Redemption (27 page)

19
Turning Point

I stand in the doorway
just watching Asher in motion. His commanding presence is
breathtaking as he moves around the conference room we’ve dubbed
base camp
. It’s been a few weeks since the summit and so
far, not only has the traitor not appeared, but Deacon and Lucifer
have not made a move.

Asher’s attention is focused on the papers
that are laid out in no particular order on the table. He studies
them with intense concentration. The muscles in his neck strain as
he leans over to hear what Leo and Tadhg are saying.

His jaw ticks in a raw, powerful motion and
his body is tilted at a sensual angle. For a moment, I wonder what
it would be like to be laying on the table with him leaning over
me, giving me the same expression. I shiver at the thought.

With the agility of a cat, Asher takes a
seat. A frown mars his face. My heartbeat drums loudly. Whatever
they’ve shared, it doesn’t look like good news. I exhale a breath
and approach him from behind and wrap my arms around his chest.

“Tell me what’s going on,” I murmur in his
ear.

“Siren, you’re barely holding it together
with what you do know. There are some things that you’re just not
ready to handle yet.” His tone is soft.

Anger flares in me. “Stop protecting me from
the truth, Asher. We’re supposed to be in this together.”

An array of emotions flash across his
features. “Fuck. I’m sorry, siren.”

Before I can respond, Nassa approaches us.
“Sorry for interrupting but Lunette sent word that Lady Finella
wishes to meet with you, Eve.”

Asher’s head turns and scans my face before
addressing Nassa. “When?”

“In about ten minutes,” she answers.

I raise my hands to gently caress the worry
line between his brows. At my touch, it softens but doesn’t
disappear.

“She knows I’m here at the summit. I won’t
be able to escort Eve,” he says, confused.

“It’s fine. I’ll go meet with her and you
can finish your meeting,” I whisper in his ear.

“No. You’re not going unaccompanied.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re being overprotective
again. I’ve met with her by myself a thousand times before. I’ll be
fine,” I murmur against his mouth.

He moves his beautiful lips out of my reach.
“It’s my job to protect you, siren.”

My lips pull into a small smile. “I thought
your job was to be King of the Gargoyles.” I wiggle my eyebrows.
When I don’t get a response, my expression falls.

“I won’t be long.” I try to soothe his
worry. “I’ll realm jump and be back before you know it.”

“Actually, she’s coming here,” Nassa adds. I
almost forgot she was here.

“She’s coming to the earth realm?” Asher
clarifies.

I move around him and straddle his lap at
the inflection in his tone.

“She thinks it’s safer than in the
supernatural realms. It’s her opinion that the Dark Army has eyes
and ears everywhere now. Including here at the summit,” Nassa
says.

“Interesting,” he comments and stares off
into space.

I rock my hips once in an attempt to gain
his attention. “Hey, stop worrying about everything.” I lift my
hands and cup his face. His five o’clock shadow scratches my
palm.

“I’m sending a protector to go with you,” he
orders in a firm voice.

“Ash—” He cuts me off.

“Do not fucking argue with me about this,
siren. Your safety is my main concern.”

“Okay,” I give in, knowing it’s more for him
than me.

“I’ll go with her.” Morgana’s ridiculous
voice filters over my shoulder, causing me to still on Asher’s lap.
His hands tighten on my hips in reassurance.

“You want to go as Eve’s protector?” Asher
questions in surprise.

Can’t say I blame him. Nassa offers me a
sympathetic look.

Morgana shrugs. “She needs a babysitter. You
and Gage can’t leave the summit. McKenna, Keegan, Callan and Abby
are reaching out to the other clans. Looks like I’m all you’ve got,
Eve,” she says snidely.

“I’m not sure Eve wants that, Morgana,”
Asher offers.
God, I love him.

The female gargoyle sneers. “I’ll protect
your precious Eve. Besides, I only charge fifteen dollars an hour
when I babysit. Can’t beat the rate,” she says lightheartedly but
there is an underlining tone at her statement.

“It’s fine.” I exhale in annoyance. It’s not
but Asher has bigger things to worry about.

“Are you sure?” He lifts his brows in
disbelief.

“It’s Lady Finella.” I stare him. “Nothing
is going to happen.”

“That’s not what I am concerned about,” he
deadpans.

“You think we’re going to cat fight over
you?”

“Are you, siren?”

“I make no promises, Ash.”

He takes my lips domineeringly while his
hands move my hips in a rocking motion. “It’s so fucking hot when
you get all possessive of me,” he growls into my mouth.

“Asher, if you’d be kind enough to pry
yourself away from your human pet, we should probably get going,”
Morgana retorts, annoyed.

“I don’t like it.” He exhales near my ear,
causing me to tremble.

“I’ll be fine,” I reply against his
cheek.

His head tilts back as he scans my face.
“I’m going with you two.”

“Asher, you’re needed here,” I say, fixated
on how sensual his mouth is.

“End of discussion, siren. I’m going.”

I nod my agreement, knowing there is no way
I can win this argument.

“She would like to meet in the park by the
Statue of Achilles,” Nassa says.

“Okay. How far is that?” I question
Asher.

“It’s located near the Queen Elizabeth Gate
so not too far,” Asher says, grabbing the Angelic Sword.

I stand and step away from the warmth of
Asher’s body to be met by Morgana’s cold eyes.
That’s right,
bitch. He’s mine
.

I smile brightly at her as I walk toward the
door, but not before she steps into my path and brushes shoulders
with me. A clear warning that suggests I’m anything but safe with
her.

She’s lucky I don’t grab my sheathed daggers
because I would love nothing more than to stab her. I sigh. It’s
going to be a long afternoon.

***

“Did you know, siren, that Achilles’ mother
was a nymph? Thetis, I believe was her name,” Asher offers. “I
think she was the goddess of water or something, if memory serves
me.”

“You have an unhealthy fascination with
water nymphs.”

Asher gives me a half-grin.

“Hesperia was a celestial nymph. Totally
different creature,” he corrects while his lips twitch with
amusement. “I’ll go check the wooded area in the back. Usually Lady
Finella likes to keep out of sight when on the earth realm.”

“Asher has a fixation with the opposite sex
in general. A little friendly advice,” Morgana chimes in as we
approach the massive monument.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” I grin stupidly at
her.

Morgana just huffs and throws her glossy
black hair over her shoulder. “Sad, isn’t it?”

“What is?” I ask, my eyes fixed on Asher’s
retreating back.

Brown eyes flick to me. “Even Achilles had a
weakness that eventually got him killed.”

“If I recall my Greek tragedy correctly, he
died avenging his love,” I retort.

“Yes. But the question is, which of his
loves did he die to save?” she challenges.

Just as I’m about to respond, Asher and Lady
Finella approach. Grateful to be side tracked from Morgana, I step
forward to embrace the fae queen. Asher’s standing slightly behind
her and he shakes his head to stop my movement. Sudden unease
trickles down my spine.

His eyes flick to Morgana who stiffens next
to me. Something isn’t right.

“POSER!” Asher shouts.

In a split second, Morgana pulls out
throwing stars from her belt and flicks them at Lady Finella
without hesitation. To my shock and complete dismay.
What the
fuck?

At the sight, I step forward. “Stop!”

The small blades hit their target and the
image of Lady Finella begins to flicker in and out, like an old
television transmission before she bursts into blue flames.

“What the hell?” I ask.

Asher steps to me and grips my upper arms to
get my attention. “It was a poser. A demon that takes on the
appearance of someone or something.”

“They can also turn into bats,” Morgana adds
casually.

My eyes widen. “So that wasn’t Lady
Finella?”

“No, siren, it was a demon pretending to
be.” He leans in and kisses me on the cheek.

“Holy shit. If it took on her form, it had
to have known I was meeting her, right? I mean, Asher, she could be
in danger,” I say, trying to mask the panic in my tone.

“Lucifer could have instructed the demon to
look like her, knowing your fondness for the queen,” he responds.
“As a trap to lure you to him.” His eyes dart around seeking
additional danger.

“I don’t see or sense another demon,”
Morgana says. “Looks like it was a one off.”

“Regardless, we should get Eve back.
Something doesn’t feel right. I knew it,” he retorts.

“Agreed. Would you hand me my Shuriken?”
Morgana coos and bats her eyes at him.

The urge to kill her increases with each
breath she takes.

“You okay?” he asks, ignoring her.

I simply nod. This shit keeps getting
stranger. I brush it off and offer a reassuring smile.

Sensing Asher isn’t going to help her,
Morgana sighs and bends to retrieve her weapons. At the last
minute, Asher rolls his eyes and moves to help her.
Damn
adorable gargoyle.

Suddenly, my head is wrenched backwards as
panic floods me. On instinct, I reach for my daggers, but they
aren’t there.
What in the world? I sheathed them myself.
With lightning speed, the female that has my hair in her grasp
teleports us to the other side of the monument.

My head is jerked up so I’m forced to look
at Achilles. “See something you like, daughter of Heaven?” Jade’s
voice hisses at my ear. “He is rather well endowed, wouldn’t you
agree?”

Asher and Morgana approach us in an instant
with their wings released. I’m surprised to see Morgana’s are raven
black, like Asher’s.
Crap. Not the time for jealousy Eve.
Focus.

I run through all my training with Callan,
in my head, trying to figure out how I’m going to break free from
the hold Deacon’s mate has on me. Just when I decide my plan of
action, she places a knife at my neck that begins searing my skin.
Fuck, that hurts.
Tears sting my eyes from the pain and my
stomach rolls at the smell of my flesh burning.

“Do not think about coming closer,
protectors,” Jade warns.

My eyes dart around and I notice that she’s
alone, without assistance.
Interesting
.

“I’ll only warn you once, Jade. Release
her,” Asher’s deadly voice advises.

“This must be a familiar site to you, Asher.
Only this time, instead of my neck burning at the hands of the
Angelic Sword, its Eve’s from the Angel Blade,” she spits out.

Asher’s eyes flick to the blade. Morgana
pales.
Well, shit. That can’t be good.

“Eve isn’t an angel. She can’t be killed
with the Angel Blade,” Asher informs.

“How quickly you forget though, dark prince.
Eve may not be an angel, but she carries a soul touched by an
archangel. That means the blade will end her all the same,” she
leers.

“Asher,” I whisper his name because
seriously this fucking blade burns.

“Release her now!” Asher demands in a raw,
primal growl.

“You must love her with all your heart,”
Jade snipes at Asher.

“I do,” he answers, not breaking eye contact
with me.

Morgana tenses. Her jaw tightens at his
admission. Other than that, she’s focused.

“Then you’ll do anything to ensure her
protection?” Deacon’s mate asks.

“Without question.” Asher’s voice is
menacing.

“Let’s play a little game then, shall we?”
The evil gargoyle grins. “To save your love.”

“What kind of game, Jade?” he asks with
irritation.

“What if. What if we all get what we want,
dark prince? You see, you have a traitor in your midst and I have a
mate who’s neglecting me. Deacon has become slightly obsessed with
your love and the upcoming war. That makes for an unhappy mate,”
she purrs.

Asher throws a cold, calculating stare her
way before returning his eyes to me. I have to fight hard to stay
alert because the pain from the knife is beyond words. My legs
begin to wobble as Jade tightens her hold so I won’t collapse.

“I’m listening,” Asher says.

“What if I give you the name of your
traitor, and what if you allow me to take your love to Deacon.
You’ll have peace since there will be no war and your precious
humans will be safe. Deacon can finally relax and refocus his
attentions on me,” she negotiates. “It’s a win win.”

I notice Morgana’s eye twitch before I’m
pulled away from the sight when my neck pulsates in pain, causing
me to release a small whimper.

Asher’s eyes flick to the blade and then
back to my eyes. “No.”

Jade exhales her disappointment. “I was
afraid you would say that.”

With his protector speed, Asher lunges for
Jade. Surprised by his sudden motion, she flinches, releasing me.
As she does, the knife slides across my throat. I fall to the
ground in writhing pain, my neck bleeding and burning. For some
reason, my entire body is paralyzed, causing me to watch the scene
play out helplessly from the ground.

“Let’s get something clear before I send you
back to your mate with a message,” Asher seethes. “Do not touch her
ever again,” he spits. “Tell Deacon I look forward to seeing him
and that every time he looks at this scar on your body, it should
remind him of me.”