“If I see you rolling your eyes at me, externally or internally, I will make you run another ten miles today,” he threatens.
Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. “Fine. Again,” I say as I take my aggressive stance.
“Ash, perhaps Eves should work on hand-to-hand for a bit.” I love Callan.
Asher nods, allowing the sweat to drip off his face. “Fine.” He stalks off.
“Who spit in his cheerios?” I ask.
Callan laughs. “Alright, cutie, you know the drill. Five basic moves, practiced to perfection.”
I put down the daggers that have become like second hands to me and get into fighter stance with Callan.
“Remember, for each drill, we’ll repeat the same movements you’ve done a thousand times before. They should come to you without thought at this point.”
Callan comes at me, and for a moment, I hesitate. That’s all it takes for him to hit me at full strength and knock me to the mat. He reaches down to help me up. “Again.”
I stand, exhausted, sweat pouring off me, and get back into the stance. Callan comes at me, twisting around and gripping me from behind as I topple to the mat.
“Don’t hesitate. Focus, Eves. If you don’t strike first, it’s too late,” he reminds me.
Asher walks back in, chugging down water, just in time to see me take my third fall from Callan’s attack. Crap. He looks pissed though I can’t tell if it’s directed at Callan for dropping me or at me for allowing it.
“Callan, leave us.” It’s a harsh command that surprises both Callan and I.
Callan slides his eyes to me then back to Asher, nodding in agreement before walking out of the training room without a word.
I place my hands on my hips, my breath ragged from the sparring. “Was that necessary?”
Asher doesn’t say anything. He just throws his empty water bottle to the side. It hits the floor and bounces. I’m fixated on it, watching it roll.
For some reason, I don’t want to see the disappointment in Asher’s face as he stalks towards me. “I suggest you mentally prepare yourself because right now, I am not your protector. I am not your friend. I am someone who is going to attack you, over and over again, until you drop me. Do you understand, Eve?” he asks as he pulls off his shirt.
My heart rate kicks up a notch. It’s hard to focus when he’s shirtless. “What are you doing?” I question, doing my best not to quiver.
“You need to learn how to defend yourself when distracted.” His voice is cocky and unkind.
I huff. “All righty then. Glad to see you think so highly of yourself.”
“Are you prepared for my attack?” he asks abruptly.
I go to answer him but before I even take a breath, my back is on the mat and I am staring up at the ceiling. Crap.
“Get up, Eve,” he demands as I roll my aching body and stand again.
He attacks from behind this time. Within seconds, I’m laying face down on the mat, with him on top of me. I really can’t focus when the tattoo is touching my bare shoulder and causing the humming to jolt through me.
Asher pushes off me heatedly. I slowly get to my knees and fix my tank top.
“What the fuck is your problem?” I hiss at him.
“Again,” is all he says to me as he lunges for me and I dart to my left, avoiding contact.
He spins, facing me again, his breath coming out like a bull at a matador. He narrows his eyes and speaks through a tight jaw. “Fighting is all about focus and knowing what your opponent is going to do as soon as or before they do it. You need to think one step ahead of me and then immobilize me. Act on offense not defense.”
We circle one another for a moment before he charges again catching me off guard and I land on the mat, hard. “Fuck, Asher,” I scream and get up faster this time.
“Are you pissed, Eve?” he taunts. “Then come at me.”
I do. I lunge for him full force. He grabs my arms, twisting me around, and slamming my back against his chest. The protector mark is zapping me again. He leans down and whispers nastily in my ear, “Not good enough.” Then he pushes me away while I growl at him.
“How do you avoid being taken to the ground in a fight, Eve?” he yells at me.
I rack my brain, panicking at his question as he attacks and I’m once again flat on my back. I jump up even faster this time.
“You strike out with your closest weapon to your attacker’s easiest target,” he spits out.
I lunge at him, kicking my leg to Asher’s knee, making slight contact but not enough to bring him down.
“Yes. Good. Again,” he encourages in a rough tone. “If you hit or kick early, before your attacker reaches you, then you may be able to get by without tumbling to the ground.”
Once again, he jumps for me as I duck and twist, facing his back. I lock my wrist and angle it downward, making contact with the back of his neck and causing him to grunt but not go down.
“Use your knees and elbows, Eve. You can put more power behind them at your height.”
I do as I’m told. I bend at the waist as he comes at me then round my right leg up at the knee, connecting with the side of his face as he grunts. My smile inches up on the corner of my mouth.
Asher spits a small amount of blood onto the floor and connects with my eyes. “Again,” he says a little less severely this time. He sniffs in once and turns a cold face to me, ready to attack.
I crouch into a defensive stance as he comes at me so fast he’s just a blur. I duck out of his reach and twist on instinct, grabbing the back of his neck in a chokehold while my foot connects with the back of his knees, bringing him down to the mat with me falling on top of him. He twists and his back hits the floor first.
We’re both breathing heavily from the work out. Lying there, his eyes meet mine and a small smile forms on his face. “Excellent. See, when the supernatural kicks in, so do your instincts.”
I return his smile as my hand becomes extremely warm. It’s then that I realize it’s covering his protector tattoo. The energy hums between us as heat flows through my veins. Asher’s indigo eyes become dark and filled with desire as my own body tightens in response and fills with lust. My body is hungry for his touch. His large hands lift, pushing the fallen hair out of my face.
He sits up with me on his lap. I shift for a moment, straddling him. I’m aware of all the places his body is touching mine. His arousal hits me like a train as our emotions begin to feed off each other.
“Ash.” It’s a soft plea. A wanting request for him to kiss me this very instant. My longing for him is at its limit and I can’t push it away anymore.
“What do you want, siren?” His question is quiet, barely a whisper.
“You,” I say with an unwavering voice.
“Eve.” My name comes out like a prayer from his lips, causing me to pull him closer.
My voice is a husky whisper. “Make me yours.”
“Well, I do hope that I’m not interrupting anything.” An icy archangel’s voice comes from the doorway.
Asher and I both freeze. He pulls me closer, out of view.
“Both of you, in the office now,” Michael states angrily and walks out.
“Shit,” Asher says as he pushes me off his lap and stands up to search for his shirt. Prowling over to it, he snatches it off the ground and throws it on.
Humiliated, I don’t make eye contact with him as I catch my breath and come back to my senses.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t, I mean, we shouldn’t have—” Indigo eyes meet mine before he huffs and walks out of the training room, leaving me to bask in my mortification before heading to the office to get scolded.
By the time I get there, Asher’s already seated and looking like he’s taken an earful from Michael and none of it pleasant. I hesitate by the door for a moment before entering.
“Eve, have a seat.” It’s an order not a request from Michael.
I sit and Asher doesn’t even glance my
way. His expression is void of emotion and his eyes are fixated on the window in front of him.
“Asher has explained what I walked in on in the training room. I’ve made it clear to him that relations such as what I witnessed are not to continue. Not only is it inappropriate, but also there are dire consequences for continued actions. For Asher and the rest of the London clan. They are here to protect you and only to protect you. I realize the bond can encourage and heighten emotions such as today, therefore, I think it would be best if Callan and Tadhg finish training you while Asher falls back into a sentinel role only. Are we clear?” Michael says with a flat and stern tone.
I swallow, waiting for Asher to fight him on this. It doesn’t happen. My eyes slide to him. His face is forward and his expression is impassive. I nod my agreement.
“Good. Asher, you are formally dismissed. Eve, we will continue our control over your divine abilities so stay seated,” he orders as Asher gets up and leaves without a word and my heart officially breaks into a thousand pieces.
Two hours later, I’m back in the training room. Tadhg and I are working with weapons as Asher watches from a distance.
Keegan, Abby, Kenna, and Leo walk into the training room. “We’ve come up with a strategy,” Keegan announces as we all stop and circle around the rest of the group.
“What is it?” Asher asks with a slightly nervous twinge to his voice.
Keegan looks around, sliding his eyes between Asher and I before speaking in a quiet and authoritative voice. “We use Eve as bait to lure Deacon in then we place him in stone petrifaction.”
Asher right away shakes his head no. “There’s no way I’m placing Eve in that kind of danger. She isn’t ready. He’s half-demon, for shits sake. Are you out of your mind, Keegan? Do you know what he would do to her if he got his hands on her?” Asher shouts, clearly pissed.
“I understand your concerns, brother,” Keegan soothes.
“NO, YOU DON’T!” Asher roars.
“The strategy here is that if we can get Eve to distract Deacon long enough, a protector will be able to get to him, piercing his heart with the Angelic Sword and turning him to stone. With Deacon out of the way, we can simply focus on The Dark Army,” Keegan explains in an attempt to convince Asher.
“She’s guarded by gargoyles and supernatural beings Asher. Eve will be safe,” Kenna adds.
“No. Why would Deacon just assume that Michael or we would willingly hand over a charge? Or that Eve would even agree to go without a fight?” Asher responds without delay.
“The plan is to have The Royal Gargoyle Council of protectors reach out to Gage. They’ll tell him The Angelic Council had no knowledge of Eve’s existence. That they were furious with Michael when the council learned he allowed her creation, since it clearly violates the peace treaty. In an attempt to save face, The Angelic Council has ordered Michael and The Royal Gargoyle Council to cease our protection of Eve, effective immediately, and turn her over as a gesture of peace to Lucifer in order to prevent war. We, in turn, are forced to follow orders because the gargoyle’s ongoing protection of and loyalty to mankind, outweighs Eve’s continued haven with us. We let Deacon believe our protection of Eve would lead to too many human deaths and break our own treaties and oaths,” Keegan says.
“We would also need to make it seem that we’re torn between saving one human, Eve, or sacrificing her for the greater good of mankind,” Callan suggests. “By now, Gage and Deacon know how important Eve is to this clan.”
“Agreed. Eve will also have to act upset that we’d suddenly be turning her over. So it would have to be done against her will,” Keegan adds.
“Where would we meet?” Tadhg asks.
Keegan turns. “Here, nightfall. We’ll tell him that the enchantment will be lifted and if he comes peacefully, we’ll allow him on the grounds. We let Deacon get close enough to Eve that he thinks he has her and then we move in and bury him alive in stone,” Keegan states.
Asher shakes his head back and forth. “I don’t like it. You’re giving a lot of credit to a half-breed. Demons are not known for their stupidity, Keegan,” he retorts. “Not to mention that Eve is no where ready to go up against him.”
“Hold up.” They all turn to me. “I may not be fully ready but the past few weeks of training have taught me a lot.” I turn to Asher. “It’s a good plan. I could easily distract him. I can do this.”
Asher shakes his head adamantly in disagreement.
“I’m ready. If this solves the problem of Deacon for good, why not?” I ask in a quiet tone.
“I am not willing to place you in harm’s way, Eve,” Asher says, his voice low and final.
“Ash, we’ll all be there. Deacon won’t harm Eve. We’ll all make sure of it,” Callan offers.
All eyes are on Asher as he stands defiantly, arms crossed over his chest. His cold eyes lock onto mine as he sighs his agreement. “I don’t like it.”
I grab his arm in a firm hold. “I can’t escape him. Deacon and his clan are going to keep gunning for me. We need to stop him. This will work. I’m ready.” My eyes plead with his.
Asher’s irises scan my face, searching for an ounce of uncertainty. When he sees none, he swallows and turns to Keegan. “Reach out to Gage.” With that, he storms out of the room.
22 Sacrifices
I find Asher in the library, standing in front of the fireplace with both hands on the mantel, head down, breathing deeply. The glow from the fire illuminates his striking features and the way he leans shows off his toned back and arm muscles.
I breathe him in for a moment before I approach him. Once he senses my presence, his eyes shift to me, but he remains rooted in the same position.
I offer a small smile. “Keegan’s strategy is good. We can stop Deacon. I’ve got this.”
Asher huffs. “Eve, you’re naïve to think that.” He turns his focus back to the fire.
I approach him slowly and wrap my arms around his waist, resting my cheek over the dragon tattoo on his back. Praying he doesn’t push me away.
Asher closes his eyes and inhales. “You think it’s easy for me to let you go into this tomorrow? I see right through you, siren. I know you’re scared and trying to act brave.”
“You were the one who said I was strong and could rise to meet my destiny,” I remind him, enjoying that he isn’t pushing me away after Michael’s warning and his cold reaction.
“I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to protect you properly while feeling the way I do about you. It’s hindering my ability to keep you safe,” he says, pained. “And Michael—”
I let go of him, move around to the front and step in between his arms so I can look him in the eyes. “You will look after me. You can protect me because it’s engrained in your soul. I know you will catch me if I fall,” I promise him. “We’ll work on Michael. I’m not afraid.”
He lets go of the mantel and cups my face. Indigo eyes search mine. “I don’t want to let you down.”
“You won’t,” I assure.
He shakes his head. “Then why does it feel like the world is about to come down on us?”
I grab his cheeks, his stubble comforting my hands. “This is who we are. You promised to always bring me home. You will.”
Asher nods. “You’re right. This is who we are. It would be easier not to let you go. This plan, using you to lure Deacon, isn’t good. Someone is going to get hurt. A few weeks of training isn’t enough. You’re not ready. You’re not allowing me to protect you.”
I look fiercely at him. “You can’t shelter me. I need to be part of this. Besides, I’ve got you and a clan of the most badass gargoyles a girl could ask for. Not to mention a few werewolves. We’re good. I promise.” I smile, hoping it will put him at ease.
“I will protect you, always,” he vows.
Asher leans forward and his lips take mine with so much passion and force, pouring all his fears and promises into this kiss.
The expression of his feelings
is so beautiful that a small tear falls from my eyes and runs down my cheek. He leans back, scanning my eyes and wiping the tear with the back of his fingers. The gesture’s so tender I feel the need to crawl inside him and never leave.
“I’ve got this,” I whisper to him.
Aria bounces down the stairs and into the kitchen. Her happy humming pulls me out of my staring contest with the snow-covered trees in the backyard. I turn to her as she pours herself a cup of coffee. I think this is the first time I’ve noticed she puts more sugar in the cup than coffee. Gross.
“Aria, have some coffee with your sugar,” I joke.
She rolls her eyes. “Whatever, blood of Eden,” Aria shoots out at me as she hip checks me lightly.
I scrunch my face. “Hey, that’s just mean. You’ve been hanging out with McKenna too long,” I faux whine.
She sips her coffee. “You look worried.”
I sigh and hop on the counter to sit while she leans against it.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned about how today goes down,” I admit.
Aria is quiet, looking at me thoughtfully. “Eve, I promise you, it’s all going to go down the way it’s meant to go down.”
My eyes lock onto her chocolate ones. “It’s the how that has me concerned,” I confess.
Her face softens. “Are you worried about Asher?”
“Asher, Abby, Callan, Leo, Tadhg, even Keegan and McKenna. They’re my family now. How do I not worry about them?”
“They’re prepared. It’s in their blood. Everything is going to be just fine.” She taps my knee with affection.
I give her a tight smile. “Can I tell you something?”
“Always.” Aria’s eyes twinkle.
“I’m scared. Of living, of dying. What if I’m not meant to be this savior? What if all this is a fluke and they have the wrong person?” I stare at her, terrified that she’ll see right through me.
“Eve,” she says in a soft voice. “They have the right person. You’re very special. I know it feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, but I believe in you. If anyone can do this, it’s you.”
REVELATION (THE REVELATION SERIES) Page 22