Restraint (The Revelation Series Book 2) (8 page)

My eyes
inspect the gardens but he’s definitely gone. I place my dagger in its sheath, ready to go back to the manor when I faintly hear my name on the wind. The sound reminds me of a lover’s whisper coming from the lake.

As soon as my name hits my
ears, my head fogs and becomes unfocused. My body turns toward the lake of its own accord. I’m not in control of it. My feet and legs begin to move toward the frozen mass of water as my brain is screaming at them to stop.

I reach the lake
and the ice begins to shatter like crystal when it hits marble. The large pieces fall away as a stunning woman rises out of the water, rendering me speechless.

She’
s the epitome of temptation as she seductively moves her body, breaking the water’s line. Her ankle length, straight black hair blows in the arctic breeze as her deep chocolate eyes hold mine. I’m unable to look away from her angelic face. The selkie’s cheeks turn a shade of peach and her lips part as my eyes roam down her sculptured body.

The long dark stands of hair hang over her
naked breasts and float down to her mermaid-like tail, just barely under the water. The skin of her fin is a dark chocolate brown highlighted in purples as the Pisces pelt comes up her right side and drapes over her shoulder like a piece of clothing.

I’m breathless with how
exquisite she is.

“
Come to me, daughter of Heaven,” she purrs while moving closer to the edge of the water, extending her hand for me to take.

My body
automatically moves toward the freezing water. My breath increases as my heart rate lurches, pounding inside my chest.

She smiles at me as
an unwelcome heat invades my body, setting off a desire sensation. Her stare envelops me, seducing me. Her glance caresses me with slow movements. I gasp at the intimate way she touches me with only her gaze as my head becomes even hazier and it’s difficult to think clearly.

“Come
, my love. Let me take care of you.” She coos while licking her lips.

I move forward
in an irrational need to feel her closer to me. The logical part of my brain is screaming danger but it’s currently being held captive by my raging desire. My body is begging me to allow her hands to touch me the way her eyes just did.

As if I
am a fly trapped in her web, I’m helpless against her advances. Confusion sets in when images of Asher flash through my mind. His strong hands and brooding lips brand every spot on my body.

“Come
,” she bids again. “I know you want to feel me as I care for you. I can take you places you have never experienced before. Make you feel things,” she whispers like a lover.

I
release a soft sigh and close my eyes in response. My brain is not functioning properly. It’s full of fog and lust for her as images of Asher keep invading my thoughts. It’s like my body is confusing her for him. When I open my eyes, she is unhappy, like a shark ready to snap.

“
Eve, move away from the water,” a familiar, masculine voice says in a smooth, seductive tone. I don’t want to go to him. I want to go to the beautiful woman standing in front of me and giving me bedroom eyes.
Don’t I?

“
Saraphina, release her from the spell at once,” the deep voice orders.

“Or what
, gargoyle?” She laughs and it sounds like angels singing. I lick my lips in response as she smiles seductively at me and nods.

“Or I will ki
ll you myself,” the male voice threatens.

She turns her
chocolate eyes on the man behind me, attempting to seduce him too, lowering her voice to a sexy octave. “It’s a shame, really. You used to be so much more fun. Do you recall all the good times we’ve had together, lover?”

“Your seduction won’t work
this time, so save the effort. I’ll kindly ask you one more time to release Eve from the spell before I discharge my powers,” he says cockily.

She pouts and it makes me sad
. The need to comfort her overwhelms me until she darts her angry eyes toward me. Without warning, the chokehold she had on my body is gone. I stumble back, almost landing on the snowy ground before two strong hands wrap around me. As the haze in my brain begins to lift, I start to see and think clearly again.

“Next time she com
es to the lake, I will take her to Lucifer,” Saraphina threatens then dives into the water, splashing us. It only increases the coldness running through my bones.

A
pair of brawny hands grab at me, pulling me away from the water’s edge. “It’s all right. I’ve got you.”

My lips chatter from the cold and I’m
unable to speak. The scent of cigarettes and spice pulls me out of my speechlessness.

“Gage?”
His name comes out as a choked whimper.

He
smirks. “Hello, love.”

My eyes flicker on his
enigmatic face before everything goes black.

6
My Soul

My body fee
ls heavy, but it’s finally warm as I snuggle deeper into the soft blanket that envelops me. Against my will, my eyes open and I notice the blazing fire. A slight smile crosses my lips, knowing I’m safe. The moment is fleeting as my eyes shift and land on a large lion tattoo, which is staring back at me as if personified from the lean muscles of the bare back that is home to the animal.

I sit up
an inch, holding my breath as the gargoyle turns his sea green eyes toward me then offers a charming smile.
Shit. Asher is going to kill me, that is, if Gage doesn’t first.

“You’re up.” It
isn’t a question.

“You’re shirtless,
” I retort.

He looks down before grinning.
“Yes, love, I suppose I am. My attire was wet after saving you from being seduced by that nut job of a selkie. No thanks are needed though,” he finishes in a light-hearted, sarcastic tenor.

I
roll my eyes and look around, noticing we’re in his concrete loft. “So you kidnapped me and brought me back to Paris?”

“
Yes.” He blows out his cigarette smoke with the word then flicks the remains into the fire before bringing a short glass to his lips and swallowing the last sip of golden liquid. We both watch the remnants of the cigarette burn. “I brought you back to my home.”

“Those things will give you cancer
, you know.” I point to the now destroyed stick of nicotine.

He gives me a crooked smile
and shrugs. “I’m a gargoyle. We don’t get cancer.”

I narrow my eyes.
“Convenient.”

“Would you like some brandy to warm you?”
he asks.

“That depends.”

“On?”

“On whether or not you’re planning to hand me over to Deacon after I drink it.” I stare him down.

He holds my e
yes, unwavering. “Have some. It will both warm and relax you while I mull it over,” he suggests as he walks over to a built-in bar. Gage pours the amber liquid half way into a short glass before approaching me with it.

I
reach for it and take a small sip. At first, it burns going down my throat but then almost immediately, warmth flows through my blood and suddenly, I’m unexpectedly grateful he found me. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the council meeting?”

His bark is short and boisterous
. “No, love. It’s a Spiritual Assembly meeting and I’m not a member of that particular assemblage.”

I
watch him. “You’re part of the Secular Set then? No affiliation to either Heaven or Hell?”

“No.”
Gage feigns disinterest and sits down on a black leather chair that’s positioned across from the couch I’m on.

Damn
, he really needs to put a shirt on. His corded stomach muscles are beckoning me to run my hands over them.
Focus, Eve. He’s dangerous.
“No associations then?”

“Relati
onships and loyalties are messy,” he offers, his tone spiteful.

“Why did you save me from the
selkie? Aren’t you inclined to hand me over to Deacon?” I’m trying to keep the worry out of my voice.

“Inclined?
” He plays with the word as if he doesn’t understand the meaning. “I don’t know, love. I have yet to decide what I’m doing when it comes to you,” he claims, more to himself than me.

I swallow
my frustration and try to sit up. That’s when I realize I’m not wearing any clothing. I grit my teeth and clench my jaw. “What the hell? Where are my clothes, Gage?” I snap.

His
right eyebrow lifts in amusement. “They were drenched and frozen from the snow and the splash Saraphina caused so I’m having them laundered for you.”

I
snarl my agitation. “So you undressed me then?”

He shakes his head. “
Love,” he says in a disappointed voice, “I’m more of a gentlemen than that. My housekeeper, Isla, did it before she left. She’s also taken care of washing and drying the items for you. They’re finishing up the dry cycle as we speak.”

“You didn’t think to
maybe have her throw a t-shirt or something on me?” I ask, annoyed.

He stares at my bare shoulders for
the briefest moment. I think I see his face soften with what could be mistaken as want before he schools his features and flicks his aloof eyes to mine.

“You were on the verge of hy
pothermia. Your body warmed faster without the clothing.”

I wrap the blanket tighter around myself. “
Well, thank you. For, you know, saving me.”

He shrugs. “
I’m a gargoyle. It’s what we do. We save the human race and all.” He waves his hand as if it’s an effort to help mankind.

I scoff. “Then why are you so
adamant about handing me over to Deacon when he means me harm?”

Gage
pauses, looking thoughtful for a moment. “I owe him a favor. It’s business, not personal.”

“
And I’m the favor?” I study his face and body language, trying to figure him out.

He nods once
, his face impassible. “Yes.”

“So then
where is he?” My eyes search the loft.

“As I mentio
ned, love, I’ve yet to decide if I’m going to fulfill my obligation or not. I find you very illicit and intriguing. I need some time to decide.” Gage’s voice sounds far off.

I
watch him, reminded of what Fiona said about his past relationship with the London clan. “Asher will figure out I’m here.”

“Your
protector is with the Spiritual Assembly which means your bond is temporarily on pause, if you will. It’s why he didn’t save you from Saraphina himself,” he offers cockily.

“
How did you know where I was?” It comes out harsher than I meant it to. 

“I’ve been following you. Watching from the sh
adows.” He smirks as memories from our last conversation about watching me from the shadows enter my mind. My cheeks flush at the recollection and our intimate dance at Katana, Asher’s nightclub.

“Why?”
I question sincerely.

He blows out an exaggerated breath.
“Why do any of us do what we do, Eve? I have my reasons. None of which I’m interested in sharing with you.”

Ouch.
I take a larger sip of the brandy. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long night and I’ll need it. My head starts to ache. I lift my hand to rub my temples, attempting to ease the pressure.

Ga
ge sighs, gets up, and disappears from the room before returning a few moments later with two aspirin. “The headache is an effect of the selkie’s charm wearing off. It will subside in a bit. These should help.”

“Is that what she did
? She put me under some sort of spell?” I take the aspirin.

“Yes, she enhanced your feelings and twisted them
, making you think you felt them for her. It’s what selkies do. They have great seductive powers,” Gage answers, watching me closely.

My face goes crimson
recalling the images of Asher she planted. “What exactly is a selkie?” I ask, avoiding the current state of my mortification.

“
A mythological creature. Although they’re often confused with mermaids, they live as seals. Once on land, they can normally shed their skin to become human. Our little Saraphina has been a very naughty selkie and was punished centuries ago. Hence her new title as Lady of the Lake. She is bound to lakes until her sentence has been fulfilled,” he explains.

“
Sounds lovely. What did she want with me then?”

He smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I suppose what all supernatural creatures want with you
, love. Leverage. My guess is she was offered freedom if she handed you over to Lucifer.”