Revolution (The Revelation Series Book 4) (6 page)

“What about you, buttercup?” Gage angles his head to Nassa.

“Don’t I look fine?” she barks.

Gage smirks at her and digs in his pocket for a cigarette. “Yes. You do.” He winks.

“Keep it in your pants, Gallagher.” She glares at him.

Gage puts the end of his cigarette into his mouth before lighting and inhaling the nicotine. On an exhale, he rubs his thumb sexily over his bottom lip, studying Nassa’s nonverbal cues.

“Both gorgons are gone then?” he asks.

“Yep,” Nassa answers, popping her p.

Asher and I just stare at one another, in some sort of trance. Ignoring the discussion going on around us. Given everything that just occurred in the last twenty minutes, it’s strange that I’m out of breath and my body is on alert, because of him.

“Do you know how fucking hard it was to sit out here, knowing you were in danger, siren?” Asher asks in a cool tone.

“I took care of it.”

“You took care of it?” he repeats in disbelief.

My jaw tightens at his lack of faith in me. “Must be all that amazing training.”

Asher’s lips press in a line as he stares down at me. “Gorgons can turn you into stone if you look into their eyes, which you did, siren. Yet, you’re not stone?”

“Maybe the divination of redemption works both ways, once mated,” I offer.

My words seem to catch him off guard. “Do not come back here without a protector.”

I cross my arms and step to him. “Stop bossing me around, gargoyle.”

“It’s my job to protect you, siren,” he growls.

Nassa sighs. “Gallagher, let’s go pretend we’re not listening on the other side of the arch.”

“You good, love?” Gage asks around his cigarette.

“She’s fine, Gage,” Asher answers on my behalf.

“I can speak for myself,” I snap out.

“Then do so, sweetheart,” Asher taunts.

“That’s our cue. Shall we, buttercup?” Gage puts a loose arm around Nassa’s shoulders and directs her to the other side of the archway, leaving Asher and me in our standoff.

“What is your problem?” I ask.

“What is my…I don’t have a fucking problem, siren.”

“No? Because from where I’m standing, it seems like you have a pretty big one.”

“Is that the first time the light has come out of your hands?” he probes.

I bristle. “Yes. It’s the first time the light has come out of my hands.”

He studies me. “Or any other part of you?”
Damn gargoyle knows me too well.

I exhale. “No.”

Asher watches me, like he’s figuring out a puzzle. “Did demon training bring it on?”

I release a hollow laugh. “I’m not discussing this with you, Ash.”

The protector rubs his face in aggravation. “You know what, I’m done. Just fucking go.”

My mouth falls open at his command. “Again, you don’t get to dismiss me.”

Asher cuts me a hard look. His eyes flash with something unreadable then become stormy. “You don’t get to walk away from me,” he disputes, referring to me always leaving.

We both just stand in our stubborn stances. Breathing heavily. Our eyes bore into one another with an unflinching directness. I decide to turn at the same time that Asher lunges for me. He grabs my wrist and yanks me to him so that our bodies are touching, everywhere.

I can’t stop the fluttering of my eyelids at his close proximity.
God, he feels so good
. All I want him to do is sear me with a hard, punishing kiss. I try to fight the way my body magnetically drifts even nearer to his. This close, it’s like I’m drunk on the bond.

Asher’s chin dips and his voice is rough. “What’s going on with us? Why does everything you do and say make me want to kill everyone and break everything?”

My heart plummets at his words and my pulse speeds up at his unwavering gaze. With gentleness not matching his demeanor, he lifts his hands, brushing a few strands of hair off my face. My eyes close in bliss at the motion.

I bite the inside of my cheek, hard, to prevent myself from snagging his lower lip into my mouth and sucking. His hands cup my cheeks while his thumbs brush across the plane of my cheekbones. I savor the connection, not knowing how long it will last, or if I’ll get it again.

“I am literally at war in every aspect of my life, Ash. I don’t want to battle with you every day. I love you, but this isn’t working,” I say, overwhelmed.

“His forehead drops to mine. “Fuck,” he barks out.

I blow out a long exhale, lift my hands and wrap them around his leather-covered wrists.

“Please, stop,” I plea.

“We’re tethered to one another through our bond, siren. No matter what else is happening between us, I’m still under an oath to safeguard you.”

“I know.”

For a moment, we’re just us and I’m grateful for the reprieve, because like anything else that has been broken, once it’s fixed, you’ll still always see the tear. I breathe him in one last time before releasing his wrists and stepping back.

Asher gives me his cocky smirk.

I arch an eyebrow. “What?”

“I’ve been meaning to tell you that you totally have something on your ass.”

I twist in an attempt to inspect my backside. “What is it?”

His lips morph into a sexy smile, forcing all the air out of my lungs. “My mate mark.”

I roll my eyes and huff. “Seriously?”

He puts his palms up. “Don’t blame me, siren. You walked right into that one.”

“Damn gargoyle,” I sulk.

“You mean, awesome gargoyle.” He points and winks.

“God, I love you,” I whisper without thought.

At the release of my words, Asher’s body becomes rigid again. The playfulness dissolves as he swallows with difficulty. We both stand motionless, the weight of my words hanging between us. There is no regret in my expression, because I don’t take it back. I step toward him and lower my tone.

“I do. Regardless of my recent actions, I love you with everything that I am, Asher. That said if my hand becomes forced again, and I must decide between being with you and keeping you safe, I will choose your safety. Every. Single. Time,” I affirm.

He nods once and clears his throat. “Tell me when the light began flowing out of you.”

I hold his gaze and retreat a step, giving him space. He’s still not ready to forgive me.

“When I began demon training with Ethan and Katya.”

“My friends, actually,” Nassa interjects, approaching with Gage on her tail. “Cambions.”

“Negotiations with Asmodeus didn’t go the way we’d hoped,” Gage intercedes.

“You took her to the Midnight Temple?” Asher throws a concerned look my way.

Gage pins him with a bored expression. “I was mindful of her, Asher. She held her own.”

Asher glances at me and sighs. “I’m sure she did.”

“We thought that in addition to the training you’ve been providing, demon training would also come in handy when I go in for Elizabeth,” I explain.

“It’s a nice theory, siren. However, you won’t need the training because Michael and the angelic army have been assigned the extraction mission.” His voice drops to a cool tone.

“I kno—” Asher cuts me off.

“They’ve left already, Eve. The same night you did.” He hits me with a pointed look.

After a moment, his words sink in. “What? The same night I,” my voice trails off before I can finish. What would I even say? Stabbed and betrayed you. Hurt you. Broke us.

“The very one.”

“Everything I did, was for nothing?” I whisper. “And you’re just now telling me this?”

“She still needs the training. Look what she did to the gorgon,” Nassa defends.

Asher turns his head toward the sorceress. “Agreed. Since the protection spell failed.”

My eyes widen. “Holy shit, did you just agree to allow demon training?”

He swings his gaze back to me. “I did, siren. In spite of what you think, or what behaviors I have shown, I do think you should know how to protect yourself against demons.”

”I’m unsure how to respond,” I say honestly.

Asher takes my hand in his and interlaces our fingers. “That doesn’t mean making foolish decisions with your life. It means, in the event a protector isn’t around…selfishly, I need to know you can take care of yourself, like today. It’s for survival. Understood?”

I hold his worried stare. “Yes. You can trust that I’ve got it.”

“And you can trust that I’ve got you, siren.”

6
Divine Trials

SOFT LIPS BRUSH MINE as tears fall and stain my cheeks. Asher’s pained eyes look down at me with a torn expression. His fingers gently stroke my face. With force, I cup each side of his head. The five o’clock shadow scrapes my palms as he tries to pull away.

“I’m sorry for all of it, Ash,” I whisper, never taking my eyes from his.

With a sad expression, he heaves me to his chest in a tight embrace and a silent sob releases from my body. Asher lets me go and drops a light kiss to my forehead. Hurt crosses his features. Silently, he turns and leaves. I watch his retreating form in confusion before I’m overcome with devastation. Everything that I’ve ever loved just left me.
Crap.

“Eve.” The far off sound of my name attempts to cut through my desolation.

The emptiness has filled in, surrounding me. I can’t see who’s calling for me. After a few tries, I give up. Instead, I relax and let the darkness pull me further away from the light.

“Eve.” Abby says my name again, more forcefully this time. Finally, her voice registers. “I think she might be hallucinating, again.” Cool fingers brush the hair from my face.

I moan in an attempt to answer her, but can’t. I feel hot. Like I’m suffocating in flames.

“Christ, she’s burning up. Love, can you hear me?” Gage sounds alarmed. “Get Asher.”

My head lolls to the right. It’s too heavy to lift. In an instant, I feel Asher’s hand slide behind my neck, gathering me close to his body, pushing healing energy into me. The masculine scent of smoky wood and leather surrounds me.
Is he back? Didn’t he leave?

“Siren? Can you hear me?” Asher asks in a low, far off tone.

“Don’t leave me. Everything’s on fire,” I slur.

“I’m here.” Asher’s minty breath is at my ear. “What the hell happened?”

“Don’t leave me. Please,” I beg with weakness lining my voice.

“Shh, I’m not going anywhere,” he comforts. “I’m right here.”

“I don’t want any of this. I just want you. I miss you. Come back,” I ramble.

“Why does she think I’m leaving?” Asher asks in a bothered manner.

“She’s feverish and has been in and out of consciousness for over an hour,” Abby replies.

“I’ll go see if Nassa can make her an elixir,” Gage offers and I hear the door close.

A few moments later, a cool compress is gently placed on my forehead. I sigh gratefully.

“She’s burning up, Ash. Should we call the doctor?” Abby asks, troubled.

“Honestly, Abby, I don’t know.” Asher’s worried tone saddens me.

“It hurts,” I mumble, popping in and out of awareness.

“You’ll be alright, siren. I’ve got you.” Warm lips brush over my cheek.

A short time later, I hear a commotion and feel a small hand grip my arm.

“She won’t be able to swallow it, so you’ll have to hold her down, Asher, while I give her the injection,” Nassa explains in a distance voice.

“What is it?” Asher inquires, his fingers tracing a path across my palm.

“It’s a yarrow and skullcap infusion. It should comfort her fever ailments and also allow her to get some rest,” Nassa assures and her cool hand wraps around my forearm.

I feel a slight prick before I’m pulled back into the dark corners of my mind.

***

My heartbeats stumble through an irregular pace as the inferno within me spikes to an all-time high. The searing burn sweeping through my veins has set off an ache within my soul.
Why am I so fucking hot?
I attempt to breathe through the agony invading every cell.

In the distance, I hear muffled voices. They sound troubled.

“She’s not dreaming. I searched her mind and it’s not a realm jump or astral projection,” Asher makes clear. “Keegan, try and get a hold of Michael, yeah? Maybe he can help.”

Restless, I attempt to move my lips and speak, but all that comes out is a pathetic whimper. At the sound, my body is cradled again in healing energy. It’s not helping. Instead, it rips through me, painfully tearing my soul in two directions.

Asher’s healing gift causes the flames to crawl higher and melt deeper into my layers. I try to protest, to tell him to stop, but I can’t move or speak. All I can do is lay trapped by the pain. My body shivers and sweats simultaneously. After a while, it all becomes too much and I sink back into the darkness, allowing the discomfort to drag me into unconsciousness.

When I finally come to, I’m sitting in the middle of a dark, frosted room. My knees are pulled to my chest in a protective position. Dread fills me as I exhale. My breath comes out in the form of a cloud. It’s freezing in here and yet I can’t feel the cold, all I feel is warmth.

The walls and ceiling moan and creak as the cold settles into them. There’s only blackness in front of me, obscuring my vision. In spite of that, I can feel the icy frost on every surface that surrounds me. The cracking of footsteps on ice, triggers my curiosity.

I lift my head and stand abruptly. My eyes roam the dark abyss.

“Who’s there?” I question.

“Siren?” Asher sounds desperate.

Anxiety and relief float over me at the sound of Asher’s far away voice.

My dry throat makes it difficult to speak, triggering a sudden rush of frustrated tears.

“What’s happening?” I respond, stunned the words came out. “Where are we?”

Asher releases a relieved breath. “There you fucking are, siren. By the grace.”

I drag in a deep, confused inhale.
What is he doing here? Where am I?
Wetting my lips, I allow my eyes to roam the darkness. “Why aren’t you coming closer?”

“I can’t.” His tone is sad. “This is something you have to do on your own and then find your way back to me. Can you do that, siren?”

“I don’t understand,” I reply softly.

“You will. Just focus on the light and come back to me, yeah?” His voice is patient.

I shake my head, even though he can’t see it. “What’s going on, Ash?”

“From darkness, comes light.” His voice is a distant hum then it’s gone. He’s gone.

As a result of Asher’s disappearance, a frigid gust of air washes over my heated skin, offering a reprieve from the searing burn. I close my eyes, relishing the absence of pain.

“From darkness, comes light,” I repeat, my voice husky with emotion.

My heart beats faster and an unfamiliar power fills me. All of the sudden, I’m overwhelmed by feelings of confusion. My body heats again and I gasp in agony. Waves of energy billow out around me, rippling in the air and the temperature drops further.

I fall on my palms as my knees buckle from the force of the energy. Searing pain bolts through my head, prompting me to squeeze my eyes shut.
What the fuck?
I fall to my side and begin to rock away the hurt my body is suffering from. It feels like I’m being twisted from the inside out.
Shit. Motherfucking shit.
This can’t be a dream it hurts too much.

My body shakes and shivers violently. The sound of my teeth clattering against each other fills the empty void of black I’m stuck in. Focusing on my breathing, I inhale through my nose and then exhale through my mouth. It’s all I can do.

After what feels like an eternity, the hurt and trembling subsides, allowing me to relax. I wait a little while longer until I feel as though I’m fully in control of my body. With a great amount of exertion, I roll onto my knees and force myself back into a standing position.
Seriously, what the fuck is happening?

Out of nowhere, a low growl emanates from somewhere in front of me. I swallow.
Crap. Now what?
The sound comes at me again, only angrier this time. I stiffen and exhale slowly, noticing my breath comes out in a smoky plume. An odd tingling sensation runs through my veins, a warning that something evil is lurking beyond the nothingness surrounding me.

Unexpectedly, a soft indigo hue emits from my eyes. “Holy shit.”

The blue casts light in the darkness, illuminating the creature prowling closer to me. Motionless, I take in my predator. The monstrosity of a being’s black fur sticks straight up. Its glowing yellow eyes fixate on my throat. With a snarl, it shows off razor sharp teeth.

Recollection hits me hard as the beast snorts a loud warning. “I remember you. You’re the demonic creature Lucifer sent to confirm my protection,” I say on a shocked exhale.

Memories of when Asher and I first encountered the hellhound, at the campus coffee shop, flood my mind. Asher handled the beast while I watched in awe.
This isn’t good.

The animal paces back and forth in agitation, assessing me. Ready to rip my throat out.

I straighten my posture. “Guess it’s just you and me this time, mongrel.”

Without any warning, the hellhound snaps forward and I rear my right arm back, ready to attack. My shoulder begins to tingle and a ball of pure light travels down the length of my arm, erupting from my palm and slamming into the creature’s nose.
Whoa. What the hell?

The barghest retreats a bit, releasing a pained whine. The whimper makes it sound more like a wounded dog, rather than a creature of hell. Inhaling, I tell myself to put into practice what Michael taught me about astral projecting and apply it to sourcing the light energy.

Centering myself, I focus on the light within my soul, attempting to recreate it at will. Once I hit the energy source, the stirring feeling in my hands begins again and I lift my gaze to the snarling demonic dog. The barghest and I lunge for one another at the same time.

Strategically, I allow the creature to go for my neck so I can place my palms on its chest, letting another blast of light radiate out of me and into it. The enormous creature flies backward and hits the ground, hard. Unmoving, it releases a harsh breath and within seconds, the hellhound vanishes. In its place a charred ash imprint and a small blue flame.
Holy shit!

Panting, a small smile creeps onto my lips. I did it. I killed it. My excitement dissolves when I hear the heavy creaking of doors. I remove my gaze from the tiny flame and lock it on two enormous, medieval, familiar old doors in front of me.
What the fuck is going on?

Both pieces of dark wood are intricately carved with symbols I’ve seen before, in a vision and gargoyle statues guard each door. The urns suddenly light, causing me to startle and stop my movement. I wait for a moment. When nothing else happens, I approach the doors and run my fingers over the beautiful engravings before stepping through the archway.

The dark assembly room is just as I recall it. Shadowy, chilled, and dungeon-like with dark gray and black hued stone walls, floors and ceilings. I take it all in with trepidation.

Light discharges from thousands of 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.

My head snaps up at the booming sound of Lord Falk’s 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?” The Royal Gargoyle Council of Protectors leader’s voice cascades through me, leaving proverbial chills in its wake.

I turn my focus to the front of the hall and my eyes fixate on the chained man being held prisoner in the shadows. Two guards on each side of Asher are forcing him to kneel in front of the extremely tall, elderly leader.

Behind the black robed gargoyle are stairs that lead to a marble throne. On each side of the chair are more statues and arched alcoves. Five more unnaturally tall beings sit in places of honor to the left of the throne, and four on the right. All are familiar to me now. Each council member seated on the granite stage holds his or her heads high with an air of authority.

“The council is very disappointed with you,” Lord Falk says with a sigh. “We expected greater 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.”

Asher says nothing in response.

“And for what, a human…girl? Pathetic,” Jarin, an elder male, says.

“I love her,” Asher responds in a low, unwavering voice.

“It is forbidden!” a female named Sybbyl retorts loudly, her long, gray hair unmoving.

Lord Falk steps forward, bending so he’s eye level with Asher. “Your punishment has been decided. You shall suffer an eternity in stone. Watching her, knowing she is alive, but never allowed to touch her. Bring me the Angelic Sword,” he orders with finality.

Asher positions himself straighter, accepting this fate. A whisper in the back of my mind alerts me as to why I’m here. To protect Asher, no matter the cost. I try to run to him but am rooted in place. An unseen force holds me back. I fight to get to him before I remember I’ve done this before, in my vision. Only this time, the threat is real and not a dream.