Alpha Asher By Jane Doe

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.

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

Sean and 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 a thick mist that made it hard

this-I shouldn't have agreed to help you. You need to talk to someone, Lola. I-l can’t do

with this. She was leaving me to do

is her blood. Just one tiny little drop. ‘The dark magic in my veins sang soothingly, gliding its icy fingers over my face and

always been right. I should've never thought Holly would understand, that any of

an entire life without anyone—without friends or family. How could she possibly understand the bond Sean and I had?I barely registered the

your head right

in her voice, wafting into

I had been the one to put it

said darkly, succumbing to the siren’s song oozing in

by my thoughts. 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

isn't you.” She begged, blue

who she was, I felt nothing for this girl. There was only unending cold, a bitter ice that covered my

no guilt, no pain, and no

said, not recognizing

Holly thrashed, but I had her pinned from the shoulders down. Tears budded along her lash line before falling free. Somewhere deep beneath the ice, I felt a twinge of...of something, but it

don't do this. If you won't think about yourself, think about Asher! Think about what this would do to him. I know losing your brother hurts, but

magic and I wrenched her

veins of darkness further up my hands. The part of me that cared was buried too deep, and no matter how much she cried out, her

would want to be alive. Why don’t we ask him?” I

let out a quick shriek, and the two of us watched as

outskirts began to writhe impatiently, scenting her magical blood and

you take so much as a single drop I

that pooled to splatter along Sean’s chest and stomach. It

Holly’s blood was searing, almost painful from how cold I’d become, but within it’s

to the very