Alpha Asher by Jane

Chapter 236

“Unless you want to carry the two of us the entire way, I’m going to need some blood.” I groaned.

The second Ember removed the cuffs, my body slumped forward like a sack of bricks.

My flesh had become a dead weight that refused to cooperate with my exhausted brain. Concrete bit into the palms of my hands as I struggled to stand to my feet. Ember huffed and released her hold on Brandon, letting him crash to the floor as she knelt at my side.

“Agh! Fuck, Ember. Could you have been any rougher?” Brandon groaned, cradling his bloody wrists against his chest.

She side-eyed him and said, “Yes, actually. I could’ve.”

“Well, thanks for being gentle.” Brandon shot back sarcastically.

Ember thrust out her arm, her wrist inches from my face. She stared down at me with a scowl on her face. It deepened when I stared at her through cloudy, disoriented eyes.

“I don’t care if you’re on your death bed, this is a one-time offer. Bite me and take some blood before I change my mind.”

My vision doubled as I reached out and wrapped my hand around her arm, feeling for a soft, fleshy spot to sink my teeth into.

“Don’t have to tell me twice.” I muttered, bringing her arm to my mouth.

A faint hiss slid past her lips as my teeth sliced through the layers of skin covering her muscle, carving a path to the blood- filled veins below. If I wasn’t losing strength with every passing second, I might’ve found it strange that I was biting Ember of all people, drinking her blood like it was the nectar of the gods.

Come to think of it, the flavor was a bit different. Much like her scent, Ember’s blood had a kick of spice to it, like it had been infused with cinnamon, clove, and hints of a crackling bonfire. The warmth of her blood spread throughout my body, increasing in heat until it was almost painful. Just as I felt the lick of actual flames against the inside of my veins, it vanished. In its stead came strength and a weightlessness that made my limbs tingle.

The wounds around my wrists, ankles, and neck began to fade, the skin stitching itself back together with the help of my magic.

“Don’t drink me dry, now. Thirsty bitch

“Ember grunted; her voice laced with pain.

I pulled away and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. Ember sat back on her haunches before losing her balance. Her butt hit the cement floor with a light thud. She blinked a few times in rapid succession, shaking her head as though she were trying to clear away the cobwebs.

Brandon was slumped against the wall, watching the two of us with an expression I recognized all too well.

“That was kind of hot.”

Ember and I snapped

locked eyes with her. Mine narrowed on their own accord and hers quickly followed suit. Just like Tessa, there was no way I’d trust this girl, but I’d take whatever

all too easy now that I was healed and my strength slowly on the mend. I made my way to Brandon holding out a hand that he didn’t hesitate to accept. As I helped him to his feet, I reached out

about three quarters of the way before I felt my energy wane. There were still bands of red skin where the metal had touched him, but they were no longer festering. That had to

magic feels tingly.” Brandon commented, shaking his hands out.

we get going before Freya comes back and murders

Ember said pointedly.

could think otherwise. “If Freya

an errand. Don’t ask me what

to be long gone before she comes back, or we’re all screwed.” Ember replied,

her fist and knocked three times before a lock clicked and the door swung open. Beyond it was a set of stairs cloaked in heavy darkness. The only source of light came from a small sliver beneath a door

and say nothing.” She commanded, hitting Brandon and I with a stern look.

by one, drawing closer to that small sliver of light with ever step we took. On the fourth step, a faint sound hit my ears. By the sixth, I recognized it as laughter. The laughter didn’t belong to one person, but dozens. There was a robotic quality to it that came off as odd, and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what it was until we reached the top and Ember

an old one with a build in DVD player. The screen was oversaturated with color, though that could’ve been due to the

too real

early 2000′ s. The tile floors had a checker pattern that stood out against the pale-yellow cabinets. There was a white kitchen table at the center and sitting

rested on either side of her head. The little

how her movements were slow and almost cautious. It set me on edge, Brandon too from the looks of it.

unnaturally soft. The

her face, but upon noticing Ember, the little girl smiled. That smile was wiped

into an ‘o’ and stayed that

could see the

Looking closer, I noticed a sparkly sheen over the girl’s

clothes were odd, nothing like what you’d see

looked like a baby doll.

was something-some kind of emotion shining in them that made my stomach twist into knots. Could she see that I was noticing these strange things about the little girl? Did she

nod she gave me was answer

the little girl, gasped. She lifted her finger, which was painted pink with a

low, her hands on her knees as she smirked at Angelica and whispered, “Aw, come on, Angelica. You were just saying how bored you are sitting here all day. I brought these two up so we could play a game. You do

she

head towards Brandon and I, her curled pigtails bouncing.

with us?” She chirped, her

it was high time I learned. I