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.

find my mother by yourself. You wanted to keep your friends and family safe. That's why you left them behind. Now,

a step back, and then another. My fingers twitched, my brain fogging with every passing

have agreed to help you. You need to talk to someone, Lola. I-l can’t do this anymore. Please, just take me

taking back her promise to help me with this. She was leaving me to

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

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

anyone—without friends or family. How could she possibly understand the bond Sean and I had?I barely registered the sudden temperature drop,

head right

wafting into the air

I had been the one to put it there

shouldn't have done that, Holly.” I said darkly, succumbing to the siren’s song oozing in

jerked forward before being brought to

this! This isn't you.” She begged, blue

this girl. There was only unending

no guilt, no

said, not

crawled from the forest, slithering along the ground just out of sight. Holly thrashed, but I had her pinned from the shoulders

do to him. I know losing your brother hurts, but do you think this

I wrenched her hand forward,

my will was addicting, spreading the silky 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 voice was smothered by

we ask him?” I mused, flicking

the palm of Holly’s hand. She let out a quick shriek, and

the outskirts began to writhe impatiently, scenting her magical blood and

as a single drop I will send you into

splatter along Sean’s chest and stomach. It was bright against his pale skin, shimmering with a magic I

searing, almost painful from

Holly’s pleas to the very background of my mind,