Revelation (17 page)

I stand there, afraid to turn around and face Asher
, knowing he saw us pressed together. Between the drinks and Gage, I sway, feeling a bit lightheaded.

Asher grabs my arm and
whips me around as the music changes to a painfully slow, sensual song. He pulls me a little roughly to him, forcing my body against his. The heat from his close proximity begins to claw its way up my body.

His face is hard and impassive. I watch the sensual tilt of his lips into a sinful grin
that causes a shudder to run through me.
Yep, he’s pissed.

“Do you want to play on the dark side
, Eve?” His voice is callous.

I can’t seem to find my voice so I just look at him.

“Is that what you want? To see how dark I can really be?” he asks spitefully.

My mind isn’t working
correctly at the moment. I know he’s upset but all I can think about is pulling him close and devouring his mouth. The intensity of his face is fueling me while both his hands clutch my waist, forcing my body to mold to his. We’re as close as two people could possibly get in public.

Asher begins moving us to the music in a slow
, methodic rhythm. Our bodies sway with carnal need while his intense eyes never leave mine. My hands tangle into his hair, bringing him closer to me as his forehead rests on mine and he moves us to the music. 

“Is this what you want
, siren? For me touch you like this.” He grips me even tighter to his body as I let out a soft mewl.

The sound break
s Asher’s control as his mouth descends on mine with a fire and possessiveness that I’ve never experienced. We can’t get enough of one another. My hands tighten in his hair, causing a deep growl from him, fueling the need within me.

I
gnorant to the indecent display we’re clearly demonstrating, Asher lifts me, forcing me to wrap my legs around his waist. Without our lips breaking contact, he walks us off the dance floor and into a dark hallway in the back of the club. The combination of his scent, the darkness and the sensual music is causing a feverish need within me. It’s clawing at me from the inside. My skin is on fire.

Asher pushes my back against the wall
and I groan softly into his mouth. He pins me with the weight of his body, breaking the kiss for a moment to allow us to catch our ragged breaths. His face is no longer rigid. Warm, strong hands move to my face, cupping my cheeks and he grazes my lips, nipping at the bottom one. He alternates between slow, soft kisses and deep, hard ones. I move my hands to clutch the front of his shirt and pull him closer. My body agonizes because he isn’t close enough.

He pulls back slightly
, allowing my feet to meet the ground as I smooth out the lower portion of my dress. We attempt to catch our breath but every heavy push of air from my lungs pushes forward the hair that has landed across my face. Asher brushes the hair off my face and lightly grips the sides of my head.

“Are you okay?” I ask breathily because his mood just went from viscous to tender.

He locks onto my eyes with a possessiveness that may qualify as scary. “You. Are. Mine.”

I scan his face, partially enraged at the caveman declaration and partly excited at the potential of what he is saying.
“W-what?”

“You
belong to me, not him. Do you understand, Eve?”

I look away
, trying to gain control over my brain functions. “Is this about wanting to be with me, or not wanting me to be with Gage?”

“He’s dangerous in a way that you can’t even begin to understand,” he says harshly.

Shocked, I force out a laugh. “You’re claiming me now because you don’t want me to have contact with Gage?”

Confusion flickers over his face
as the bond haze lifts. “Wait, no, that’s not what I’m saying.” He back peddles.

“Are you kidd
ing me? All this time, it’s been my oath, my legion, my promises, and now you’re just going to throw all that away because you don’t like someone else peeing on your territory?” My voice is rising with each word.

“Eve
, just wait.” He puts his hand up in surrender. “I’m trying to say that, at the moment, Gage is part of a very dangerous clan. A clan you are not to be near at all.”

Shock has now turned into anger. “How dare you
!”

He backs away
, seeing my anger rising. “Wait, again, you’re twisting my words.”

My momentary bliss
has turned into rage. “Whatever, Asher.” I storm down the hall and retreat back to the table.

Huffing
, I return to the girls who have another round of fiery bananas waiting. No one says anything. McKenna just hands me the shooter, which I take gratefully.

“Alright the
n, ladies, girls night continues. To the dance floor,” Abby cheerfully commands.

Afte
r hours of dancing and shooters, and getting hit on, my feet are killing me and all is forgotten with Asher and Gage. For the first time in a while, I feel normal.

15
Acceptance

My feet hit the grueling
, snow covered path with a disciplined pace. My breath thrusts out in short, sharp puffs. I try breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth, but it gets harder the longer I run. My thighs are on fire from the challenging icy road. Music fills my ears from my iPod and pushes me forward.

After last night, I
just want to clear all thoughts from my head. So I run, driving myself with every step forward, struggling not to give into my desire to collapse from exhaustion.

The serenity of the morning silence relax
es my pace as the cold air stuffs my lungs with ice, yet at the same time, cause them to burn. The pain feels good, reminding me I’m alive. So I keep going until I no longer can.

When I finally feel peaceful
, I head back to the dorm only to have my morning calmness ripped away at the sight of Asher. He’s sitting on the frigid concrete stair with two paper cups in his hands. I muster up my composure and walk the last ten steps to where he’s sitting, joining him. Crap, the cold from the concrete seeps through my running pants.

He hands me one of the paper cups.
“Peace offering.”

I take the lid off and smile at the
dark cocoa with mini marshmallows.

He smirks. “I added
those myself,” he says, pointing proudly to the marshmallows.

“Thanks,” I say sincerely
. The girl in me is giddy that he remembers my favorite drink.

We sit in silence for a bit and watch the sun finish rising over the horizon, drinking our morning cocoa.

“You run every morning.” It wasn’t a question.

“Almost.”

“Why do you run?” Asher asks.

I shrug. “I don’t know.”

He puts his cocoa down and leans back on his glove-covered hands. “Yes, you do. Why?”

I exhale
and my breath comes out in a puff of smoke from the cold air. “Because I can. Running gives me freedom to breathe and think. I force myself to fight through the pain and test myself emotionally and physically. I guess I like to see how far I can push myself. To go further than I did the day before, to become the girl I’m capable of being.”

He stares at me. “You’re a remarkable creature
, siren. I know it’s been difficult for you to deal with but it’s time to accept who you are and what you’ll become. You’re ready.”

I shake my head.
“I’m not.”

“You are
.”

“What if I don’t want it?”

“That’s not an option,” Asher reminds me.

“What if I fall?”

“I’ll catch you.”

“What if I fail?”

“I won’t let you.”

“What if I get hurt?”

“I will protect you, always.”

I sigh. “How do you know I can do this? What if I let everyone down?
Failure is not an option. If I do, the world literally ends. That’s a lot of pressure, Ash.”

He
sits up and cups my face. “Well, thank goodness you have myself, an angelic legion, clans of gargoyles, and many other supernatural beings to protect you and help you succeed. You will fight through the pain and agony, you will test yourself emotionally and physically, you will become the girl I know you are capable of being. And through it all, I promise to be by your side.”

“Okay
,” I agree.

“Okay
,” he confirms.

I smile sincerely
. I finally feel ready to begin this journey for the first time since I found out who I am, who he is, and who the unknown is.

“Where do we start?” I ask.

“Knowledge and training.” He waits for my response.

I nod once. “Alright
, let me go upstairs, shower, and change. Then we can commence.”

We stand and he takes my hand.
“Hey, one second.” He pulls me to him.

“What’s up?” I look into his indigo eyes.

“I’m truly sorry about last night. Something inside me just snapped when I saw you with Gage, especially the way his hands were on you,” he says resentfully.

I smirk. “Asher St. Michael, are you saying you were jealous?”

He smiles sexily. “Honestly, part of it was because I was envious but the other piece is that his intentions are harmful to you, Eve. I keep giving you mixed messages and I’m sorry. I am attracted to you, there’s no doubt about it, however moving forward, all I can be to you is your protector and friend. Okay?”

I scan his face.
“Alright.”

“Alright?”
Asher is astonished.

“I trust you
, Asher. Let me get ready and you can tell me everything so I have all the facts.” I wait.

He gives me his genuine smile. “Thank you for trusting me.”

“Now, in all seriousness,” I turn to the door of the dorm and open it, “the last one up is a rotten egg.” I take off, laughing. His chuckle echos behind me.

By the time I get to the door of my room, he is already waiting there.
Crap
. Standing as if he’s been waiting for hours, feigning boredom.

I narrow my eyes.
“Cheater.”

“What? No, I’m just a faster runner than you. I guess that’s something we’ll have to work on in training,” he taunts.

“Supernatural gargoyle powers don’t count.” I pout.

“Jealous?”

I roll my eyes. “Hardly. Besides, once I fully ascend, I’m totally going to blow your mind.” I laugh.

He looks at me thoughtfully for a moment. “I hope so
, siren. I really do.”

***

“Can I ask you a serious question?” I ask Asher on the drive to La Gargouille Manor. We’re meeting the rest of the clan to regroup and devise my training schedule as well as the demon and underworld tutorial sessions.

He
nervously slides his eyes to me then back to the road. “Sure.” His voice is unsure.

I smile. “Are you ever going to let me drive the Aston Martin?”

He laughs. His deep, throaty laugh makes me want to jump over the console and spend all afternoon attached to his lips.

Asher’s fac
e goes serious. “Eve, no offense, but this car is the love of my life. No one touches her. Once you’re mine, I don’t share.” The double entendre doesn’t go unnoticed.

“How do you know it’s even a she?”

“The car is female. I know because she and I are connected in a very intimate way, you just don’t understand,” he says cockily.

I sigh.
Damn lucky car.
“Fine.”

He smiles as he pulls up to the manor. “I’ll make you a deal
. You train hard and learn everything you need to for your ascension and I’ll consider allowing you to drive íde ámo.”

“
Idee who, what?” I ask, not following.

“
Ide ámo. It’s Garish for my love,” he says in his sexy tone that I can’t resist.

I watch him for a moment.
Crap. He really does love this car
. “Deal, on the car. I’ll train and you let me drive her.”

My answer causes him to smirk
. “Deal.” He gets out and crosses the front to open my door and help me out. We just stand there for a moment, enthralled in one another.

Asher
clears his throat. “We should head inside.”

“Right.
After you.” I follow him, sad that our moment ended too soon.

A large
, warm hand finds its way to my lower back and guides me into the house. Instead of heading into the ‘tension room,’ Asher ushers me into an office where everyone is gathered, including the bouncers from Katana, Tadhg and Leo.

“Eves
. Hey, cutie,” Callan greets me with a warm hug and kiss on the cheek.

“Hi
, Callan. Everyone,” I say, feeling more than overwhelmed.

“We’re so glad that you’ve finally decided to embrace this
, Eve, and allow us to help you,” Abby says with a cheerful voice.

My smile is polite
. I’m still working through all of this and my apprehension levels are high.

She g
rabs my hand and squeezes. “Eve, you remember Tadhg? He’s a gargoyle from my dad’s clan, the Irish clan. He’s offered his assistance for a bit and you know Leo already, beta of the Quinnipiac pack.”

“Nice to see you
both again,” I say, trying not to freak out at their supernatural titles.

Abby lets go of me and heads over to Callan as Asher takes
her place next to me.

Keegan leans on a desk in front of us
, his ankles and arms crossed. He offers a brief smile then begins. “We, along with Michael, feel it’s important that you prepare, both physically and mentally, for all the challenges that face you.”

“Okay. What does that entail?” I bite
the inside of my cheek with anxiety.

Without
thought, Asher reaches over and rubs his thumb along my bottom lip in an effort to stop the torture my teeth are causing the inside of my mouth. The act feels like something he does all the time out of habit.

He smiles. “Keegan will teach you strategy and weapons
. Kenna will show you how to control and enhance current and future abilities and powers. Abby will guide you on wielding powers for protection and Callan will work with you on hand-to-hand combat. I’ll be in charge of daily conditioning, practice sessions, and demon defense. Leo, Tadhg and I will work with you to apply what the gargoyles are teaching to other supernatural beings.”

I watch Asher explain my sessions as if he’s a general about to wage war. I’m trying to focus on what he’s saying but the way he’s
commanding the room is creating all kinds of illicit thoughts. I swallow, attempting to push them away.

L
ike he can read my mind, he whispers in my ear, “Focus, siren.” It’s followed by his signature sexy smile. “In addition to the physical training, you’ll also be educated on the supernatural and demonic worlds. Michael will instruct with regard to the celestial world, as well as how to enhance and fine-tune your ascension abilities. All are important elements for you to know.”

I take in
a breath. “Alright. When do we begin?” I sit on the couch and Asher follows suit.

Callan smirks and rubs his hands together
like a kid with a secret. “Well, that’s the best part, Eves. We know you’re heading to your Aunt Elizabeth’s for winter break but she and Michael discussed it and agreed it’s best if you stay with us instead. Of course, we’ll still be with your aunt on the Vineyard for Christmas Eve and Day.”

“Wait, what?” I turn to Asher. “You guys
want me to move in here over break?” I ask in shock.

He remains silent
.

“
Yep.” Callan gives me a mega watt grin. “And we all get to spend Christmas together. One big, happy family.”

I sit
back and cross my arms. “Great. It’s how I’ve always dreamed Christmas would be. Me, my adopted aunt, and five gargoyles,” I shoot off with sarcasm.

“Awe, it’s going to be so much fun! I promise
.” Abby beams.

I sigh
, defeated. “I haven’t even had a chance to discuss all this with my aunt.”

“Then it
’ll be good we’re with you for that,” Asher offers in a supportive tone.

The room
falls soundless as I absorb everything. “Do I really need to stay here?” I ask.

“Yes, it’s for your own protection as well as ease for training purposes. You’re off from school so you’ll be able to focus solely on your ascension
,” Keegan states.

I
blow out a long breath. “Fine.”

“Good,
it’s set then.” Asher smiles and squeezes my knee.

“Eve,
we’ll begin your educational training tomorrow. When we return from the holiday, you’ll start the physical aspect. We know you are well versed in Krav Maga, which is an excellent start. Today, we need to just go over a few things,” Keegan outlines militarily.

“So, I don’t get to throw daggers
at McKenna today?” I pout.

She stalks toward me. “I could kill you in three seconds
, blood of Eden, so don’t tempt me.”

I
smirk, excited that I goaded her. “What’s left to discuss?”

Callan stands up.
“A general discussion about the rules.”

“Rules?”

“Yes, rules.” Asher confirms, sliding his stern gaze to me.

I narrow my eyes. “Why don’t I like the sound of this?”

Keegan steps forward. “Eve, we’ve set some
protection procedures that we’re asking you to follow. They’re for your safety. We realize that it might be uncomfortable for you to abide by them until we get you up to speed on things, but it’s important for you to try and accommodate what we’re asking of you.”