Alpha Asher by Jane

Chapter 224

I sliced through the mind-link, cleaving it in two and watching as it fluttered and frayed like the torn pieces of a ribbon.

“Now, where were we?” I exhaled, rolling my shoulders back as I weakened my hold over my magic.

It swarmed at the first hint of freedom, filling my cells until they swelled with power. As hard as it was, I had to control each and every thought that passed through my head, taking care not to feed any energy into them. Like stones floating down a stream, I’d pluck one out of the water to inspect it, only to toss it back in, releasing it altogether.

Rowena snickered, much too confident and cocky given her current position. ” You were threatening me with death should I not reveal all my little secrets.”

“Ah, right. I’d like to change my earlier threat if you don’t mind.” I smirked, tilting my head the way a predator would as it sized up its prey. Right now, that’s exactly what Rowena was. She didn’t even have the honor of being called fresh meat, not with that patch of decayed flesh growing out of her face.

She schooled her expression into one of mock-seriousness and nodded all too understandingly.

“Of course, darling. Go right on ahead. Give it your best shot and I promise I’ll try to be properly spooked this time around.”

“I appreciate the consideration. I’m fairly new to this whole torture thing, but with my magic, I think you’ll find my ideas… creative. To say the least.” I hummed, grazing the tendril of shadow wrapped around her left wrist. It writhed, preening under my touch almost lovingly. I continued by dragging my finger up Rowena’s arm, circling her until I stood at her back. She stiffened, craning her head to the side when she could no longer see me.

I lowered my lips to her ear and smiled. coldly. “We both know there are things far worse than death, Rowena. Let’s discover them together, shall we?”

When I circled back around to the front of her, a warm pulsating wave of satisfaction washed over me, as dark and alluring as the magic that throbbed in my veins. There was fear in her eyes, brighter than the emerald treetops and the moss that covered their roots.

“You have no clue what kind of magic’s you dabble in, Lola.” She hissed; eyes narrowed as if that alone would blot out the ripe scent of her fear.

I lifted my hand, inspecting it for any trace of dark veins. There was none, not that it mattered in the slightest. I brought the witches down on this pack and I’d do anything-anything to make it right again.

Letting my magic fly free, chasing after my thoughts to turn them into reality, I grinned.

“I don’t care, Rowena.”

The shadows wrapped around her wrists shot up from the ground, dragging her arms upwards until she stumbled to her feet. Higher they climbed, until she hovered a solid foot off the earth. Her head whipped around, eyes darting between the three of us, lingering on Zeke and Tessa as if they’d come to her rescue.

Despite the fact that I didn’t trust Tessa, she didn’t seem the least bit enticed to aid Rowena.

With the flick of my hand, two more shot out from the blackened forest line, snaring her ankles, and anchoring her to the ground.

it turns out, my magic didn’t need words

told me that she and Zeke could see the tendrils creeping towards Rowena with obvious excitement. Faster they crawled, one after another, until there were dozens

holding onto that modicum of power. “I’ll tell

kept Rowena suspended in air, she began to thrash and buck. It was no use, though. Any movement she made forced the shadows around her wrists, ankles, and neck to dig in deeper, coaxing droplets of blood that whipped the others into a

was standing so close that I could smell the floral notes in her blood. Craning my head to look up at her, I grinned until my cheeks ached.

imagine it would be similar to cracking an egg, only in this case, the egg is your skull. That’s only half of the fun, though.” I mused, stepping back to admire the nightmare I was bringing to life.

tender flesh of her

slithering up her long, flowing skirt. They didn’t slice into her skin or draw

screeched, her voice cracking as she snarled and wailed, the sound more animal than human. Her eyes were bulging from her head, so bright that they truly did look like shimmering emeralds.

crawling up my fingers, Rowena’s skin began to blacken. It was the color of night, of a place where even the strongest, brightest light couldn’t reach. With how many were swarming her body, crawling up it like a nest of fire ants, it was hard to see how they seeped into her

A shadow.

of someone who begged for death but knew that something so much worse was coming for them. It fed that brewing darkness inside of me, the one egging me on with its seductive voice, filling my head and body with notions of unmatched power

to all of the shadows. I allowed the ones forming the dome around us to break formation, urging them to

Sean.” I whispered, barely recognizing

up and up. I was absorbed in my masterpiece, but not so much so that

his ear. It mattered not how quiet she was, I could hear

too late. The magic she’s using

fury filled my body, all of it directed towards the Elemental witch that thought she knew me-thought she knew my magic. Who was this girl to question me and my will?

a kindness I recognized but refused to acknowledge, took a step in my direction. He lifted his hands in a gesture

this. I think-I think it’s best if you call the shadows off.”

was smothered-devoured, by the scathing need for revenge. That same fury filled me, only this time directed

to tell

I hissed, my voice deeper and darker than it had

He urged, eyes broken and pleading.

his side, both holding him back and urging him to talk me down from the ledge they both thought I stood on. If only they could see there was no longer any ledge. I was freefalling,

no cliff because I had already

“QUIET!”

recognize my voice as it left my lips or the wave of magic I hurled at both Zeke and Tessa. Their mouths hung open, moving as they formed words, yet no sound came out. Tessa clapped a hand over her mouth, staring wide-eyed up

last shred of humanity I

make me hurt you.” I begged the two of them, begged

dark spider-web veins now crawled up my hands, staining my wrists with their poisonous glow. Rowena continued to thrash like she was being electrocuted, and I continued to watch. They had reached her hips and were gaining in speed. One