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.

reminded him. “I told you if you caught me, I’d let you put your wolfy mark on my neck, but I never

so much longing

words along his skin, tasting the thin sheen of his sweat on my lips. “You and me, the forest by our house.

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.

the bond that snapped and sizzled between us anytime we were near, was the same as opening my heart and soul to him. I hadn’t been ready-hadn’t been sure. He had ample opportunity to leave. To grow tired or bored.

Brandon had stayed.

slithered up my blouse and into the folds of my bra. My nipples grew hard, grating against the rough fabric to the point of

be no tonight. I’d burn the rest

The sound was low and throaty. “Fine but wear that cute little skirt I

hard not to pant. “Now get the hell out before I

back, a lopsided and horrendously charming smile befalling his face. “Yes,

you know that? I’m supposed to be working.” I huffed,

he shouted behind him. “You love

flame after him. His painful whoop echoed all the way down to my office, leaving a grin

several events for the year before an

Eve fundraiser followed 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

on my face, I wrenched open the door and glared at the interruption that dared pull me

there a reason you’re bothering me

let out a startled laugh and held. her hands up in surrender, a feat that was no

voice. For a second, I was afraid I’d get suspended.” Her face broke out into a grin. It was so damned cheery that I couldn’t

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

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

can

we were missing a head. Breyona and Giovanni

too long since I’d last seen the

dropped him off at the daycare.” Breyona replied, referring to the service we offered all our staff here. There were a few single parents working at the Magisterium, and

which seemed to be his main form of communication. “The daycare

wave of pride that swelled in my chest. “Holly’s been thinking

have to worry about where their children are or

she gets the message.” Breyona

to my office swung open a hair. The face of my

been…uh, a bit of an incident in the daycare. There’s a young boy that was just dropped off that’s…well, he stole a child’s toy

past Breyona’s lips. “Was the

dimpled chin bouncing hurriedly. “Yes. It was

handle this. Stay and chat before we head out.” Breyona ran her fingers along her mate’s shoulder before slipping out the door, following the delicate clink of Mariam’s heels

in a 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

stoic demeanor shifted as his eyes twinkled and 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

and down, 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 head of ebony hair. Not only that, but his skin would remain the same rich bronze that I had to bake under the sun for hours to

bet there’s a troublemaker just below the surface.” I said teasingly. “Vince has a thing for

a 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 he’ll lean more towards