Alpha Asher by Jane

Alpha Asher by Jane Doe Chapter 248

Ember & Brandon

Seven Years Later – Ember’s P.O.V.

“Darcy Mathews, if I see so much as a single snowflake in the bathroom’s you’ll find yourself in detention for a week.”

This was the fourth time this month that the pipes had nearly burst from being frozen solid. Damn water elementals.

The squirrely brunette with her spattering of cinnamon freckles jumped a foot off the ground at the sound of my voice, unwittingly letting out a pulse of elemental magic that spiraled down the corridor in a gust of chilly wind. It slammed several lockers shut, startling a handful of students.

“Sorry Headmistress.” She hung her head sheepishly.

There was once a time where Tessa and I couldn’t control our magic. It was easier for my twin. No one looked twice when you sprouted flowers in your wake or animated the topiary bushes. trimmed into animals. Starting fires, however, that drew attention.

“It’s alright…” I sighed, taking it easy just this once. I already had a reputation of being a hard ass, but one more incident and I’d have the Witches council up my ass for the rest of the school year.

The shrill tone of this morning’s bell sounded, chiming through the corridors of the Magisterium. Young witches flitted about, snatching books out of lockers, and ending conversations in a hurry to race to their classes.

“Everyone make their way to their homeroom, and remember ‘it is not the magic that makes the witch, but the quality of her character’.” I bellowed, reciting our Academy’s motto as I made a beeline for my private office.

The moment my hand touched the handle and I pushed it open, I was grabbed and yanked inside. A jolt of surprise knocked me upside the head, even though I knew whose hands pawed at my hips and waist.

Magic crackled from my skin in a sharp burst, tainting the air with the scent of burnt fabric. There was a flash of crimson followed by a masculine grunt that made my lady parts clench. Brandon stared at me with wild eyes, his shirt singed straight down the middle. It cascaded down the hard lines of his chest in pathetic scraps.

“What the fuck, Ember?” He closed in on me a second time, forcing me against my office door which clicked as our combined weight forced it shut.

His breath hit my face in hot waves, the scent made stronger by his anger. This mate thing never failed to amaze me, even after all this time. The thought of breathing in someone’s stale breath was revolting, but not when it came to Brandon.

Nothing he did managed to disgust me. The man knew how to work my nerves and stoke my anger, but nothing-not the vulgar words he spoke or his annoyingly pushy demeanor- erased the need for him that was coded in my very DNA.

I stared up into his eyes, tracing the singular line of his blown out pupil with a defiant tilt to

my chin. This battle between us had been ongoing for the past seven years, and both of us were still holding strong.

“What do you expect, Brandon?” I let his name roll off my tongue like a praise and a curse, each syllable sinful in its own right. “You can’t corner a Witch with dominion over fire and not expect to get burned.”

To emphasize my point, I placed my bare hands against his chest, through the scraps of his t- shirt. Magic warmed my insides, flowing down my arms to where my palms rested against the hard grooves of his muscle. I didn’t exert much energy, not nearly enough to leave an actual burn, but enough to sting his skin with the thrill of heat.

“Give me one fucking reason why I shouldn’t mark you right here, right now.” He hissed, forcing each word through clenched teeth.

Purring like a fucking cat, I ran my lips along his jaw. Pretending to mull over the answer, I hummed against his skin. His nails scraped along the door, along my waist which he gripped hard-so hard that I wondered if he thought he’d float away if he let go.

A growl built in his chest, warning me I was running on borrowed time. This game between us would come to an end, and with how long it had been going on, there would be nothing silent or peaceful about this crescendo.

I reminded him. “I told you if you caught me, I’d let you put your wolfy

much longing

He shuddered as I whispered the words along his skin, tasting the thin sheen of his sweat on my lips. “You and me, the forest by our house. Midnight. If you catch me, I’ll let you mark me, but

shot. Call me crazy, but it was easier having sex with somebody, no matter how intense and consuming the connection, than opening your heart to them. Hell, I married the man without blinking twice. Yet the thought of his mark on

near, was the same as opening my heart and soul to him. I hadn’t been ready-hadn’t been sure.

Brandon had stayed.

and into the folds of my bra.

fuck out of here, there would be no tonight. I’d burn the rest of his clothes off

he could taste my impatience, Brandon chuckled. The sound was low and

not to pant. “Now get the hell

pulled back, a lopsided and horrendously charming smile befalling

to be

halfway out the door when he

no magic in the corridors, I shot a small plume of flame after him. His painful whoop echoed all

events for the year

by the Samhain ritual to mark the end of the Harvest Season, which paved the way into our yearly Festival of the Witches, a large-scale event that showcased all forms of magic and the incredible things they could accomplish. Last year had been an

open the door and glared at the interruption that dared pull me away from my

a reason you’re bothering me during

She let out a startled laugh and held. her hands up in surrender, a feat that was no doubt difficult with the baby bag she had

Her face broke out into a grin. It was so damned

the hell in here.” I chuckled, yanking her through the doorway and into my arms. Pulling out of the quick hug

sauntered into the room. “Oh, you know. Here and there. It’s Lola that was the troublemaker. I just tagged along for the

I can believe

we were missing a head. Breyona

Vince?” I asked curiously. It had been too long

There were a few single parents working at

be his main form of communication. “The daycare was

Breyona gasped, her enthusiasm evoking a wave of pride that swelled in my chest. “Holly’s been thinking about opening

and staff work around here. They don’t have to worry about where their children are or who are watching them. Tell her to

make sure she gets the message.”

office swung open a hair. The face of my assistant, a young witch named Mariam, poked her head through the

a bit of an incident in the daycare. There’s a young boy that

“Was the toy wolf

dimpled chin bouncing hurriedly. “Yes. It

fingers along her mate’s shoulder before slipping out the door, following the delicate clink

grin that was all teeth. “I see Lola isn’t the only troublemaker. My only question is did Vince inherit it from you or from

the corner of his lips. quirked up. The man was the Vampire equivalent to an unbreakable safe. Coaxing more than a handful of words from him was difficult for most, but I’d often get the feeling Giovanni and I had more in common than

like a troublemaker?” He asked in a slightly

starting with his mess of curly hair. He’d thank his Italian ancestry one day when he was ninety years old and still had a

you that. I’m still willing to bet there’s

thing is putting it lightly. He’s obsessed with them. Breyona believes it’s a sign he’ll shift later in life. There’s no telling which side