Revolution (The Revelation Series Book 4)
Read Revolution (The Revelation Series Book 4) Online
Authors: Randi Cooley Wilson
Tags: #Romance, #New Adult & College, #Paranormal, #Angels, #Demons & Devils
REVOLUTION
THE REVELATION SERIES
VOLUME FOUR
RANDI COOLEY WILSON
Copyright © 2015 by Randi Cooley Wilson.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. Please contact the author directly for usage opportunities.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Published by Randi Cooley Wilson
Edited by Kris Kendall at Final-Edits
Cover Design by Bravebird Publishing
Cover Photo by ©Unholy Vault Designs
Revolution (The Revelation Series, Book #4)/ Randi Cooley Wilson
Printed in the United States of America
First Edition May 2015
ISBN-13: 978-1505835823
ISBN-10: 1505835828
Other Titles by Randi Cooley Wilson
THE REVELATION SERIES
REVELATION: Volume One
RESTRAINT: Volume Two
REDEMPTION: Volume Three
REVOLUTION: Volume Four
RESTORATION: Finale
For Dave,
You make me stronger just by standing by my side.
“Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to light.”
- John Milton,
Paradise Lost
Contents
1
The
Midnight Temple
My gaze lifts toward the heavens, searching for light. There is nothing. No stars shining brightly to guide me. No flush of the moon’s silver rays caressing the ominous tree lined confinement I find myself in. Panic begins to claw at my throat.
Everything is unnaturally still. The trees are motionless. There’s no breeze to embrace me. No woodland creatures at home to calm me. Only silence. It’s eerie and yet, oddly familiar.
“Hidden within the darkness, the unseen will eventually be divulged. Revealing the true purpose of your existence.” Gage’s deep, masculine voice penetrates my trepidation.
I shift my body and tilt my head, meeting a pair of sea-green irises. The gargoyle clasps his warm fingers over mine in a soothing gesture while the scent of cigarettes and spice drifts over me. His presence rescues me from the shadowed corners my mind finds itself in.
I inhale, for what feels like the first time tonight. A small smile appears on my lips at the sight of the good-looking protector. Gratitude washes over me, because I’m not alone on this self-imposed journey.
The moment of reprieve passes quickly when I remember who I am and what I’ve done. At the thought, a sharp, unyielding pain presents itself deep within my heart. The sting causes my breath to hitch as my hand moves to cover the twinge.
In the distance, a faint, familiar sound floats over me. “Come back to me, siren,” it whispers. The memory of how much hurt I’ve caused seeps in. “I will protect you, always.” The voice, belonging to Asher St. Michael, my gargoyle protector, and now my mate, promises. My stomach lurches at the recollection of my actions this evening. My treachery
.
Instantly, I fold at the waist and vomit into the plant life lining the forest’s floor. Gage steps closer to my uncontrollable, trembling body. Releasing my hand, he gently holds my hair back, allowing me to empty the contents of my stomach into the undergrowth.
Shit.
“You’re okay, love. It’s just the adrenaline wearing off. Take deep breaths,” he soothes.
I close my eyes, trying to block it all out, as my body hums from the protector blood bond. In rapid fire, images of this evening flash through my mind. Each one cutting my soul like the dagger I used in my deception. All I can see is Asher. My dark prince. My everything.
Asher’s gentle hand is wrapped around the lower portion of my throat, showing dominance. The feel of my gargoyle’s body pressed against mine, pushing me into his stone state bed. The stunning and blissful expression he had as he slid into me for the first time. His scent. His touch. His declarations of forever, all marred by my deceit.
I’ve ended us by showing my disloyalty. When his indigo eyes met mine, my dagger fell into his heart, forcing him into a healing sleep. Protecting him. Then, I walked away from my love to save another who I hold dear to me. My sacrifice.
A shiver passes over me and my breathing becomes ragged. My stomach churns again and my knees buckle. If it weren’t for Gage’s large hands wrapped around my waist, I would collapse in despair on the dirt-covered pathway.
Crap. Pull yourself together, Eve.
“Are you alright, love?” Gage questions quietly into my ear, holding me close.
Once the visions dissolve, so does the nausea. I open my eyes to meet Gage’s troubled ones. Taking a step back, I allow for some distance from his protective arms. Then I center myself before pushing back my shoulders and lifting my chin.
“Yes,” I say firmly.
He knits his brows together, running a hand through his golden-blond hair. “Are you sure, Eve?” he questions with worry lining his voice.
I’m actually taken aback by his apprehension. Normally, Gage doesn’t show signs of unease. It’s unnerving and making me question my resolve. I straighten and nod once.
“I said I am.” My voice is strong, even though inside, I’m terrified.
The undecipherable gargoyle’s eyes just search mine. His face is strained in disbelief.
“I really am,” I assure him and attempt to turn my attention to the mist-covered fortress in front of us. I don’t want to see his troubled expression.
Gage doesn’t let me twist though. Instead, he snatches my chin roughly and tips my head back. His gaze roams over my face before locking onto it with a raw intensity. “With every moment that goes by, they turn a deeper shade of indigo, love,” he whispers.
My breath hitches and I slam my lids down, hiding the irises. Asher and I triggered our mate bond and fulfilled the divination of redemption. My light ignited and awakened his soul, protecting him from stone petrifaction. I was so concerned with his safety, I failed to remember his mate mark wouldn’t be the only change to my body. My eye color changed from hazel, to blue, the clan’s hue.
I really should have read more paranormal books. Crap.
Opening my eyes, I take in a deep breath through my nose. The memory of my intimate night with Asher disappears. His mate mark angrily pulses on my lower back, alerting me to Asher’s emotional state. He’s pissed.
Of course he is. Why wouldn’t he be?
Gage sighs in annoyance. “One look at you, love, and the Declan clan will not be able to overlook the fact that you are the dark prince’s mate.”
My eyes narrow in response. “Not fully. Abby told me that the mark and eye color are temporary until my new mark is infused with Asher’s blood. If that doesn’t happen, with time, both disappear and release him of our soul connection. That’s what needs to happen, Gage. I only did this to protect him from the council and dark army.”
Gage releases a hollow laugh that sounds more like a bark. “You’re naïve, daughter of Heaven, to think you gave yourself to him in the name of protection only.”
My teeth clench in aggravation. “You said you would help me. I need to extract my aunt Elizabeth from Lucifer before he kills her. I’m the one he wants. It’s my role to save her. By any means necessary. Asher wouldn’t have let me do this, you know that.”
He holds my gaze for a moment in contemplation. “Don’t you mean your mother?”
“What?”
“Ever since finding out that Elizabeth and Michael are your biological parents, you continue to refer to her as your aunt. She’s your mother, love. You are her flesh and blood.”
I pull my chin out of his grasp. “Fine. I need to save…my mother.” As the words tumble from my lips, my stomach sinks at the recollection that both the archangel and my guardian, whom I’ve known since birth as my aunt Elizabeth, lied to me for years before recently revealing my biological lineage.
“Are you going to help me or not?” I snip impatiently.
Gage’s focus shifts from me, down the haze-filled path, toward the ominous castle that belongs to Deacon, the leader of the Declan clan. Since Gage was the half-demon, half-gargoyle’s right hand man for a short time, he is the only one who knows of its location, which is why I entrusted him to assist me with this plan.
My eyes follow his line of sight, landing on the stone fortress and unease trickles down my spine. The last time I was here, Deacon was holding me hostage. Despite the bad blood between the two, Gage had helped Asher and his family, the London clan, with my rescue.
Deacon’s entire focus has been to hand me over to Lucifer and the dark army. He killed Aria, my best friend and college roommate, while she was protecting me. After which, both Deacon’s brother Kaiden, and his mother Dimia, died doing his bidding.
I shudder at the thought of what he’ll do to me this time, knowing that Asher and the St. Michaels won’t save me. Stabbing Asher, the future king of the gargoyle race, in the heart with my daggers was the ultimate betrayal. I’ve ended the protection the clan offered.
Releasing a slow breath, I remind myself that I’m the weapon, created by Heaven, to tip the scale in their favor and bring redemption to the world ending this centuries’ old war. Heaven sees me as a pawn, but for Hell, I’m a threat to their very existence. It’s why they’re hunting me. If not restrained, I have the power to destroy the dark army. This time, though, I’m going to make it easy and surrender, exchanging my life for Elizabeth’s.
Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I wait for his answer. Deciding then and there, with or without his help, I’m still doing this. It’s my fault that Deacon and Lucifer kidnapped my mother to get to me. Gage faces me with a soft look. I can tell he’s made his decision.
Silently, he extends his hand for me to take, and I do, as relief floods through me. The grip he has on me tightens, almost painfully, as he yanks me harshly to his chest. Without warning, his grey wings snap out from his back. Gage’s face morphs into one of regret.
My expression turns to one of confusion at his sudden coldness, wordlessly questioning him.
“Sorry, love.” Gage whispers in my ear before disappearing with me in his possession.
***
If I stand any straighter, I think it’s possible my spine might snap in two. Of their own accord, my hands clench and unclench at my sides in agitation. I fear if they stop, I might land a hard smack on the cheek of the sexy gargoyle watching me with his unimpressed eyes.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I scream and throw my hands up in dismay.
The protector ignores my outburst. Instead of responding, he takes out a cigarette, rolling it between his thumb and index finger, momentarily distracting me.
Damn, he’s alluring when he does that.
“I said I was sorry,” Gage offers unapologetically, yanking me back to the present.
“Take. Me. Back,” I demand.
“No,” he says with finality then pulls out a lighter from the front pocket of his black dress pants. Once the nicotine stick is lit, he drags in a long inhale, relaxing his face and shoulders.
“Now, Gage.” I narrow my eyes at him.
He pins me with a hard glare and releases an exaggerated exhale. A cloud of smoke is directed at me, forcing me to fan my hand in front of my face like
Miss America
does when she starts crying after she’s found out she’s won.
Jerk.
“I understand the word no is not something you’re used to hearing, love, since Asher bows at your every whim, but I mean it. So stop arguing with me.” His voice is rough.
“She will die,” I seethe.
His shoulders drop at my statement. “Elizabeth is not under my protection. You are.”
I scoff. “Unreal. NOW you decide to step in and protect me?”
What the hell?
“What happened to,
I don’t babysit, love
.
You’re a big girl, Eve. Spread those wings and fly, daughter of Heaven
.” I mock his previous statements.
He shrugs and places the cigarette in his mouth again. “It pleases me to do so now.”
I fold my arms over my chest and attempt to take on an even angrier stance. He just continues to stand there, unaffected, sucking on his cigarette. Letting it dangle over his infuriating perfect lips.
Damn gargoyles.
“Gage,” I fume.
“Love.”
“This wasn’t the plan.”
Gage throws the remains of his cigarette on the concrete sidewalk before stomping on it with his black designer shoes. “No, love, it wasn’t. Plans change. Isn’t that what’s so wonderful about free will, daughter of Heaven?”
We hold one another’s irate glare before a deep tone cuts through our childish stand off.
“In or out?” the gruff, accented voice asks in a short manner.
My eyes shift to the large Samoan man glaring at Gage and I. His thick, tan arms are covered in tribal tattoos and folded across his heavy body. The stranger is guarding a black door with no sign on it. His sudden presence triggers the realization that we’re standing in a back alley, in a city.
“Where are we?” I ask Gage, finally coming to my senses.
“The Midnight Temple,” he says cryptically and walks over to the intimidating bodyguard. “Issac, it’s good to see you again, brother.”
Issac doesn’t smile, or move for that matter. To be honest, he looks like he’s about to kill Gage. That unto itself makes him my new favorite person.
“Ua leva tele ona o'u le toe va'ai ia oe,” Issac grunts out in what sounds like Samoan.
“It has been a long time, man. I need to see him,” Gage says. “I’m owed a favor.”
Issac slides his guarded attention toward me before motioning at me with his head.
“O ai lou igoa?” he asks.
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” I state.
“He wants to know your name, love,” Gage explains.
“Oh. Eve. Eve Collins,” I answer and put out my hand to shake his.
Isaac doesn’t take it. His dark brown eyes skate back to Gage. “E le o inei le tama.”
Gage stands straighter and leans in. “Don’t lie to me. I know he’s here. I sense him.”
“E na'o 'oe?” Isaac questions frostily.