Restraint (The Revelation Series Book 2) (20 page)

I gently bite the tip of his finger
, causing the blue hue of his eyes to darken. “Do that again, siren, and I will be forced to take you right here against the wall.”

I smile
, knowing he wouldn’t do that but pleased with myself for having that effect on him.

“Don’t think I won’t,” he
teases as I release his finger.

I
chew the inside of my cheek as he backs away, causing him to smirk at where he knows my thoughts are.

Shooting
me one final sexy look, he opens the door and greets Marcus. “Hey, man. Come on in.”

Marcus swaggers in and they do some sort of male fist pump greeting before he nods to me.

“I came to apologize for Morgana’s behavior earlier. She can be, spirited. I’ve reined her in though. She shouldn’t give you any more trouble while we’re here,” he tells Asher.

“Thanks
. I appreciate that, Marcus. She simply needs to remember her place,” Asher states clearly.

Marcus turns his attention toward me. “Hey
, girl! How are you getting along with our resident brooding gargoyle prince? Let me know if he doesn’t treat you right and I’ll put in an assignment change for your protection.” He chuckles.

“Over my dead body
,” Asher says in a harsh tone.

At the sharpness in his voice
, both Marcus and I snap our heads to him. “I was just kidding, man. Take it down a notch. It’s not like I’m hitting on your mate or anything.” Marcus watches Asher’s reaction closely.

I choke on my
breath. “I’m just gonna let you guys talk.” I point in the direction of the door, needing to escape. “It was nice to meet you, Marcus. Hopefully we’ll see one another again.”

He lifts his chin to me with curious eyes. “
You too, Eve,” he offers with a wink and strolls into the sunken living room, out of site.

I turn to leave but not before Asher
catches my waist and pulls me back against his hard chest. “I promise we’ll pick up where we left off earlier. I’m intrigued by what else your tongue can do,” he whispers seductively.

My entir
e body flushes at his statement. I hurry away as he chuckles and heads back to Marcus.

1
4
Dim
ia

After an
endless amount of arguing, I manage to convince Abby to take me out of the building. I want to get some groceries and do a little sightseeing since I’ve been in England for a while and have yet to actually see anything.

Callan approve
s the excursion as long as I stick to Abby like glue and promise to adorn myself with my daggers. I’m ready to go and waiting while Callan gives us our last minute warnings before planting a juicy wet kiss on his mate.
Gross.

“Get a room, would you?” I jest.

Callan gives me a pointed glance. “Listen, cutie, as it is, Asher is going to have my ass in a sling for allowing this little outing. Who knows how long it will be before my lips will be able to kiss my girl after Asher’s fists get a hold of them. I suggest you start kissing my ass for sneaking you out.”

I roll my eyes. “We’ll be fine.”

Callan laughs. “Famous last words.” He turns to Abby. “Be safe, baby.” He kisses her temple.

She nods and drags me out the front door. “If we don’t escape now, he’ll change his mind. Just walk, quickly.
Don’t look back at his puppy dog eyes.”

I giggle. “Okay. Okay.”

“Alright, the first place we’re going is Harvey Nichols,” Abby informs me.

“
Sounds good.” Shopping isn’t my thing but I’m just happy to be getting out of the flat.

“
Then a visit to Louboutin and finally Whole Foods for groceries.” She continues planning her strategic attack. “Oh, and we need to head to Rococo. Callan loves their chocolates and if he’s going to be getting his ass kicked by Asher, we should bring him a peace offering.”

“
Agreed. Should we get something for Asher too? A bribe?” I question.

“Maybe we should head to Alfred Dunhill since Asher likes their cologne, Black.”

My eyes meet hers. “Maybe this is a bad idea.”

“Stop. Let’s just go have some fun. You remember what fun is right? Two
college girls, hanging out, not worrying about anything other than what they’re doing in the moment,” Abby says.

I smile
. “You’re right. What could possibly put a damper on this outing?”

Four hours of
bra and panty shopping with Abby. That’s what could put a damper on this outing. Not to mention, Abby dropped an obscene amount of money on the half dozen or so items she forced me to buy.

After the intimates
’ agony, she moved me onto shoe, chocolate and cologne torment. The good news though, each store will deliver our purchases right to the flat so I don’t have to carry bags around with me.
Yippee.
Yep, it’s been like that today.

Finally
, after quite a bit of whining, we’re walking home from picking up a few groceries. I inhale, enjoying the cool fresh air. Allowing myself to bask in the feeling of doing something ordinary. In this moment, I can pretend I’m just on vacation as a normal college student.

“
Is it getting easier?” Abby asks, breaking my reverie.

“What?” I give a sideway
s glance.

“
The ascension. Aria. Living with gargoyles. Take your pick,” she laughs.

I’m
silent for a moment. “I miss her every day. Time’s starting to heal the void, but I don’t think it will ever be painless.” I shrug. “The ascension is slow going, so it’s been a little bit easier to swallow.” I sigh. “You gargoyles, on the other hand, are a fucking nightmare,” I tease, bumping her shoulder with mine.

W
e both start laughing as we walk through the garage toward the elevator. Before I can hit the button a female voice startles us. “I would have to agree, daughter of Heaven. The London clan is a fucking nightmare to deal with.”

Ab
by and I turn around and place the grocery bags by our feet. I speak in a loud, menacing voice, hoping Asher or one of the other St. Michaels will hear us.

“Who are you?”
I ask the tall, skinny, older woman standing in front of us with deep black-brown eyes and short grey hair cut in an elegant bob.

“
Dimia. Deacon and Kaiden’s mother, and Lucifer’s playmate,” Abby answers for her.

At that introduction,
Dimia’s eyes grow black with fury. “Mate. I am his mate.”

Abby lets out a short laugh. “Right. Sorry, she’s
ONE of Lucifer’s mates,” she taunts.

Dimia
flashes her coal irises at me and gives me a creepy smile. “So, you’re what all the fuss is about? Why my son is in war mode? And why my other son no longer exists?”

I cross my arms and tilt my chin up. “Yes.”

The side of her mouth tips up, the smile not reaching her eyes as she begins to chant in Latin. I can’t make out what she’s saying, but Abby stills.
Well, shit. That can’t be good.

“
Dimia.” Abby gives a loud warning.

“
It’s futile to try and get the others to help you. I’ve broken your enchantment and put up a barrier shield,” she explains with her eyes in slits.

“Shit
,” Abby says.

Dimia
turns her attention to me. “I suspect you have the daggers on you that killed my son. I look forward to using them to return the favor,” she states coolly.

“
As you are aware, Royal Gargoyle Council of Protector laws state you are not allowed to harm a human,” Abby says with force.

“
I am aware of the rules,” the woman spits with evil dripping from her lips.  

Without warning, I see Keegan and McKenna
appear behind her. I can feel Asher behind me and I’m guessing Callan is next to him. McKenna looks furious and worried at the same time. Keegan is pale, but calm and in control as he scans me for any sign of trauma.

“
Dimia. What can we do for you?” Keegan asks, composed.

“Well
, Keegan dear, you see, your human killed my son. I’m very torn up about it. The only thing that will ease my broken heart is to have her heart beating in my hand,” she answers with an even voice and without turning to face him.

“
Not going to happen,” Asher rebukes.

“
Oh, it will, dark prince. You see, my son will hand her over to Lucifer or there will be war. Either way, Deacon wins. In the meantime, I plan on taking her heart the way she did mine when she destroyed Kaiden,” Dimia says with hatred laced in her voice.

From my
peripheral vision, I see Abby close her eyes, attempting to wield energy. Having no idea what she’s planning, I decide it’s best to take out my daggers. As the metal clinks with my movement, I hear Asher hit the invisible barrier behind me. He says my name in a warning.

This time, I don’t look at him. Unlike the situation with
Aria, I keep my focus on Dimia as she steps toward me, chanting under her breath in Latin. I can’t make out the words but it sounds like she’s creating a spell. My eyes shift to Abby, pleading with her in my head to hurry.

Over
Dimia’s shoulder, I see Keegan pull out a sword. McKenna’s eyes never leave me. Both have their wings out. I can only assume Asher and Callan do as well.

Suddenly
, my arms rise of their own accord and release my daggers before they hit the pavement with a clatter and slide across the concrete to Dimia. She watches me with an ominous smile on her face and picks them up. “You’re no match for demonic magic, little girl.”

“
You want me? Come get me,” I taunt, trying to buy Abby a few more seconds.

Dimia
narrows her almost black eyes at me. “Tsk. So quick to threaten.” She taps one of my daggers on her lip in contemplation. “I’m assuming, since you’re human, you have affection for all of them.” She waves the dagger around toward the clan.

“
Your point?” I demand.

She laughs
wickedly before dropping her voice to a low, evil tone. “I wonder, daughter of Heaven, which one will survive? Which one holds your heart strings around their finger?”

Just then, Abby produces a loud sonic boom, which has us all turning away
, covering our ears and squinting our eyes. The sound shatters the barrier as the rest of the clan comes running towards us.

Once the sound waves have ended, I stand, opening my eyes to witness
Dimia within a breath of Abby. My dagger is pointed at Abby’s chest. Everyone stills. Two steps, and the dagger will pierce Abby’s heart, turning her to stone.

Abby swallows as
Dimia turns her threatening smile toward me. She whispers harshly, “Which one, little girl?”

I panic
. Without thinking, I run in front of Abby as Dimia lunges for her, only to be pushed out of the way a millisecond later by a large body. I hit the ground hard as I snap my head up.

Just
in time to see Dimia thrust my dagger into Asher’s heart. His eyes are furious as crimson liquid trickles down the front of his white t-shirt, tainting its pure color.

“
An eye for an eye, little girl. You took someone I love, so I took your heart away. I sensed your love for your protector, a gift of mine. My son will be back to give you to Lucifer,” she warns before Keegan plunges Asher’s Angelic Sword into her back. The weapon rips through her heart and protrudes out the front of her chest.

Dimia’s
face disfigures in shock as she slowly begins to turn into crumbling stone while the light breeze from the garage opening blows away the dust remains.

Asher’s
knees and palms hit the floor in slow motion as I crawl over to him, whispering his name, over and over again.
Oh God. This can’t be happening.
I tell myself he’s fine and if I just keep saying his name, it will all be okay.

I make it to him and
grab his body. With a moan, he rolls onto his back, lying on the concrete. His black wings are lifeless. Asher’s breathing is labored and his face ashen. His lips are white as his eyes meet mine. I can tell he’s in excruciating pain as he lifts his hands to my cheeks, pulling me down to his face. He exhales and with his last breath says, “You okay, siren?”

A loud and painful whimper comes from my throat.
“Yes. Please stay with me,” I beg in a hysterical voice while fisting his t-shirt. “I need you. Don’t leave me.” My tears drip on his face as his eyes roll back then close and his body goes limp.

“No. No. No. Asher? Ash? Come on
, pretty boy. Come back to me. Asher?” I say over and over again. In desperation, I lay myself on top of his chest and begin to bawl uncontrollably as my heart shatters and my body shakes violently.

“Eves
,” Callan kneels down next to me. “Eves, we need to move him okay? I need you to let him go.” Callan speaks softly while placing his hands on top of mine in an attempt to get me to release my hold on Asher’s shirt.