Revolution (The Revelation Series Book 4) (19 page)

Uriel approaches the fairy queen with a wicked smirk. “It’s such a shame. So much beauty and kindness, hidden behind so much deceit and evil.”

Lady Finella raises her chin at Uriel. “Do your will, archangel.”

He nods once. “I take no pleasure in what I’m about to do, your grace.”

At his words Lady Finella slides her emerald eyes to me. “It is my wish, daughter of Heaven, that your heart be open and forgive whatever treachery I committed in the name of love, sacrifice, and protection.” The words are a repeat of a conversation we’d once had.

I sink further into Asher’s chest. My eyes sting with tears and my mind struggles with my mixed feelings. I study the queen one last time. Despite her treachery, I know she cares for me. “I grant you redemption, your grace,” I whisper.

She bows her head once to me and straightens her posture. My eyelids slide closed.

“Will you not beg me for mercy?” Uriel’s loud voice bounces off the castle walls.

“I shall not,” Lady Finella answers in a strong.

Moments later, the only sound I hear is Uriel’s Angelic Sword, slicing through the stilled air, followed by a painful bellow Asmodeus releases outside at the realization that his mate connection was just severed by Lady Finella’s death.

When I reopen my eyes, I focus on Uriel’s sad expression.

“Nassa, Gage will escort you back to the royal court. Please be kind enough to inform them the Angelic Council has taken care of their traitor.” Uriel’s tone has become formal.

Nassa pauses for a moment, sliding her focus between the archangel and what is left of Lady Finella. After a few seconds, she nods once and leaves with Gage.

Asher has slightly released his grip on me slightly and I shift my focus to my mother. Without words, I run over to her motionless body and kneel feeling for her pulse. It’s faint under my fingers. I ignore the grunts and thunderous battle happening just beyond the castle and focus on my healing energy, trying to push it into her.

Asher bends next to me. “What are you doing, siren?” he asks gently.

“Trying to heal her,” I answer without looking at him.

“Stop,” he commands in a soft tone and places his hands on mine.

“No,” I respond.

“You can’t heal her, siren. It only works between mates,” Asher says slowly.

My gaze snaps to his. “She’s dying,” I spit out. “You prevented me from going to her side when she was kicked. She’s hurt. Her life is slipping away. How could you?”

His expression falls. “You are my charge. Above all else, I protect you, always.”

“Then who was supposed to protect her?” I challenge angrily.

Asher’s eyes lift and lock onto the menacing archangel covered in mud and blood, walking toward us. His face is ashen and the life has been drained from his body.

“He was,” Asher chokes out.

“Give Libby to me to me before the reapers get here.” Michael’s voice is emotionless.

“Reapers?” I repeat. “Wait. No.” I throw myself over her, protectively.

“Siren,” Asher murmurs, placing his hands on my shoulders.

“No,” I sob. “You can’t have her. She’s mine. My aunt. My mother. Mine!” I scream.

“Siren,” Asher whispers leaning over my back, into my ear. “She’s his, as you are mine. It’s time to let her rest and give her to Michael.”

I sit up and face Asher with tears running down my face.

“I can heal her, Asher.”

“You can’t.”

“I can.”

“If he takes her, I’ll have no one. Nothing.” The tears fall faster down my cheeks.

Asher’s watery eyes hold mine. Cupping my cheeks, his thumbs gently wipe away the trails of water dripping. “You have everything. You have me. You are mine, as she is his.”

Wordlessly, I nod, turn, and cradle my mother in my arms. I swallow the lump in my throat and bend closer to her ear. “I love you, Mom. I forgive you. I’ll see you on the other side of this, I promise.”

“Eve.” Michael’s voice penetrates the sobs wracking my body. “I must take her now.”

My swollen eyes lift and meet Michael’s empty ones. Exhaling, I allow Asher to take me in his arms. Michael leans down and cradles my mother, placing a kiss to her temple.

He and Uriel dematerialize with my mother as I’m left weeping in Asher’s strong arms.

I cry for my mother.

For Aria.

For Lady Finella.

For Arabella.

For the past I lost.

For the future I’ll never have.

I mourn the loss of my free will.

And when the last tear falls, I stand.

I stand and watch the King of Hell weeping on his knees, in the rain.

Inhaling, I lift my chin.

And embrace my destiny.

19
E
verything

I HAVE YET TO EMERGE FROM THE DARKNESS of my mother’s death. It’s too painful. Slowly, I make my way to the railing at the patio’s edge. The air feels different tonight. Like something is weighing it down. The unknown lingers, waiting to be revealed.

Strands of my light brown hair lift and twirl in the cool, evening breeze. I attempt to tame the wild pieces while I study the vast sky. Over this past week, I’ve wished for nothing more than for the inky heavens to swoop down and swallow me whole.

Asher steps behind me, calming the storm rising within my body. I don’t turn. Where he’s concerned I’m currently unable to clear my head and focus my thoughts.

“Ash, if there was ever a time to leave me alone, this would be it.” My voice is tight, sad.

“I have left you alone, siren,” he replies. “I’ve respectfully given you time to grieve, and it’s because I love you that I won’t fucking watch you sink into the darkness anymore.”

I close my eyes and fight my internal demons. “Since I began this journey, I’ve been drowning in darkness, Asher,” I speak softly.

Strong arms cage me in, one on either side of my body, as he presses his chest to my back and his lips to my temple, before leaning closer to my ear.

“What are you seeking in the stars, siren?” He asks in a quiet tone, changing his approach.

“I’m searching for peace in the midst of turmoil,” I whisper.

Asher drops his tense jaw to the top of my shoulder. “Someday, we’ll disappear from all this and it will only be the moon and stars that will hunt us down. I promise.”

The words hit me hard and my throat feels tight. I close my eyes and pray that at the end of this story, we’ll walk through the dark, into the light together because he’s all I have left.

For a few more moments, we quietly take in the night. Watching the stars together. Asher’s arms wrap around my waist and he buries his nose in my hair with a deep inhale. I relax into his strong arms, holding onto me tightly.

“I came out here because you have a visitor.” Asher says apologetically. “It’s important you speak with him, so forgive what I’m about to do to pull you out of dark and back into the light, so you can begin to live again, siren.”

“Living is falseness,” I reply in a dismissive way. “Death is honesty.”

“Your reconciliation of life and death are overshadowed by your sadness, siren,” he says.

“May I have a moment of your time, Eve?” Michael asks gently from behind us.

The evening air suddenly feels suffocating and heavy as we turn to face Michael. I take in the archangel’s disheveled appearance. Dark circles appear under his normally bright eyes. His golden, shoulder-length hair is loose. The angel’s entire demeanor looks defeated.

Not trusting my voice, I nod my agreement. Asher steps away. My body shivers at the loss of contact. I must look unsteady because he immediately pulls me back into his arms.

“I’ve got you, siren,” he whispers, washing away some of my fears.

I sniff in his scent and mumble into his chest. “I can’t do this.”

“You can. I’ll be just inside if you need me, yeah?” Asher says in a quiet voice.

Not wanting to relinquish the grip I have on my mate, I squeeze him tighter. Confused, he backs up a sliver and motions something to the archangel that I can’t see. A few seconds later, Asher’s warm body, is replaced by Michael’s.

I struggle to take a breath as a tear slips from my eye. Slowly, Michael’s arms tighten around me and pull me to his chest in a deeper embrace. After a moment, I relax and fist the back of his shirt, allowing the comfort, and basking in a feeling of familiarity and home.

Then I come to my senses. Needing space between us, I step back to find Asher gone.

“What are you doing here?” I pose with an edge in my tone.

“You are well?” he asks in a half question, half statement.

“Define well,” I counter with a bite.

“I’m sorry. I should not have asked you.” He frowns.

I turn and grip the railing for support. “Did you know about Lady Finella?”

Michael steps next to me, placing his hands on the barrier as well. “I would never have left Libby under the queen’s protection if I had, Eve. I swear to you.” He pauses. “My brother tells me right before her death, you offered her grace redemption.”

“When I found out, I was confused. Angry. I felt betrayed.” I sigh. “In my heart though, in some odd way, I know she cared for me and was simply a pawn to Asmodeus.”

Michael nods as his jaw tenses. “Forgiveness was the divine thing to do. An admirable quality, daughter of Heaven. However, do not have misconceptions when it comes to her loyalties. She loved Asmodeaus and he loved her. A pawn, the queen was not. There will, no doubt, be fallout from our actions.”

I release a humorous laugh. “What’s one more enemy in this war, right?”

“Uriel and I will continue to protect you, as we always have,” he says in a serious tone.

“And the priestesses?” I inquire, barely audible voice.

“I learned of the realm’s fall after I returned from a divine assignment. Again, I had no prior knowledge. If I had, I would have done everything in my power to intervene,” he says.

I turn and pin Michael with a hard glare. “You should have told me about the extraction mission before I stabbed Asher. Why did you keep me in the dark?”

Michael’s face softens. “You’re mated now, Eve. If Asher was in danger and your mission was to extract him would you stop to let everyone know the plans? Or would you go to him immediately?”

I pause. He’s right. Asher would be my tunnel vision. I try to calm the raw emotions churning inside of me. “Have you seen her soul?”

The archangel’s gentle eyes lock onto mine. “Every day.”

My heart tightens in my chest, painfully. A tear slips down my cheek.

“Libby has been gardening. It brings her peace and tranquility,” he replies.

“I didn’t protect her.” I sniffle.

Michael raises the back of his hand and wipes away the water stains on my cheeks. “You could not protect her, Eve. It was not your fault. It was mine,” he says gently.

“Does she know I love her?” I whimper.

The archangel pulls me into an embrace. “Of course she does. You are her daughter.”

“What will happen when her soul has to return?” I mumble into his hard chest.

“The Angelic Council has granted her soul divine eternity. Even though Libby was not born of fire, as an angel, her soul has been given divine life. A deal the beautifully mad woman made with the council, without my knowledge. Libby knew if I remained divine, instead of becoming fallen, at the time of her passing, she and I would have everlasting eternity together. That is the reason I needed to take her, instead of the reapers.”

I attempt to pull myself together and stand taller. “So you two can be together?”

He offers me a sad smile. “For all of eternity.”

“And she’s happy?” I confirm.

“She is. And rest assured, daughter of Heaven, that I will spend every single day of our eternity, making sure she continues to be.” His answer is unwavering. “Libby is mine.”

“Thank you. For loving her,” I say sincerely.

“From the moment I first saw her, and you, there was no other choice,” he replies.

“She’s lucky to have you on her side.” I force a small smile. “We both are.”

Michael’s expression falters. He looks as if the all the air has been knocked out of him. “It is I who am blessed to have you and Libby. I will protect what is mine, Eve. You are not alone.” He smiles and strokes the side of my hair paternally. “We will watch over you.”

“Plus there’s always Uncle Urie.” I add with a small smirk.

Michael releases a light laugh. “I apologize in advance, however, now that Uriel has gotten a taste of being your
uncle
, I do believe he isn’t going anywhere.”

I shrug. “He’s sort of growing on me. Kind of like Asher and the St. Michaels did.”

The angel’s smile disappears. “There is another reason for my presence here tonight,” he says guiltily. “Aside from Asher’s request of my visit.”

My brows rise. “Asher asked you here?”

“The protector said he wanted to
prove his awesomeness
by pulling you from the dark into the light, or something,” he mumbles. “Your mate tends to ramble when he is upset.”

A small smile forms on my lips. Asher really will take all the darkness away.

“Returning to my point, I entrusted Libby’s protection to the fae so that I could look further into the name you presented to me at the summit in London. It was not my intention to let you down since this was the first request you have asked of me. In the end though, I fear, I still did.” He exhales.

“You didn’t let me down. She loves and belongs with you,” I assure.

A solemn shadow passes over his face causing my stomach to plummet. “It is true, Eve. The St. Michael’s blood is the traitor. My warriors have confirmed the gargoyle is working with Lucifer and Deacon. For a very long time, they have been orchestrating a very detailed and hostile takeover of the gargoyle royal regime. Gage was correct. It started with Camilla.”

I exhale a long breath. This is it, the one thing that will end Asher and me, forever.

“Eve, it is time to tell Asher. He needs to know,” Michael states. “I will protect you, as you are divine, however, I cannot get involved in matters of supernatural disparity. This is something the protectors must deal with directly.”

“What if I can’t,” I whisper, fearing that I’ll lose Asher too. “He’s all I have left.”

“You have been given the freedom to choose your own destiny, daughter of Heaven, and that makes you lethal and vulnerable at the same time. You have protected your mate. Shown loyalty and love to him, and now, it is time to give him the freedom to choose his own fate.”

“What if he decides I’m not part of his future?” I ask.

Michael offers me a sympathetic glance. “As I’ve said before, even the beauty of love cannot override destiny and responsibilities. Whatever the outcome, sacrifices will be made in the name of love and family.”

***

My heart stills and my breaths escape me. With his back to me, Asher’s bathed in the moonlight, studying the gardens from my bedroom window. My eyes roam over his skin, shimmering in the silvery blue slits of light. The effect makes him look like a true gargoyle and the sight causes me to shiver in a needy way.

My veins fill with heat, burning desire, and desperation. I soak in every detail of the dragon covering his entire back, the St. Michael’s family crest. Seeing the tattoo makes what I have to say that much harder.

I push away the regret and guilt, at least for tonight. Instead, I focus on the beads of water dripping from his freshly showered hair. Mesmerized, I follow the droplets as they fall onto his back and slide over his muscles.

He knows I’m here. Senses it. Yet, he waits, allowing me to come to him when I’m ready. When I finally reach his side, his fingers circle one of my wrists. Asher turns his glance my way. Our eyes lock, and suddenly my heart is doing more than beating fast.It back flips and slams against my rib cage.

Every part of my soul and body awakens with just one look. It’s so powerful. I drop my eyes to the protector tattoo on his chest, flustered, before meeting his gaze again.

The gargoyle playfully raises one eyebrow in response to my slow, assaulting inspection of his body. “See something you like, siren?” he asks and flashes me a sexy grin.

Silence falls between us for a time before I find my voice.

“Heal me from all this sorrow.” The quiet words fall out of me with a serious tone.

My declaration catches him off guard and his expression turns from one of playfulness, to confusion and then it’s dark and humorless. Understanding seeps in as his eyes hold mine.

Knowing what I need, Asher leans in and infiltrates my personal space. Our bodies aren’t touching, but the heat emanating from his skin ignites mine.

He leans forward to whisper in my ear with a gritty and strained voice. “Kiss me.”

Asher’s warm, minty breath sends a shiver through my body. I bend forward and place my lips upon the protector tattoo. His eyes slide shut at the contact. Entangling his hands in my hair, he pushes on the back of my head so my lips press tightly to the mark.

After a brief moment and with a low growl he yanks my hair back, forcing my face to lift so that his lips can meet mine with ferocity that sets my entire body on fire. I immediately surrender to him. His tongue slides sensuously against mine and takes control in an aggressive way.

My head spins, dizzy from the taste of him. My body becomes overwhelmed with sensations as he claims my mouth in searing kiss after kiss. His hands slip from my hair and encircle my throat, applying just enough pressure that my head falls back, allowing Asher to kiss me harder, deeper.

I gasp for air against his mouth but he doesn’t stop taking what’s his. Asher’s presence is dominating, his quiet power demanding attention, and my body answers his. I become lightheaded, drunk on the rush of his lips, sliding across mine.