“Thanks. You’re a good friend, Aria.” I hop off the counter and pull her into a tight hug.
“Let’s lighten things up. I’m so in love with Leo!” She giggles like a schoolgirl.
“What? Seriously?” My eyes widen in shock that she used the L-word.
“I really like him, Eve. He’s kind, loyal, passionate, and intelligent,” she gushes.
“And a werewolf,” I remind her. “Are you going to like have his werewolf cubs or something?” I laugh.
“Does that mean I really am into bestiality?” She freaks out, her face dropping and paling.
I scrunch my nose. “No, I don’t think that’s how it works.”
We burst into a giggling fit as Abby and McKenna walk in with Keegan, Callan, Asher, Tadhg and Leo trailing behind them.
“What’s so funny?” Leo asks as he wraps his arms around Aria.
“Nothing,” we say at the same time, causing another giggle fest.
“By the grace. Listen, if the Olsen twins are done, we should train before we head out,” McKenna snipes.
I narrow my eyes at her.
Asher comes over and grabs my piece of bacon out of my hand and eats it. “Help yourself,” I shoot at him sarcastically.
“I did.” He chomps and smiles his sexy grin at me.
Callan turns his angered face toward me as it drops in shock. “Did you touch my pans to make bacon?”
I swallow. Crap. “Um, yes.”
“Eves, the only thing worse than touching a man’s weapon without permission is touching his cooking utensils,” he whisper shouts in horror.
“Sorry,” I get out before I start laughing.
“We are talking actual pots and pans here, right?” Keegan confirms.
Callan looks at us, confused. “What else would I be talking about?” His hands are on his hips.
We all laugh because he’s so cute even though he doesn’t get it.
“Fine, but I’m making French toast this morning. See if any of you get some,” he pouts.
“Oh, honey, they’re just kidding. You have the best and biggest utensils I have ever seen,” Abby purrs.
This causes us all to laugh again.
“Out of my kitchen—all of you!” Callan shouts and we all head to the training room.
In the training room, the guys are wearing black cargos, black boots, and t-shirts. The girls are in black leggings, knee high leather boots, and black tank tops. All their dragon tattoos are prominently on display under their fighting garb. Leather wristlets and beaded bracelets are the only other items on their bodies.
Leo walks in last wearing jeans, boots, and a grey Henley. “You know it’s snowing, right? You’re all going to freeze,” he says.
“We don’t feel the cold like other supernatural beings or humans,” Keegan offers.
“Werewolves are warm blooded and run higher internal temperatures and it’s still goddamn cold,” Leo quips.
Callan and Tadhg laugh as we begin to prepare the weapons.
Keegan looks to Abby. “Did you remove the enchantment so Deacon and his clan can access the property?”
She nods her head. “Yep, all removed. So be prepared, every demon within a hundred miles of Eve will be heading our way soon.”
Aria walks in. “Are you sure there is nothing I can do?” she whines. “I feel useless just sitting here while you guys get to have all the fun and fight to save the world.”
I roll my eyes at her dramatics. Leo walks over to her and kisses her on the forehead.
“Listen, human, you need to stay here until this is done. It’s safer for you in here,” he explains tenderly.
“Fine, but I expect each and every one of you to protect Eve. Bring her back in one piece or I will kill you myself. Understood?” She glances at everyone, eyes narrowed, hands on hips. She means business.
They all smile and agree.
“By the way, you all do look like very badass gargoyles.” Aria smirks and turns to me.
I return the words she said to me this morning. “It’s all going to go down the way it’s meant to go down.”
She nods her head, lifts her chin, and hugs me. “I love you, girl.” Aria pulls away and looks me in the eyes. “I believe in you,” she says while moving my ponytail off my shoulder.
“I’ll see you on the other side of this,” I say with confidence.
“Yes, you will, my friend.” Her hand smacks my ass and she goes back to Leo’s side.
Asher comes over to me as I secure my daggers in their sheath. He watches me in quiet contemplation.
“What?” I ask, raising my gaze to meet his.
“You ready?” he asks with a pensive voice.
I stand straight, cross my arms, lift my chin and nod. “I’m ready.”
Asher grabs me in a strong embrace, his arms holding me tight in a protective and possessive hold.
“I will protect you. Always.” Whispering in my ear, he vows with certainty.
“EVE COLLINS! Come out, come out, little girl,” shouts Deacon from outside.
With a kiss to my forehead, Asher releases me.
Everyone stills and quiets, lost in their own thoughts before Keegan nods once to the group.
“Let’s roll,” Callan says and we walk out to meet fate.
The snow has fallen, leaving a pristine white blanket on the ground. The trees are bare and the sky is grey as the heavy clouds encompass us like a shield. Large, wet snowflakes float from the sky in a poignant way.
We walk outside and the snow crunches under the weight of our boots. Deacon is standing with Gage, Jade and Kaiden. Asher is to my right and Keegan to my left. Both have a grip on me, pretending to force me to Deacon as I fight their pull. The rest of the clan has scattered out of sight in the woods that surround the grounds.
“Eve. Asher. Keegan,” Deacon says, sounding bored with a cigar hanging out of his mouth.
“Deacon. I would say nice to see you again, but honestly, it’s not.” Though I’m quivering inside, my voice is strong and tough.
“Shut up, little girl,” he spits. “Hand her over, dark prince, and let’s be done.” Deacon focuses on Asher.
I look to Asher, and he looks to me before I reface Deacon, pretending to fight Keegan’s hold.
“Let’s make this simple without dramatic play or bitterness, shall we?” Deacon holds out his hand for me to take.
Asher flinches. “Wait,” he says in a firm tone. “We need to be assured before we just hand her over to you, Deacon. This may be the council’s decision but we are still protecting her.” The lie rolls off his tongue without hesitation.
Deacon’s angry eyes flash to Asher as his hand drops. Gage crosses his arms as his eyes narrow.
“Assured how, Asher?” Gage asks, annoyed.
“Eve’s human. She isn’t to be harmed at the hand of a gargoyle. If she is, you will be breaking The Royal Gargoyle Council of Protector oath, which even you must obey.” Asher’s voice is threatening.
“You have our word that no gargoyle will harm her,” Gage assures with sincerity.
I shift my gaze to Asher. He’s silent, his expression not betraying him. I pick up on the tick in his jaw though. He hates this plan, but it needs to be seen to fruition.
Keegan thrusts me out of Asher’s grip toward Deacon.
Deacon releases a wicked laugh. “Such a brave little girl.” He motions to Kaiden with his head to move forward and retrieve me.
Kaiden stalks to me, smirking cruelly. I try to remain calm, keeping my eyes on his at all times. Keegan pushes me forward into Kaiden’s waiting embrace. My heart is beating so fast it might just fly out of my chest. Inhaling deeply, I push the nerves down and remind myself what Callan taught me.
The minion takes my arm with little effort. Leaning down, Kaiden puts his nose to my neck, sniffing me in. He closes his eyes in pleasure as a chill runs down my spine.
“Mm, so sweet. I look forward to having a little fun with you bef
ore we turn you over,” he whispers into my ear like a creepy stalker.
In my peripheral vision, I see Asher’s cheek tick pick up its pace. If I don’t stop this, he’ll advance on Kaiden without doubt.
“She is not to be harmed in any manner or this is over,” Asher says menacingly.
“She won’t be,” Gage assures him. “You have my word, Asher,” he promises. Odd.
Kaiden guides me over to Deacon, positioning me so I’m standing in front of him. Deacon blows cigar smoke into my face. I hold my stance, careful not to flinch. “It’s nice having you so close, little girl.”
The half-demon picks up a finger and runs it over my cheek, down my neck, and to the top of my cleavage line while my skin crawls at his touch.
“She isn’t a new play toy.” Jade seethes besides him.
“Hush. She’s whatever I want her to be until I hand her over,” he answers with disinterest in Jade and keeps his eyes on me.
I stay silent, not showing any fear.
“Such a brave little girl, but we’ll break that before long.” He sneers as his promise sends a sudden fear right through me. Maybe this was a bad strategy.
“That’s enough, Deacon. You’re not to harm her,” Gage says. “We got what we came for. Let’s go.”
Deacon drops the cigar and crushes it with his foot. “Yes, we have what we want.” Again, he motions for Kaiden.
Kaiden takes my upper arm, and the rest of the Declan clan prepares to vanish with me.
Keegan’s head makes a slight motion. The signal. I take a deep breath and do exactly what Callan taught me.
Pulling my arm in, I bend at the waist and flip Kaiden onto his back. Surprised by the attack, he quickly recovers and jumps back in my face as I front kick him in the groin, causing him to drop to the ground again.
Briefly, I look around. Asher and Gage have their swords drawn and are circling one another. Kenna is sourcing Jade’s abilities. Callan and Keegan are closing in on Deacon. Before I can see where Leo, Tadhg and Abby are, Kaiden starts to get up again.
As he stands to lunge for me, I round on him and place him in a defensive rear choke. Kaiden pulls a small knife from his sheath and slices it across my arm. The pain forces me to release the chokehold.
I hear Asher shout my name and I turn as Gage grabs him from behind, throwing his sword across Asher’s neck. Panicked, I move to help him but Kaiden suddenly grabs me from behind in the same chokehold I used on him. Terrified, I realize I need to get myself out of this and fast.
Asher locks eyes in a warning before I brush him off and reach down to pull my daggers from their secured holders then I stab Kaiden in each leg as he screams in pain and releases me. Without thought, I turn on him as something in me snaps.
It’s like I’m having an out of body experience. From the training, my muscles and body instinctively know what to do as I lift and point both daggers at the gargoyle. In one fast move, I connect with his chest, piercing his heart. The thrust is so quick neither of us realizes what I’ve done. Kadien’s eyes widen in surprise.
In slow motion, he begins to turn into stone, starting at his feet. All I can do is stand there and watch in disbelief as he becomes encased in stone within a matter of seconds.
My hands tremble around my daggers. All I can hear is my echoed breathing. As if in a tunnel, nothing else is registering. Suddenly, Kaiden’s stone body is crumbling. The dust blows away with the wind, and the only proof he existed at all is gone. I swallow the bile that has risen from my stomach and stare at the empty spot he once stood.
“Holy shit.” I breathe out, realizing I just killed Kaiden.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, little girl,” Deacon scolds with condescension dripping from his snarled mouth. “You, my dear, just killed one of my family members,” he says as if I broke a vase in his house. “I do believe the punishment for that is death.”
Keegan steps forward. “She’s not a gargoyle. Our laws don’t apply to her,” he warns.
Deacon closes the space between us and grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him. “I. DO NOT. CARE,” he shouts, causing me to flinch.
All of a sudden, Deacon flies back with a strong gust of wind, away from me. I close my eyes and thank Abby for manipulating the air.
I look to Asher. He’s no longer pinned by Gage’s sword. His eyes are filled with fear but his expression is impassive, not giving anything away. I turn my focus back to a very pissed off Deacon, getting up off the ground.
Deacon turns to me, his face laced with malice. His nostrils are flaring and his jaw is tight. “Your life is over, Eve Collins,” he says so calmly that it has the same effect as if he screamed it. He lifts his sword and points it at me.
My eyes shift again to Asher. I know he can’t get to me in time. Even with his fast speed, Deacon is too close to me. This will be my sacrifice and mine alone.
Asher’s eyes plead with me, begging me not to do this. He knows I’m no match for Deacon.
I swallow and face Deacon. “No, it’s just beginning,” I say as I raise the daggers still dripping with Kaiden’s blood.
I lift my foot to charge at Deacon just as a flash of pink whizzes by me, straight at him. Before I can even process what’s happening, I hear Aria scream.
My eyes lock on Deacon’s sword, which has run through Aria’s stomach, and is sticking out of her back, covered in blood. I register hysterical screaming and realize it’s coming from me as I run to her with Leo by my side.
Deacon yanks his sword out in a cruel manner, his eyes full of hatred as Aria’s body floats awkwardly to the snow covered ground. Blood is pooling beneath her. Aria’s pink clothes, combat boots, and the pure snow are now stained crimson.
“An eye for an eye, little girl. We may be even, but make no mistake, this is not over. I will hand you over to Lucifer with not even a trace of remorse,” Deacon spits and then he and Jade vanish in thin air.
A lone tear rolls down Aria’s cheek as she gasps for air. I pull her limp body into my lap, cradling her, rocking her, willing life to return to her as blood trickles from her mouth.
Asher prowls to my side, kneeling down next to me. Leo cradles Aria’s head. Gage walks up slowly to me. His face pale and his expression disheartened.
“You’ve made a terrible strategic mistake, love,” he says with a solemn tone. Asher stands, his grip tightening on his sword, ready to engage but Gage fades out.
Keegan, Callan, Abby, Tadhg and McKenna all come over and circle us. Leo presses his forehead to Aria’s with his eyes wet from unshed tears. I rock her and my tears flow freely, dropping onto her peaceful face.
Aria swallows as I lean down to hear her before the life leaves her body. Her chocolate eyes shift to Asher then me, the light draining out of them.
She barely whispers, “He’s your savior and you’re ours.”
COMING SOON
Restraint: The Revelation Series
Keep reading for a sneak peek at the first chapter of Restraint, book two of The Revelation Series.
If you’d like to read a bonus chapter from Asher’s point of view, please visit: randicooleywilson.com
Excerpt from Restraint
The biting, frigid wind whips around me in an angry whistle, a heartbreaking reminder that even in the tranquility of this moment, death is inevitable. The skies are painted grey. A depressing warning that darkness is on the horizon. My hazel eyes scan the memorial park draped in pure white snow like a lover’s embrace. Lifeless trees provide no shelter from the grief this place emits. A single tear falls silently from my eyes, inching down my frozen, pink cheek. The little bead of water nearly freezes before I wipe it away with my glove-swathed hand.
“I’m so sorry, Aria,” I whisper, swallowing the painful lump present in my throat. I just stare blankly at the white marble stone before placing the perfect, long-stemmed pink rose on top of the marker. It lays there, motionless, not affected by the icy breeze.
I take off my glove. The coldness hits my already frozen han
d immediately as I allow it to move over the stone’s writing.
Arianna “Aria” Donovan
Beloved Daughter, Sister, and Friend
July 1996 – January 2014
“I miss you,” I barely choke out. “I can’t believe you’re gone. How could you have run at Deacon like that?” My whisper is lined with sorrow, resentment, and admiration at her grave. I close my eyes and relive her last moments.
Aria’s pink pixie hair whooshes by in a rush of air so swift that she’s a blur. Deacon’s sword enters her stomach, exiting out her back. The scarlet liquid drips from her almost lifeless body, staining the untainted snow. Her eyes are wide and her pink glossed mouth soundlessly opens.
Aria shifts her peaceful chocolate eyes to Asher then me as her light drains out of them. She swallows with difficulty as I lean down, pressing my ear to her lips before life leaves her body.
She barely whispers, “He’s your savior and you’re ours.”
Crap. I tightly close my eyes, shaking myself out of the mental picture. I open them and focus on the flawless pink rose. Its petals are so lovely and perfect.
“How am I supposed to continue on this crazy ass journey without you?” A strangled laugh comes out, as do the tears.
“She would have loved that the rose is pink.” Abby steps next to me and claps her gloved hand in mine, clutching it reassuringly. A tiny smile crosses her lips as her eyes slide from me to the stone. “By the grace, the girl loved pink. Everything in our damn college dorm room was pink.”
“She’s the only being I know who could pull off pink hair and black combat boots with a pink sundress and still look like a beautiful doll,” I add with a solemn tone.
Abby caresses Aria’s name on the grave. “Well, we did always say her real parents were Marilyn Manson and Barbie,” Abby recalls softly.
I inhale a rough breath and shift my eyes to the motionless forest behind the cemetery, attempting to keep the tears from falling again.
“How on earth did she get to Deacon so fast?” I ask the motionless trees before turning to Abby. “Her speed was exceptional.”
REVELATION (THE REVELATION SERIES) Page 23