Revolution (The Revelation Series #4) – SNEAK PEAK

Hi All! For those who just finished, or have previously read Redemption (The Revelation Series, book #3), I’m sure you’re wanting more!

The SNEAK PEAK of Revolution, found at the end of Redemption, in Asher’s POV was voted on by fans.

Here is the original teaser I had planned to use. Hope you enjoy!

THE MIDNIGHT TEMPLE

Distracted eyes take in my surroundings, seeking out a focal point of luminosity. Nightfall shrouds the ill-omened forest I’m standing barefoot in. From darkness, comes light. I whisper the assertion in my head, over and over again as a form of reassurance.

My gaze lifts toward the heavens, searching for illumination. There is nothing. No stars shining brightly to guide me. No flush of the moon’s silver rays caressing the ominous tree line confinement I find myself in. Panic begins to claw at my throat.

Everything is unnaturally still. The trees are motionless. There’s no breeze to embrace me. No woodland creatures at home to calm me. Only silence. It’s eerie and yet, oddly familiar.

“The unseen, hidden within the darkness, will eventually be divulged, love. Revealing the true purpose of your existence.” Gage’s deep, masculine voice penetrates my trepidation.

I shift my body and tilt my head, meeting a pair of sea-green irises. The gargoyle clasps his warm fingers over mine in a soothing gesture, while the scent of cigarettes and spice drifts over me. His presence rescues me from the shadowed corners my mind finds itself in.

Inhaling, for what feels like the first time tonight, a small smile appears on my lips at the site of the good-looking protector. Gratefulness washes over me, that I’m not alone on this self-imposed journey.

The moment of reprieve passes quickly when I remember who I am, and what I’ve done. At the thought, a sharp, unyielding pain presents itself deep within my heart. The sting causes my breath to hitch, as my hand moves to cover the twinge.

In the distance, a faint, familiar sound drifts over me. “Come back to me, siren,” it whispers. The memory of how much hurt I’ve caused seeps in. “I will protect you, always.” The voice, belonging to Asher St. Michael, my gargoyle protector, and now my mate, promises. My stomach lurches at the recollection of my actions this evening. My treachery.

Instantly, I fold at the waist and vomit into the plant life lining the forest’s floor. Gage steps closer to my incontrollable trembling body. Releasing my hand, he gently holds my hair back allowing me to empty the contents of my stomach into the undergrowth. Shit.

“You’re okay, love. It’s just the adrenaline wearing off. Take deep breaths,” he soothes.

I close my eyes, trying to block it all out, as my body hums from the protector blood bond. In rapid fire, images of this evening flash through my mind. Each one cutting my soul like the dagger I used in my deception. All I can see is Asher. My dark prince. My everything.

Asher’s gentle hand is wrapped around the lower portion of my throat, showing dominance. The feel of my gargoyle’s body pressed against mine, pushing me into his stone state bed. The stunning and blissful expression he had as he slid into me for the first time. His scent. His touch. His declarations of forever, all marred by my deceit.

     I’ve ended us by showing my disloyalty. When his indigo eyes met mine, my dagger fell into his heart, forcing him into a stone state healing sleep. Protecting him. Then, I walked away from my love to save another who I hold dear to me. My sacrifice.

     A shiver passes over me and my breathing becomes ragged. My stomach rolls again and my knees buckle. If it weren’t for Gage’s large hands wrapped around my waist, I would collapse in despair on the dirt-covered pathway. Crap. Pull yourself together Eve.

“Are you alright, love?” Gage questions quietly into my ear, holding me close.

Once the visions dissolve, so does the nausea. I open my eyes to meet Gage’s troubled ones. Taking a step back, I allow for some distance from his protective arms. Then I center myself before pushing back my shoulders and lifting my chin.

“Yes,” I say firmly.

He knits his brows together running a hand through his golden-blond hair. “Are you sure, Eve?” he questions with worry lining his voice.

I’m actually taken aback by his apprehension. Normally, Gage doesn’t show signs of unease. It’s unnerving and making me question my resolve. I straighten and nod once.

“I said I am.” My voice is strong, even though inside, I’m terrified.

The undecipherable gargoyle’s eyes just search mine. His face is strained in disbelief.

“I really am,” I assure and attempt to turn my attention to the fog-covered fortress in front of us. I don’t want to see his troubled expression.

Gage doesn’t let me twist though. Instead, he snatches my chin roughly and tilts my head back. His gaze roams over my face, before locking onto mine with a raw intensity. “With every moment that goes by, they turn a deeper shade of indigo, love,” he whispers.

My breath hitches and I slam my lids down hiding the irises. Asher and I triggered our mate bond and fulfilled the divination of redemption. My light ignited and awakened his soul, protecting him from stone petrifaction. I was so concerned with his safety I had failed to remember his mate mark wouldn’t be the only change to my body. My eye color changed from hazel, to blue, the clan’s hue. Stupid Eve. I really should have read more paranormal novels before mating with him. Ugh. Crap.

Opening my eyes, I take in a deep breath through my nose. The memory of Asher’s and my intimate night together reappears. His mate mark angrily pulses on my lower back alerting me to Asher’s emotional state. He’s pissed. Of course he is. Why wouldn’t he be?

Gage sighs in annoyance. “One look at you love, and the Declan clan will not be able to overlook the fact that you are the dark princes’ mate.”

My eyes narrow in response. “Not fully. Abby told me that the mark and eye color are temporary until my new mark is infused with Asher’s blood. If that doesn’t happen, with time, both disappear and release him of our soul connection. That’s what needs to happen, Gage. I only did this to protect him, from the council and Dark Army.”

Gage releases a hollow laugh that sounds more like a bark. “You’re naïve, daughter of Heaven, to think you gave yourself to him in the name of protection only.”

My teeth clench in aggravation. “You said you would help me. I need to extract my aunt Elizabeth from Lucifer before he kills her. I’m the one he wants. It’s my role to save her. By any means necessary. Asher wouldn’t have let me do this, you know that.”

He holds my gaze for a moment in contemplation. “Don’t you mean your mother?”

“What?”

“Ever since finding out that Elizabeth and Michael are your biological parents, you continue to refer to her as your aunt. She’s your mother, love. You are her flesh and blood,” he scolds.

I pull my chin out of his grasp. “Fine. I need to save…my mother.” As the words fall out of my mouth, my stomach sinks at the recollection that both the archangel and my guardian, whom I’ve known since birth as my aunt Elizabeth, lied to me for years before recently coming clean about our biological lineage.

“Are you going to help me or not?” I snip impatiently.

Gage’s focus shifts from me, down the haze-filled path, toward the ominous castle that belongs to Deacon, the leader of the Declan clan. Since Gage was the half-demon, half-gargoyle’s right hand man for a short time, the itinerant gargoyle is the only one who knows of its location, which is why I entrusted him to assist me with this plan.

My eyes follow his line of sight landing on the stone fortress, as unease trickles down my spine. The last time I was here, Deacon was holding me hostage. Despite the bad blood between the two, Gage had helped Asher, and his family, the London clan, with my rescue.

Deacon’s entire focus has been to hand me over to Lucifer and the Dark Army. After he killed my best friend, and college roommate, Aria, while protecting me, both Deacon’s brother Kaiden, and his mother Dimia, died doing his bidding. I shudder at the thought of what he’ll do to me this time, knowing that Asher and the St. Michaels won’t save me.

I release a slow breath, reminding myself that I’m the weapon, created by Heaven, to tip the scale in their favor and bring redemption to the world during this centuries’ old war. Heaven sees me as a pawn, but for Hell, I’m a threat to their very existence. It’s why they’re hunting me. If not restrained, I have the power to destroy the Dark Army. This time though, I’m going to make it easy and surrender, exchanging my life for my mother’s.

Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I wait for his answer. Deciding then and there, with or without his help, I’m still doing this. It’s my fault that Deacon and Lucifer kidnapped my mother to get to me. Gage faces me with a soft look. I can tell he’s made his decision.

Silently he extends his hand for me to take, and I do, as relief floods through me. The grip he has on me tightens, almost painfully, as he yanks me harshly to his chest. Without warning his grey wings snap out from his back. Gage’s face morphs into one of regret.

My expression turns to one of confusion at his sudden coldness. Silently questioning him.

“Sorry, love.” Gage whispers in my ear before disappearing, with me in his possession.

© 2015 Randi Cooley Wilson. All Rights Reserved.