He tilts his head to the side and just stares at me. Asher’s hand moves from my jaw, sliding under my hair, to the back of my neck, gripping it tightly. He lowers his head toward mine, allowing his mouth to hover just above my lips. They part of their own accord.
My eyelids slide shut and then open. Asher’s ability to make me his over and over again never fails to surprise me. Feeling weak, I place both hands on his chest to steady myself.
His heated gaze lands on my right hand, which is over Asher’s protector tattoo. The same place I stabbed him. At the same time, we catch one another in a fleeting look and Asher releases the hold he had on me, placing space between us and breaking the spell.
“I’m not there yet, siren,” he says with a sadness lining his voice.
After an awkward moment of silence, I clear my throat and point to the pile of clothes on the floor. “I should get dressed.”
Keeping my eyes down just proves my cowardice. I can’t bear the thought of seeing the disappointment on his face right now. Guilt pricks at me with each second that goes by.
“You should,” he replies with a hard tone then turns to leave. His back straightens and his hand hovers over the doorknob when he speaks again. “I can’t forgive you yet, but say you’ll wait for me.”
I inhale and hold my breath. What do you say to that?
“I love you. We belong together. Just promise that you’ll wait for me, siren.”
“I promise. I’ll wait for you, Asher,” I whisper through the trembling of my body.
***
My steps are slow and I attempt to keep my expression neutral as I walk into the kitchen. Entering, I stop in my tracks when I see all the supernatural beings sitting around Marcus’ enormous kitchen island.
My eyes flick to Asher’s briefly before moving around and taking in the site of all the baked goods. Normally when there are this many pastries, Callan and Abby are fighting. Arching my brow, I shift my gaze to Callan’s in question.
“It was a tense few days, cutie,” he offers as an explanation for turning Marcus’ kitchen into his own personal bakery.
“What’s going on?” I take a seat next to Marcus and watch him pick at a pecan.
“We’re discussing your soul’s awakening,” Abby answers brightly.
My eyebrows lift in surprise. “There really is no privacy within this clan.”
Abby giggles. “Nope.”
“How are you feeling, baby girl?” Marcus asks first.
I inwardly groan and offer a fake smile. “Fine.”
Abby’s gaze meets mine. “We’ve all been so worried. You were pretty out of it.”
I try not to be freaked out by all the eyes staring at me like I’m an experiment gone wrong. “I’m okay. I promise.”
“You don’t feel different or anything, cutie?” Callan asks from across the room.
“Nope.”
“Talk about anticlimactic,” McKenna huffs out.
“Tell me about it,” I agree.
“You have no new marks, or gifts, or insight?” Keegan queries.
“Nothing.” I swallow, suddenly feeling like a big letdown.
“That’s weird, right?” Nassa asks Uriel who’s probably on his tenth cookie.
“It’s a little strange, but to be expected. I’m sure as time goes on, we’ll discover new abilities and all will be revealed,” the angel answers in an authoritative tone and winks at me.
I notice that both Gage and Asher are unusually quiet, piquing my curiosity.
“Is there any word about Elizabeth?” I ask, trying to change topics.
Abby meets my stare and offers a sympathetic expression.
“Not yet, Eve,” Keegan answers in a flat tone.
I take in a breath and keep my eyes trained on the granite.
“Uriel was explaining to us the trials you went through, love.” Gage’s voice hits me.
I sigh. Guess we’re not done discussing the ascension.
“Yeah, they were crazy. At first, I thought I was on a bad trip from Nassa’s elixir.”
Everyone stares at me. “You could hear us while unconscious?” Abby questions.
I nod and pick up an oatmeal raisin cookie, picking out the raisins. “Why is that weird?”
Keegan shakes his head. “It’s almost as if you were in stone state verse realm jumping.”
Asher stares at the black countertop as if it holds all life’s answers. My eyes meet Uriel’s accusatory ones. His look says, See! The bond is doing confusing things.
I sigh and drop the cookie. “Why don’t we ever have anything salty? Callan, I can’t eat any more baked goods. No matter how much I love them, or you. Before I met this family, I didn’t even like sweets,” I ramble and head to the fridge for a water. “I wish there were some chips and dip. Maybe guacamole. Do you know how to make guacamole?” I ask rhetorically to avoid all the tension.
The room is oddly silent when I turn back to face the group who, at the moment, are looking at me like I’ve sprouted twelve heads.
“What?” I ask.
“By the grace, did she do that?” Kenna’s awed tone pulls my focus to her.
“Do what?” I ask and take my stool again before my eyes lock onto the guacamole and chips. “Where did that come from?”
“You, cutie.” Callan laughs.
My brows pull together. “What?”
“It seems you do have a new gift. Manifestation.” Uriel beams.
“Do it again, Eve.” Abby claps cheerfully.
“Um, okay. I’m not sure how to.” I bite my lip.
“Just think of something that you really want, love. Focus on that item,” Gage encourages.
My hand moves to play with the necklace Asher gave me, a nervous mannerism of mine, but it’s not there. I must’ve been too distracted after my shower and forgotten to place it back on. Conjuring up an image of it in my mind, I focus on the feather lying on its side. After a few seconds, it suddenly appears on my neck. What the hell?
“Holy shit, cutie. You can materialize things.” Callan gasps. “So. Fucking. Cool.”
I fill with excitement. “What about people?” I ask Uriel then focus on Elizabeth.
“People have free will and therefore can’t be summoned,” Uriel clarifies.
My shoulders sag in discouragement before I nod my understanding.
“Is that why lightning bolts are suddenly shooting out of her?” Nassa questions. “She’s manifesting them?”
Asher’s velvety voice interjects. “There is only one way to find out.” He stands and comes to my side. “Instead of focusing on Elizabeth, let’s head to the training room and see what your new gift can really do.”
I nod my agreement. “Okay.”
“Good.” Asher squeezes my shoulder.
I stare at his back as he retreats, leaving with everyone else for the training room.
“He’s coming around, Eves,” Callan says, wrapping his arms around me and dropping a kiss onto the top of my head. “Asher’s forgiveness levels are slow on his best day.”
“I know.”
“Come on, let’s go play with your new lightning bolts.” He smirks and grabs a bag of marshmallows off the counter.
I eye him skeptically.
Callan smirks. “What? I want to see if your gift can roast marshmallows.”
“Why?”
“After I train, I like s’mores.”
9 Ice Catacombs
I DROP MY CHIN AND ANGLE my head to the side so I can detect movement. Motionless, I try to control my heartbeat. My fingers ache, longing for my daggers. Taking in a deep breath, I wait for what seems like an eternity before I finally sense motion.
Waiting for his approach, I tense for just a second before I discern he’s within a breath of me. I spin with extraordinary speed, facing my opponent. Only, it’s not Ethan, the demon I was supposed to be training with. It’s Asher, cocky grin in place and all. Mother of all…
Attempting to act unaffected at the chang
e in opponents, I narrow my eyes and stare into Asher’s amused ones. I take in a calm breath and take a step back. Before I can formulate a strategic attack, Asher lunges forward, closing the distance between us.
The Angelic Sword cuts through the air in a downward motion toward my ankles, causing me to vault into the air, evading the sharp blade with grace. Once my feet are planted on the other side of the weapon, I turn again and reach for my daggers, only they aren’t there. Shit. In surprise, my eyes drop and then lift when I hear McKenna snickering from the back of the training room. Briefly, I glance at her over my shoulder. She’s spinning my knives and smirking. Damn gargoyles.
Before I can process how she was able to get to my weapons, the whistle of steel cutting through air pulls my focus back to Asher who is once again, attacking. I launch into the air, in the form of a back flip, to escape the assault and recover by standing straight up. A trick learned from training with demons. Feeling proud, I lift my chin in victory at Asher.
Asher just stares into my eyes. A slow smile crosses his beautiful lips as he whips the sword down again toward my knees this time, forcing me to back up. Realizing he’s cornered me, my eyes dart around in search of an escape route.
I don’t want to use the light source on him. I won’t hurt him again. Seeing that I’m trapped, Asher frowns at my failure, turns on his heel and walks away from me. I will my daggers to manifest in my hands. Just as Asher reaches the weapon wall, they appear. I shoot a triumphant smile at Kenna who growls angrily that I snatched them back.
I wait for Asher to place his sword in its spot before flicking my daggers in his direction, one on each side of his head. Black wings unfold angrily in a snapping motion from his back as he spins. Catching each one with his bare hands, he glares at me. Looking into my eyes, he reaches back and puts them in their designated place on the wall.
My eyebrows rise quickly when I notice the blood dripping from each of his hands and Asher’s eyes slide into angry slits. My body goes taut and I wait for him to make another move toward me, in retaliation. In an instant, he’s dematerialized, vanishing into thin air. I spin in circles, searching for him as my heart rate increases. I can’t sense him.
Without warning, strong arms wrap around my waist and I’m pulled into a heaving chest.
Asher dips his head closer to my ear to whisper. “Heal me.”
“What?” I ask breathlessly as I turn in his arms.
“Focus on the injuries and push healing energy into my body, siren,” he explains.
My expression drops. “I’ve never done that before, Asher. I’m not even sure I can.”
“You can,” he assures and releases me, lifting his wounded palms to me.
Giving him one final, don’t count on it look, I train my eyes on his hands. After hesitating for a brief moment, I take his right hand between mine and focus on the wound. At the same time, I try to ignore how he’s studying me with an intensity that would scare off even the bravest soul.
“I believe in you, siren,” he whispers.
Swallowing, I begin to caress the area around the small wound with the tip of my finger and pull energy to me, allowing it to flow through my veins. I envision the healing force fixing Asher’s lesions. Within seconds, a small, dark, glow forms around the skin on my finger and I watch with awe as it floats into Asher’s hand, mending the wound.
His eyelids slide closed and he releases a small groan as the cut seals.
“Does it hurt?” I murmur.
Indigo eyes fly open and lock onto mine. “Never.”
I release the healed palm and repeat the same steps with the other hand. When it’s restored, Asher interlaces our fingers and brings our hands to his mouth before planting a light kiss on mine.
“Thank you, siren.”
A strange pang of intimacy washes over me as our irises glow and mirror one another. It’s like I’m looking back at myself. Warmth unlike anything I’ve ever felt embeds itself inside my heart. My eyes shift to our interlocked hands and suddenly I can see the faintest energy trail floating between us, making us one.
I look to Asher in question. “Why is it black?”
“It’s our healing energy color. We’re mated now, so when I heal you or you heal me, a black stream will flow through our veins. It’s a gift exchange that only mates share.”
“That’s fucking freaky, Ash,” I whisper.
Asher releases a light laugh. “Yeah, siren. It is.”
Suddenly, all humor is lost as Asher’s fingers trace the path from my wrist to my elbow, following the black light force. “It’s damn fucking sexy though,” he says in a strained voice.
Lost in our own world, he leans in closer. Our bodies aren’t touching, but the heat emanating from him seeps into my skin, igniting the fire that’s always between us.
“Siren?” he says quietly in a commanding tone.
“Yes,” I match his quiet level, my voice dripping with need.
“If you ever throw your weapons at me when my back is turned again, I will kill you.”
His words yank me out of my desired-state and back to the present. “You are…”
“Awesome?” He supplies with a cocky grin.
“More like unreal,” I counter.
“You wound me, siren.” The sexy protector feigns hurt.
“I’m sure your ego is completely bruised, gargoyle,” I retort and attempt to hide my smile.
“By the grace, would you two stop eye-fucking one another? The only sparks this group wants to witness are the lightning bolts the blood of Eden is apparently producing. If you can’t make her do it, Asher, I will.” McKenna stands and approaches me, ready for a fight.
Asher chuckles and waves his hand toward me. “Have at it, Kenna. Eve could use a good ass kicking,” he throws out and moves to stand with his brothers. What the fuck?
“Ye of little faith,” I mumble in annoyance to his retreating back before turning to McKenna and straightening my spine.
“Prepare for the most epic smack down of your life, blood of Eden,” she snarls.
“Bring it, cupcake,” I taunt.
Her beautifully manicured eyebrows pull together. “Why the fuck do you call me that?”
I shrug. “Why do you call me blood of Eden?”
McKenna looks at me as if I am literally the dumbest person on the planet. “Because, you actually have the BLOOD OF EDEN running through your veins,” she draws out.
“Yes, but the way you say it is like an insult.”
“It’s meant to be,” she counters.
“So is cupcake.”
“That makes no fucking sense.”
“Cupcakes are sweet. You’re a bitch. It makes perfect sense,” I explain.
“Did you just call me a bitch?” she sneers.
“I believe I did.” I smirk and give her the finger.
Taken aback, McKenna’s face morphs into pure hatred. “I’m going to end you.”
In my peripheral vision, I see both Asher and Keegan take a step in our direction, most likely to run interference. Abby moves in front of them, placing her palms up.
“Let them hash this out. It’s been a long time coming,” she says.
“I thought we’d discussed this. I am not the enemy, McKenna,” I say before dropping my voice so only she can hear. “Nor am I a threat to your protection of Keegan.”
Her fists close at her sides. “Do not speak of my mate’s protection when clearly you are a hazard to yours. In Wiltshire, you spoke of love for Asher. Protection. For a moment…” She exhales. “By the grace, for a fucking moment, I actually believed you loved him, blood of Eden. I believed you’d protect him at any cost.” She raises her menacing voice.
“What I did was for Asher’s protection,” I yell back.
“What you did was show disloyalty to the future king. You betrayed a member of my family. You were deceitful,” she huffs. “You are dangerous to yourself, to Asher, and to this clan,” the beautiful gargoyle screams.
“Asher doesn’t seem to think I’m that dangerous,” I argue.
“Asher is so fucking enamored with you that he can’t see straight, but make no mistake, I see right through you, blood of Eden.” Kenna pins me with eyes full of distain.
At her words, I begin to feel the energy build. Not wanting to unleash it on her, I try to breathe and calm myself down. It’s not working. Without warning, my palms open and two bolts of light flow out of me and hit McKenna smack in the chest. The force pushes her at least ten feet away from me and she lands with a hard thud on her back. Oh shit.
Suddenly, Keegan takes a step toward me, causing Asher to step in front of him. A few moments later, McKenna shakes the strike off, stands, and throws me an angry look. The energy around the room begins to morph as the gargoyle starts to power source. I can feel her absorbing my abilities, and within seconds, two shots of light fly out of her and into me.
On impact, I fly back and hit the wall. The force knocks the air out of me as the burn caused from the light quickly subsides. After collecting myself, I watch as Uriel and Callan hold Keegan and Asher back. Aggravated, I stand and reface McKenna.
“If you see me, McKenna, then you see that I did what I did for the safety of this family. All I wanted to do was protect your precious future king. But above all, I did what I had to do to protect my mother.” I step toward her and lower my tone. “If you had one chance, one rewind, and you could save yours, wouldn’t you? Even if it meant doing something so vile as hurting Keegan to make sure she was safe, wouldn’t you do it?”
McKenna releases a harsh breath before shifting her eyes behind me to Keegan.
“What I did was wrong. I can’t take it back. I’m beyond sorry that I hurt the one person in the world I love more than anything, or anyone else, because I do, Kenna. I fucking love him. I would give my life for his, in a heartbeat and without thought. I will protect him, this family, and the gargoyle race at all costs,” I vow.
McKenna’s expression suddenly falls as she really looks at me for the first time ever.
“You could absorb my abilities all day. We could heal quickly and continue to beat the shit out of one another, or we could put down our swords, and for once, be on the same team,” I offer, trying to catch my breath.
Revolution (The Revelation Series Book 4) Page 10
