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

quickly followed suit. Just like Tessa, there was no way I’d trust this girl, but

feet was 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 with my magic and imagined

I endured since he couldn’t help but thrash against the cuffs. I could only heal them about three quarters of the way before I felt my energy wane. There were

commented, shaking his hands

lovely. Can we get going before

Ember said pointedly.

me asking before I could think otherwise.

ask me what it is because I

she comes back, or we’re all screwed.” Ember replied, scaling the

set of stairs cloaked in heavy darkness.

lead and say nothing.” She commanded, hitting Brandon and I with

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

television, an old one with a build in DVD player. The screen was oversaturated with color, though that could’ve been due to the kids show that was playing. As we stepped into the

real to

had been plucked from the early 2000′ s. The tile floors had a checker pattern that stood out against the pale-yellow cabinets. There

the same pale yellow as the cabinets, pulled into two pigtails that rested on either side of her head. The little white bows attached faced outward, their tails swinging every time

slow and almost cautious. It set me on edge, Brandon too from the looks of it. What kind of magic did this little girl have that would make a witch like Ember nervous?

help.” Ember’s voice was unnaturally soft. The tone sounded strange with her

Ember, the little girl smiled. That smile was wiped away when she turned her head further to the right and spotted

an ‘o’ and stayed that

that I could see

or seven. Looking closer, I noticed a sparkly sheen over the

face of make-up on, foundation and all, but it was applied in a way that was meant to look natural. Even her clothes were odd, nothing like what you’d see

a baby doll.

them that made my stomach twist into knots. Could she see that I was noticing these strange things about the little girl? Did she notice

she gave me was answer enough.

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

were just saying how bored you are sitting here all day. I brought these two up so we could play a game. You do

-blue eyes sparkling as she squealed and flashed ember a

head towards Brandon and I, her

here to play with us?” She chirped, her eyes flitting between Brandon and

were on the line, it