Restraint (The Revelation Series Book 2) (10 page)

“At first
, I wanted no part in it. Now, well, when Deacon killed Aria, it made me realize I have to make that mean something in the grand scheme of things.” My answer is painful.

Gage just studies me. “It will.
He was wrong to do that. Deacon is half-demon, so there are times he can’t control his urges. In that moment though, Aria came out of nowhere, love. Not that I’m defending him but technically he didn’t go after her. She jumped in front of you.”

“That’s what makes it worse,” I whisper. “She believed in me enough to
sacrifice herself.”

“
Unfortunately, we don’t get second chances with the ones we love, do we?” he says.

I just watch him, ignoring the urge to scream.
“Then he desecrated her grave.”

Gage
stills. “Deacon did?” Appalled, he sighs and turns toward me. “Well, that is disturbing, to say the least. You must’ve really pissed him off.”

I snort. “He’s your friend, you would know.”

Gage takes my elbow. “Make no mistake, I’m not his friend, nor do I agree with his business practices. I owe him a simple debt of gratitude.”

“Okay,”
I offer weakly, knowing I’m the payment.

“I’m not your friend either, love.
The only one I look out for in this world is myself,” he says with a sharp undertone.

“From what I understand
, that wasn’t always the case. Fiona says you used to be close with the St. Michaels and you were practically family. I was under the impression that Asher, Keegan and Callan were like brothers to you.”

Gage
exhales an agitated breath. “Yes, when we were mere boys. The world has changed since then, as have I.”

“How did you come to owe a stand-up guy like Deacon?”
I inquire, taking another grape. Sarcasm drips from my lips along with the juice from the fruit.

“A long time ago
, I needed some information and he was able to provide it to me,” he admits.

That can’t be good.
“That’s not vague at all.”

Gage glances
up to see me looking back at him. “Are you asking for my life’s story, love?”

I just shrug
. “I guess I am. I’m wondering what provokes an outwardly normal guy, with so much to offer, to become indebted to a guy like Deacon. You seem smarter than that.”

He
turns on the stool, fully facing me, and places a hand on the back of my chair. “Maybe I’m not as normal as you think.”

I
fix my eyes on his face instead of his bare chest and lift my chin. “I disagree.”

He pales
and his brows scrunch together. “Perhaps you should ask Asher.”

I hold Gage’s eyes. “I’m asking you.”

Gage just grumbles under his breath. “Look, love, being here, in my home, is not an invitation into my life.” 

I st
and in disappointment. “Understood,” I say and walk back to the couch in front of the fire to get warm. “I’ll just sit quietly and wait for Asher to show up and kick your ass.”

Gage
sighs in defeat, gets up, and takes his place across from me in the leather chair. He just stares at me, as if deciding whether he wants to talk at all.

“
The love of my life, my mate, was taken from me in the middle of the night then raped and killed. Her neck was slit from ear to ear before they left her to bleed out. Her lifeless body was positioned in front of my door so I would find her in that state in the morning.”

My mouth
falls open. “Oh my God, Gage. I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah
, me too.” He gets up and walks to the bar, pouring himself another brandy. With his back to me, he drains the entire glass in one large swallow. I focus on the lion tattoo.

“I don’t mean to sound ignorant but I thought you had to
pierce the heart of a gargoyle to kill them,” I ask, my voice soft, treading on light waters.

Gage turns to me, the vein in his neck pulsing with rage. “She was human.”

My mouth is opening and closing like a fish. I need to say something, anything. “Oh, I’m sorry,” I offer lamely.

He pours another glass
, taking a small sip before settling back into the seat across from me. He frowns before continuing. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. It’s done. She’s dead.”

My heart drops. I’m not sure whether to be disgusted by his nonchalance
or saddened by the walls he’s built because of her death. “Yes, she is. I know what it’s like and how difficult it is for you to live with her death hanging over your shoulders each day.” Because I do. It’s how I’m coping with Aria’s passing.

Gage’s face flashes with
respect and disquiet. “I needed information to find out who killed her and Deacon not only gave me the information, but helped me make it right.”

I study him for a moment.
“You mean he handed over the demon who killed her?”

“
Gargoyle,” he corrects coldly.

My eyes widen in shock.
“Gargoyle?”

“
Lucky for me, gargoyle law states that when one of our kind takes another’s life, revenge is warranted, per the holier than thou Royal Gargoyle Council of Protectors decree,” he scoffs.

“An eye for an eye?
” I’m reminded of Deacon’s words during our stand off.

The corner of his mouth
rises slowly, unnerving me. “Yes.”

“
I thought she wasn’t a gargoyle?” I mutter, wishing I could take it back once I see his reaction.

Gage leans forward
, resting his elbows on his knees. “Camilla was human, however we were mated so she carried my clan mark, the lion tattoo, therefore her life falls under gargoyle law.”

“I see
.” I swallow back the lump forming in my throat. I hadn’t realized if a human takes a gargoyle as a mate, they’re required to follow their supernatural laws. “She had a pretty name.”

“She was from Spain.”
He leans closer toward me, closing his eyes, his voice soft. “Camilla was beautiful, intelligent and loving. When I close my eyes at night, I can still see her sparkling eyes. My hands can still feel her long hair, which flowed in the wind like silk. She was perfect. She was everything.” Gage’s eyes reopen and scan mine then, as if burned he gets up, moving with exceptional speed to face the fireplace and lights a cigarette, inhaling the nicotine roughly.

“
My love didn’t deserve to die such a vile and brutal death. Especially at the hands of my father and the council.” Gage rubs his thumb methodically over his bottom lip while exhaling a cloud of smoke.

“Your father?”

He turns and faces me. “Yes. My father was the leader of the Paris clan of gargoyles and second in command to Asher’s father, Garrick, on the council. He didn’t believe his only son, his male heir, should marry a human let alone one he was charged with protecting. He felt it important I mate with ‘our own kind’ as he put it. He was also upset that I broke my protector oath, for which the punishment is stone petrification. So he had Camilla murdered in an attempt to keep me under his control and prevent me from being charged and sentenced by the council.”

My eyes shift to the flicker
ing of the fire. “That’s awful, Gage.”
He was her protector?

“Yeah
, well, shit happens, love. Deacon knew about my father and provided the information and assistance I needed. In exchange, all he required was a good turn at a time of his choosing.”

“So I’
m that good turn?” I try not to stammer.

“Yes. H
e’s chosen to cash in the favor by having me deliver you to him,” he says as a matter of fact.

I look him in the eye
s. “And will you, knowing what my fate is?”

He sighs and turns back to the fire. “I’m unsure.”

“If your father’s gone, are you not the leader of the Paris clan?” I ask, hoping to keep the subject off him delivering me to Deacon.

Gage
shakes his head back and forth vigorously. “No. I walked away from that title when the clan killed my mate. My father may have wielded the sword but it wasn’t a solo act. I’m positive he had assistance. There were other gargoyles, and of course, the council. I know they approved her demise in order to avoid sentencing.”

I stand
and move toward the fire. “Wait, you don’t think the St. Michaels had anything to do with her death, do you?”

Gage just stares at me, the
lion on his back twitches with his muscles at the mention of Asher’s family. He moves closer and brushes the hair off my shoulder. “Garrick St. Michael was not only in charge of the council, but he was also the leader of the gargoyle community. Our king. Did Asher not tell you? He’s next in line to the throne. Asher St. Michael is the prince of the gargoyle race.”

I
suddenly feel as if the wind has been knocked out of me.
What the hell?
How many times have I heard someone refer to Asher as your highness or dark prince?
Oh my God
. I squeeze my eyes shut and then open them, pinning Gage with my stare.

“You’re telling me Asher is slated to become the king of the gargoyle community?” I question in disbelief.

“Yes. He manipulates darkness, hence we call him the dark prince.”

“
I thought Keegan was older? Wouldn’t he be next in line?” I speak softly, stunned.

“No. It doesn’t work like that amongst gargoyles. It’s the strongest bloodline who rules next.”

Holy Shit.
“Deacon could have lied to you. I don’t believe Asher or his family were part of killing Camilla. Gargoyles are sworn to protect humans,” I remind him.

“Love, don’t mistake loyalty to mankind as a free get out of jail card. Yes
, we are under oath to protect humans but gargoyles, like most supernatural creatures, are not immune to greed. It can breed within our community just like any other,” Gage states, throwing the last of his cigarette into the flames. “I once told you to get all the facts before you choose a side. Even now, knowing he’s hidden his title from you, you remain unwavering in your allegiance.” His voice holds a hint of sadness.

“
That’s why you’re so angry with Asher and his family? Because you assume Garrick approved Camilla’s death, and as the next in line, Asher and his brothers knew about it?”

“It’s possible
that bloodlines overshadowed alliance,” Gage offers. “Her death has certainly led to my distrust of the council.”

I exhale
my shock. “I don’t understand how you just disregard your allegiance to your kin.”

“You cannot unde
rstand what you don’t know, love.” Gage’s voice is solemn.

“I understand shadows
that have a hold on us and skew our beliefs better than you think.”

“My shadow left
me a long time ago,” he states. “With that love, so went my loyalty to one side or another. I trust no side.”

“Sounds like you’re
protecting yourself and putting up guarded walls.”

“
Perhaps, but my neutral position allows me to be a pendulum, free to swing back and forth to my liking,” Gage says, dropping his voice to a seductive level.   

“What about
coalitions? Maybe other clans can assist you to discover the true story of what happened to Camilla?” I offer.

“
In the end, my alliances won’t make a difference, because like a pendulum, I’ll always be weighed down by her ghost. Swinging alone, between sides that have no merit anymore.”

F
eeling an overwhelming urge to console Gage, I reach out and place my hand on his cheek. “I’m sorry about Camilla, but you’re wrong to trust Deacon,” I whisper.

He
tilts his head into my palm and closes his eyes. “As I said, there is nothing to be sorry for.” The enigmatic gargoyle takes my wrist with surprising gentleness and brings it to his nose before inhaling my scent. I still. Without warning, he presses his lips over my pulse as a strangled gasp parts my lips.

Gage’s
gaze lifts and meets mine. He smiles sadly. “Love?”

“Yes
.” It comes out breathless.

“Your protector is here.” With that
, he drops my wrist and backs away toward the door.

8
Everything and Anything

As soon as Gage opens the door, Asher storms
in like a bat out of hell. His eyes are wild with rage. I stand motionless by the fire, trying to gain control of my erratic heartbeats. To be honest, I’ve only seen Asher this crazed one other time, at Katana, and it also involved Gage.
Crap.

“Asher, so nice of you
to join us. Please do come in.” Gage’s voice drips with disdain as he motions after Asher has already entered the loft without waiting for an invitation.