Alpha Asher by Jane

Chapter 232

We set Sean down in the grass off the side of the road. I stood over the body of my big brother, still not allowing myself to process what had happened. The gashes across his neck and chest were unimportant. His skin was almost translucent, blending in with the muted colors of the grass so well that it was both beautiful and haunting. The way the moonlight streamed down onto his body, turning him silver, was a sight I’d never forget.

“I’m so sorry about Sean, Lola. I’m so sorry.” Holly’s shaky whisper came from behind.

Her voice was swallowed by the night, stolen by the stillness that surrounded us. I sank to my knees at Sean’s side, trailing my eyes over his dark hair and long lashes.

“What are you planning to do?” Holly asked.

The clear note of hesitation in her voice prompted me to turn my head in her direction. I scowled, confused as to why she needed me to say it aloud. A chill skated down my spine, one I ignored as I looked down at Sean once more.

“I’m going to bring my brother back from the dead.” I couldn’t look away from him. :

Holly gasped audibly, circling Sean and I until she faced me. She lowered herself to the ground at his side. Her hands were trembling, and the whites of her eyes were visible, large, and bright despite the darkness.

“Lola, you-you can’t do that.”

My head snapped up without my say. Crimson tinted my vision, my fingers tingling from icy cold.

What exactly did she mean by that?

“Yes, I can. You read the book, you know what Conjuration is and what it’s capable of. I can do anything. You knew this was my plan, Holly. I’m not seeing what the sudden problem is.” I laughed at the absurdity, but there was no warmth, no humor in it.

“You read the book too, which means you saw the part where it talks about what you’re tapping into to do these things. Something like this, raising someone from the dead-you know that’s not the kind of power you want to tap into. It won’t let you go. Even now, it’s holding onto you.” Her eyes full of knowing, trailed down to my hands, to the dark veins that crawled up the tops of them.

My fingers twitched, joints aching and bones grinding against one another.

“You knew this was my plan, Holly.” I said carefully.

Holly shook her head, a small, panicked laugh sliding past her lips. “Lola, I thought your plan was to use my blood to find my mother by yourself. You wanted to keep your friends and family safe. That’s why you left them behind. Now, this-this I never saw coming.’

me. With her hands raised, she took a step back, and then another. My fingers twitched, my brain fogging with every passing second until each thought was drenched in

shouldn’t have agreed to help you. You need to talk to someone, Lola.

was taking back her promise to help me with this. She was leaving

we need is her blood. Just one tiny little drop. ‘The dark magic in my

Holly would understand, that any of them would understand.

entire life without anyone—

possibly understand the bond Sean and

registered the sudden temperature drop, or that I’d been the one to will it

what’s going through your head right now?” Her teeth

in her voice, wafting into the air the same way her breath

I had been the one to

darkly, succumbing to the siren’s song oozing in my veins. “Now, I’m going to have to make you. Now, you have no choice.”

Holly’s yelp was swallowed by the night, her body jerked forward before being brought to her knees. I held her there with nothing more than my own will, rooting her in

She

at her, and even though some distant part of me knew who she was, I felt nothing for this girl. There was

no guilt, no pain, and no

I said, not recognizing my own voice.

forest, slithering along the ground just out of sight. Holly thrashed, but I had her pinned from the shoulders down. Tears

this. If you won’t think about yourself, think about Asher! Think about what this would do to him. I know losing your

and I wrenched her

me that cared was buried too deep, and no matter how much she cried out, her voice was smothered by the

ask him?” I mused, flicking my hand in the direction of

slashing the palm of Holly’s hand. She let out a quick shriek, and

began to writhe impatiently, scenting her magical blood

of you take so much as a single drop I will send you into

along Sean’s chest and stomach. It was bright

was searing, almost painful from how cold I’d become, but within

the very background of my mind, I

thought, a mere whisper of intention, and magic swelled in my