Restraint (The Revelation Series Book 2) (25 page)

He
brings his other hand to my neck so both are squeezing tightly, cutting off the circulation of oxygen. I snap my hands up and around each of his wrists. My surprised eyes dart over his shoulder to Callan who’s holding a very pissed off Asher back.

Tadhg
leans into my ear and uses a low voice, his Irish brogue thick. “Ye’re in a bad position, lass.” He tsks, increasing his chokehold on my throat and causing my eyes to water. “How would ye get outta dis if I was a demon?” His solid body presses my back against the wall as I grunt. “I asked ye a question.” Tadhg’s grip tightens and my hands claw at his wrists.

“Enough
,” Asher shouts as he watches with helpless fury.

“Let him do this.
She needs to be adept at defending herself,” Keegan orders calmly.

I close my eyes, praying I
won’t pass out. “Come on, lass, tink,” Tadhg demands, his voice urgent.

My eyes open
and my hands go to my legs where my daggers would normally be sheathed.

Tadhg
’s eyes meet mine. “Aye, good girl.” At that, he removes the hold on my neck. The release causes me to gasp in air as I slide down the wall, my ass hitting the concrete floor.

Asher
doesn’t take his eyes off me as he storms over, brushing past Tadhg who is backing away with caution. “If she has bruises, I’ll fucking kill you,” Asher warns as he comes closer to me. I plaster myself to the wall, still in shock. Asher stands at his full height and snaps around to Tadhg.

His voice
is a menacing bark as he points at Tadhg. “Get the fuck away from her.”

Tadhg
backs up with his palms out in a show of surrender and moves closer to Callan and Keegan who are watching Asher with interest. Asher returns to me and crouches. At the sight of my neck and the water dripping from my eyes, his face became callous.

“
EVERYONE LEAVE NOW!” Asher roars, startling me.

“Ash, you kn
ow this had to be done,” Callan says, trying to pacify him.

Asher’s nostrils flare and in a low
snarl he says, “OUT!”

At the angry
order, everyone leaves in silence. Once the room is clear, Asher sits on the floor in front of me, his face softening. He reaches out and catches my chin. “Siren, look at me.” His voice is demanding.

I snap my eyes at him
, fuming. “What the fuck,” I croak out, stunned.

“I’m
sorry,” he offers in a pained apology.

“Why woul
d you allow them do that?” I shout but it’s raspy from my scratchy throat.

He close
s his eyes and releases my chin. Running his hands through his hair and rubbing the back of his neck in agitation, he says, “We thought it would help get you to understand the importance of your daggers when defending yourself. Your refusal to engage with them…we figured if we caught you off guard, you—” I cut him off.

“Tough love doesn’t work on me
, you asshole.” A sudden rush of tears sting my eyes.

His
eyes flash a furious blue before glowing. “I see that. I’m sorry.”

I slap his hands away as he reache
s for me. “No. You don’t get to touch me.” I snivel.

He
curses under his breath before cupping my face firmly so I can’t move or fight him. “Don’t,” he pleads. Once I stop struggling, he plants kisses on both of my eyes. “I’m so fucking sorry, siren.”

My sob finally escape
s as I cling to his solid form. “You have no idea what it did to me to see you laying on the ground, bleeding out.”

Asher
pulls back and looks into my eyes, commanding my attention. “I do get it. There is nothing I want more than to shelter you from all this, Eve, but there’s nowhere for us to hide. You’re human. I need to know you can protect yourself so that at the end of this fucked up story, it’s you and me left standing, together.”

My body shrinks at
the desperation in his plea. It’s like his life force is woven within my soul. He’s afraid. Not that he won’t survive the war…but that I won’t. “Give them to me.” I cave.

At my
directive, Asher pulls me onto his lap and holds on to me like the world is on fire.

“
Hold out your hands,” he orders in a soothing voice.

I
do and he places the smooth black onyx handles of the silver daggers into them. I look down as my thumbs brush the silver dragon symbol etched into them. They match Asher’s tattoo, our bond mark. He folds his hands over mine.

“These belong to you, siren.” He places a feather-light kiss across
each of my knuckles before dropping one final searing kiss on my lips. “Tomorrow you’ll practice with them.”

Trying to block my apprehension, I
feign strength. “I’ve got this.”

Asher calls everyone back into the training room. It looks as though he’d given them a stern
warning before they returned. Tadhg walks in last. He’s standing by the wall, watching me with apprehension. My anger gets the best of me and I turn quickly to him, throwing both the daggers at him. They land in the wall, one on each side of his head, a breath away from nicking him.

Tadhg’s
eyes widen with surprise. I lurk toward him, stopping when we’re nose-to-nose. As I pull the weapons from the wall, I narrow my eyes, lean in and whisper, “An eye for an eye, gargoyle.”

“Nice to see you following gargoyle law
s, cutie.” Callan chuckles.

Asher’s loud laugh radiates through me. “I think
Tadhg might have peed his pants a little.”

Tadhg
raises his middle finger at Asher. “Sod off, brother.” Though he does look rattled.

Internally, I high-f
ive myself. Guess my ego got the best of me in that situation. I give Keegan a side-glance. He’s smirking too.
Wow, I cracked the always stoic Keegan. I rock!

Asher’s arms wrap around my waist
, pulling my back to his chest before he kisses the top of my head in pride. “Come on, killer. It’s late. Let’s get you fed and rested.”

We
leave the training room, but before we completely make our way out, Keegan stops me. “You did good today.” My eyes lock onto his and he offers me a brief smile.

***

I’m brushing my teeth when Asher
swaggers into the bathroom. He leans his hip against the counter and just watches me. It’s starting to freak me out. I squint at him before spitting.

“Can I help you?”

“Huh?” he asks.

“You’re staring.”
I tip my toothbrush at him.

“Am I?” He tilts
his head to the side and crosses his arms.

I spit one last time and start my flossing routine
and gargle my mouth rinse, all while Asher just stands there, observing me.
Seriously, what’s he doing?

“Curious about dental care?”

“Curious about you,” he shoots back.

“Okay.”

He shrugs. “I like watching you do normal, everyday things.”

I blink. “Did you
get clocked in training today?”

“No.
” He slides his hands into the pockets of his pajama bottoms. “Want to have a sleep over?”

“Sleepover?”
I repeat, less than enthused.

“
Pajamas, pillow fights, gossip. You know, sleepover,” he clarifies, like I’m an idiot.

I sigh. “You’re freaking me out. What the hell is going on?”

He reaches for me and grabs the hem of my tank top, pulling me towards him. I stumble a bit and have to place my hands on his shoulders for balance as he tugs me closer. “I want you in my bed tonight. I was hoping you’d fall asleep in my arms.” His eyes lock onto mine.

“
Oh. That sounds.” I exhale. “Blissful.”

“Blissful?”

“It means—” Asher cuts me off by picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder. He smacks my ass, enjoying my squeal before I giggle.

“
I know what it means, siren.” He walks us to his bedroom and drops me on the large bed.

I crawl up to the pillows and get under the covers
, making myself comfortable and at home while he watches me, smiling the entire time. Then he gets himself settled in before he turns a serious face to me.

“
How do you know the right side isn’t my usual side?” he asks with genuine bewilderment.

“
Oh God. Asher, I’m sorry. I didn’t even think. Is this your side?” I point to where I’m lying.

He laughs quietly. “It’s not. I just wanted to fuck with you.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Mean.”

That earns
me his signature sexy smile before grabbing the back of my neck and bringing me in for a very long and sensual goodnight kiss.

“
Mmm, cinnamony and clean. I like oral care in a human.” The comment is lined with a wicked undertone.

I
snort before snuggling into him and closing my eyes as he shuts off the lights. Strong arms tighten around me, keeping me safe and content, tucked into him.

“Want me to sing you a
lullaby?” he asks in the darkness.

“
Um, no. Thanks. I’m good. And eighteen.” I laugh softly.

“Good night, siren.”

“Good night, pretty boy.”  

The sounds of my footsteps on the marble floor echo off the tall arched ceiling surrounding me in the dark corridor. Aside from my even breathing, it’s the only noise I hear.

To my left
are dark gray stone castle walls with alcoves that draw your attention to huge granite gargoyle statues. On my right are several large cathedral windows that overlook the inky night sky.

My
gaze lifts to the enormous, medieval double doors in front of me. Both pieces of dark wood are intricately carved with symbols I’ve never seen before. Each entry is flanked with two massive gargoyle statues. Both have an urn resting on the top of their heads. The fire burning in them emits the only light.

C
autiously, I approach the doors and take a deep breath then run my fingers over the beautiful carvings before dropping my hands to the iron loops. Once pulled, they allow me access to what’s behind the entrance. I’m surprised to discover the double doors are actually light and effortless to open. They make no sound as I step through the archway.

I’m in what I assume
is an assembly room of some sort. It’s shadowy, chilled and dungeon-like with dark gray and black hued stone walls, floors and ceilings. Light discharges from thousands of lit black candles that are melting, allowing the wax to drip and run over the stone before turning solid again. Urns filled with fire line each side of an aisle that runs all the way to the front of the chamber before stopping at a raised platform.

“
Well, this is a new one,” I say to myself, taking the environment in. My head snaps up at the booming sound of a voice rumbling off the stones.

“
Today is judgment day for you. You are here in the council chamber because of your disregard for your oath and our laws. Do you understand?” An older man’s voice cascades through me, leaving chills in its wake.

I turn my focus
to the front of the hall and attempt to make out what I see in the shadows. I think a man is chained, two guards on each side of him, and he seems to be kneeling in front of an extremely tall elderly man, dressed in black robes. The man in black must be at least seven feet tall. With his dark brown wings out, he seems even larger.

At the question posed, the
guy kneeling just bobs his head once. I’m not sure how I’m attuned to him, but he’s in a great deal of pain. I suddenly become aware they’ve been torturing him. His pride is strong though, which is why he is chained and being forced to kneel.

Behind the tall
, robed man are two stairs that lead to a stone throne. On each side of the throne are gargoyle statues and more arched alcoves. This almost feels like a place of worship for the supernatural beings.

There are five more
unnaturally tall beings on the left side of the throne and only four on the right. Each is seated on the granite stage, holding their heads high with an air of authority. There’s one chair empty though at the end of the right side. Odd.

“The council is very disappointed with you
,” the first man says with a sigh. “We expected great restraint from a member of this council. You have tarnished the protector duties we are bound to. You have embarrassed this council and your race. But most disturbing, you have tainted your family name.”

T
he prisoner says nothing in response.

One of the other male council me
mbers speaks from the stage. “And for what? A human girl? Pathetic.”

“I love her
,” the captive says in a low but solid voice, which resonates in my ears as my heart rate increases.