Alpha Asher by Jane

chapter 171

“I hear our girl’s night has been cut short.” Holly stated as she stepped past the

threshold and into the house Asher had built for me. As she spoke, her eyes

scanned the foyer, her head pivoting back and forth to soak up every detail.

I hummed my confirmation, motioning for her to follow as we passed through

the dimly lit kitchen and into the living room. “Sorry about that, things sort of

popped up at the last minute.”

“Oh, no worries. I had a feeling something would come up. Truthfully, I’m just

happy to be out of the house.” she smiled softly, striking a chord deep within

my chest as I noticed the similarities between US. Releasing a sound of interest,

she spoke, “oh, so many windows! This might sound hard to believe, but I

absolutely love natural light. I can’t stand being cooped up.”

“That’s not hard to believe at all.” I murmured, thinking back to the meek and

obedient girl I’d met, trapped within the walls of the warehouse our father called

his home. “ Does sunlight hurt you? I never asked how it affected you, being

half vampire and all.”

Holly shrugged, following me out the backdoor. “It’s not painful or anything, but

I do sunburn very easily. After awhile I start to feel a bit tingly, but I’ve never

tested it longer than an hour or two.”

“Well, if you ever want to try again just let me know.” I assured her, succumbing

to the slight flutter in my chest when she gave me an enthusiastic nod.

I padded across the patio and hefted the small box of supplies into my arms,

kicking open the door and descended the stone staircase into the field that

served as our back yard. It was here, beneath the blossoming light of the moon,

that we would attempt the protection spell.

“I’ll make sure I call you.” Her voice was laced with anticipation, flecked with

dollops of hope that made me wonder if a happy ending weren’t an

impossibility, she bounced on the balls of her feet, flipping her ebony braid over

her shoulder. “I’ll admit, I’m a bit nervous... and excited. We’re both powerful, I

can feel it. There’s no way this won’t succeed.”

“You think so?” I asked, my eyes on the task of setting things up for the spell.

More than once I scanned the page, ensuring I followed each and every

direction down to the smallest of details. “I heard you were doing incredible at

calling on your magic...” I trailed off. “I haven’t been doing as well, but I’m

trying. It just seems to be a bit more spontaneous is all.”

“Pay attention to what it feels like when you use magic, it’ll make it easier to call

on it again. I can feel your power, Lola. We’re sisters, but your magic isn’t quite

like mine. It’s.Jt’s different.” She hummed, closing her eyes, and furrowing her

brows together as though she were concentrating, when they popped open, the

same shade of blue as my own, they flashed with hidden knowledge. “ It’s older

and much more volatile than mine, but there are some similarities too. Our

magic is rooted in darkness, but that doesn’t make it evil. No matter what you

do, or how it manifests itself, remember that. Don’t fear it, embrace it.” 1

I took every shred of her advice, accepting reassurance from the little sister I’d always wanted but never knew I

had. This was what I’d been wanting those months after my father’s death, a relationship where we could talk to

one another, where we could recount the experiences and events that led US to where we were today. '

“Are you ready?” I asked, stepping into the ring of black pillared candles I created, cradling a few of the rough

crystals in my hands.

Holly met my eyes, her mischievous grin matching my own. “Let’s do this.”

As she said the words, the wicks of each candle went up in flame, bursting to life in one spontaneous whoosh.

We faced one another within the circle, a chunk of the dark colored crystal in each of our hands. Black Tourmaline

was what the book called it, a stone meant to protect both the witches casting the spell and the subject in question.

Within each pillared candle a piece of Asher’s hair was burned, the smoke thick as it curled into the air and

vanished within seconds.

I had taken the day memorizing the spell, committing the words to memory. Holly was able to recall them on

command, which I found incredibly impressive since my memory was lackluster at best. Every facet of the spell was

important, and even the smallest of slip ups could alter the outcome.

The two of us raised the stones above our heads, tilting our chins towards the new moon that hung in the sky.

I let out a slow breath, relaxing my shoulders as the words flowed from my thoughts to my lips. “I call on the

Goddess of the Moon, mistress of the night and all who walk her path. Come to thee, hear your daughter’s cries,

hear our pleas cast into the sky!”

As hard as I tried to ignore it, the amulet Rowena had given me began to warm around my neck. Though the

feeling wasn’t unpleasant, it was distracting. Holly’s voice snared my attention, both calm and confident despite the

weight of the spell we were casting.

“I call on the Goddess of the Moon, huntress 

and protector, so merciful and bright. Come to thee, hear your daughter’s cries, shine your light on these willing

eyes!” Holly shouted, her voice reaching it’s crescendo before merging with my own.

Together we spread our arms, embracing the night in all of its beauty—basking in the breeze which quickened in its

pace, though none of the candles seemed to register its presence.

Our voices became one haunting melody as we shouted into the open air, the stars and moon our only witness.

“An Alpha of blood and iron is whom we wish to protect. Shine your light on him, shield him from the evil that brings

him closer to death. With your might and your love, conceal Alpha Asher and power in his blood.” ’

The wind that had whipped up turned cold, slashing through our circle so sharply that every single went out,

plunging US both into darkness. Only the stars and moon, which I swore shone brighter, provided light.

“So, you think the spell worked?” Holly asked several minutes later, once the silence between US surpassed

contemplative and turned awkward.

We’d gathered the half-melted candles, cradling the crystals to our chests as we placed them in various areas of

the house, all places Asher frequented the most.

The two of us were now perched in front of the television, some nameless romantic comedy Mason had forced me

to watch playing on the screen. He might’ve lost his mate in a horrific way, but that hadn’t killed the hopeless

romantic that hid beneath his baby face.

“I felt...something.” I replied, trailing off as I remembered the cold spike of energy that passed through me. From

hundreds of feet away, I could feel the shadows that hid within the forest line react to the release of energy.

Even after returning inside, I could feel them lingering. They seemed calmer

since last night, and if I weren’t so tired from the spell, I would’ve thought they

felt almost happier since they’d been fed.

Holly didn’t seem to register that I’d spoken, and instead her attention was on

the couple that filled the TV screen. Locked in a passionate kiss as some sappy

song played in the background, the main characters of the movie were oblivious

to chaos around them, so lost in one another that the pedestrians on foot and

bike had no choice but to alter their paths to narrowly avoid a collision.

The look on her face, brightening her eyes and making them appear almost

watery, was one of curiosity and longing.

I felt guilty breaking the trance the movie had put her in, but there was a

question I needed to ask, one that had been plaguing my mind since I woke up

this morning.

“Holly?” I whispered, nudging her with my elbow until she blinked rapidly and

turned her bleary eyes in my direction. “Did you see anything about tonight—

about Tristan and I’s mission?” >

She pursed her lips together, “...no.”

“You’re not a very good liar.” I laughed dryly, trying to ignore the way my

stomach rolled.

“No, I’m really not.” she nodded understandingly, patting my leg in a gesture

that was meant to be comforting. “Look, some things are better left

a...surprise.”

A surprise. That certainly wasn’t comforting. I wracked my brain for another

question, something that would provide just a shred of useful information,

anything to ease my guilt and trepidation.

“Is there any advice you can give me, anything at all?”

Holly went silent for a few seconds, and I held my breath waiting for her words--

words I hoped would change what could easily be a disastrous night for Tristan

and I. 5

“A good leader knows when to ask for help.”