument in a moment. I assure you this will be a
fair proceeding.”
    “ Then why do Jared and
Claire seem so nervous?” I said, deliberately leaving Bex’s name
out. “This doesn’t feel like a casual inquiry.”
    “ You’re right. It’s not.
The charges against Jared are very serious. A life was lost. Archs
are not allowed to kill humans to protect their Taleh. Half-Breeds
are exempt from our rules, as they are half human and allowed free
will. However, because Half-Breeds are privy to those rules, it is
important that they not take advantage. Do you
understand?”
    “ Y-yes,” I said, afraid to
say my next words. Eli seemed to have unending patience, but I
didn’t want to test it. “But…Jared didn’t kill Isaac.”
    Michael’s body twitched, and he began
to speak in a language so beautiful, I knew it was of Heaven. Eli
interrupted.
    “ English, Michael. It’s
polite.”
    Michael sighed with frustration. “Why
do you waste your time?” he said to Eli. “We don’t explain
ourselves to them.”
    “ Patience,” Eli said
simply. He looked to me, then. “All actions leading to Isaac’s
death are in review. In this case, Jared revealing himself to you
plays a part. Typically, we would trace to the beginning, and hold
the individual responsible. In this case, the individual would be
Jared’s father, Gabriel, for revealing himself to Lillian Van
Buren. That action ultimately resulted in Isaac’s death. But,
because Gabriel has already been judged for that action, the
responsibility falls on Jared.”
    I frowned, still confused.
    Eli smiled in understanding. “Think of
the Garden of Eden. Our Lord judges wrongs based on chain
reactions. It is the way of things.”
    “ You mean he holds
grudges,” I said.
    “ No,” Eli said with a
small chuckle. “No, that is not what I mean. He considers the root
of the problem when He makes a decision.”
    “’ The sins of the father’
type of thing?”
    “ It’s difficult to explain
in human terms, Nina. The short answer is yes.”
    Jared had made his choices, but being
blamed for being the product of his parents’ love, and for me for
the death of Donovan was unacceptable to me. He was my husband,
after all. It was now my duty to protect him, as well. I stood
tall. “What about me?”
    Jared tensed. “Nina,” he
chided.
    I glanced at Jared, but didn’t heed
his warning. “On grounds that my father made choices that could
have been the cause of everything that’s happened, and the fact
that I am the one who killed Isaac’s Taleh…shouldn’t I be the one
on trial?”
    “ Yes,” Michael growled,
low and frightening, through his teeth.
    Eli touched my shoulder. “You are,
Nina. Every choice you make. His decision for you will be later.
Jared is held to a different standard, set apart from Heaven and
Earth; rules for his kind that he is aware of. Now,” he smiled with
kindness and maybe a bit of amusement, “if you are satisfied, we
will continue.”
    Knowing that even if I did come to
understand, I would never agree, I nodded. The expression on Eli’s
face told me that he was aware of my feelings, and he appreciated
that I was willing to let him move forward.
    A new level of intensity weighed on
everyone—everyone but Eli, who seemed impervious. Michael’s chest
heaved as he readied himself to make his case and avenge Isaac’s
death. As Michael took a step forward, his small army lifted the
cloaks from their faces. I shouldn’t have been, but I