Alpha Asher by Jane

Chapter 181

Even though I was more than interested in hearing Deacon’s reply, it wasn’t what made me stop. There was this sudden rush of familiarity that swelled in my stomach, making it plummet to the warehouse floor. I felt a harsh tug on my sleeve and whipped my head to the side to lock eyes with a stone-faced Dina. She jutted her chin towards the exit, which was a few rows of shelves behind where we stood and tugged a second time.

“Not yet.” I mouthed, shaking my head.

Typically, Tristan would be the one trying to keep me out of trouble, but it was hard to do when he too was crouched, peering through the slim gaps in the shelving in an effort to spy on the witches. I held back a snicker and joined him, stretching my hearing as far as it would go, until the voices at the center of the warehouse sharpened, i

I guess after spending this much time with me, he already anticipated what I’d do. It was risky but getting information about the enemies plans rarely ever came with a safety net.

“Mm, I thought about it, but I’m curious...” Deacon mused, “This little spell you got going on, what’s the endgame? What will killing three of each kind accomplish?”

I had to hunch over and bend my head at an odd angle, but 1 managed a somewhat clear view of them. The feeling churning in my gut came to a head when I spotted the witches. Now I understood why the voice I heard sounded so familiar.

It was the two witches Brandon, Clara, and I had been running from weeks ago. The ones that had come much too close to catching us. What made things worse is that they were both elementals, a rare and powerful breed of witch that could manipulate an entire element in nearly a dozen different ways. They were amongst the other types of witches coveted for their powers, ripped from their families at a young age and thrust into intensive training, molded and shaped until they were deadly weapons.

That was the first thing I’d put an end to once the Blood Witch was six feet under.

Both of the women stood proud and tall, with heavy cloaks wrapped around their shoulders. They were younger than I thought they’d be and looked to be around my own age. Neither one of the witches replied to Deacon, though one’s eyes began to smolder like hot coals. The other stood impassive, her hair the color of wheat and eyes like leaves during the peak of summer.

At first glance I thought she had some kind of bangles around her wrists, but as I strained my eyes through the shelves for another look, I realized they were actually vines. They were no thicker than a piece of yarn and crawled halfway up her arms before stopping completely. I could make out the tiny leaves that sprouted in small clusters, curling lightly at the ends.

Deacon huffed, the sound deep with amusement. I was slowly coming to realize that was his laugh, even if it sounded like anything but.

“You can’t expect me to just blindly follow this Mistress of yours without a hint of what’s going on behind the curtain. That’s not how I survived all these years, and it sure as shit ain’t how the rest of these Vampire’s survived either. Am I just supposed to trust that once everyone on your little list is sacrificed the battle is won? How so I know there isn’t more to all of this? Seeing as your Mistress won’t grace me with her presence, I got no choice but to take my answers from you two.”

The one with the glowing eyes lowered the hood of her cloak, freeing a tangled mess of ember-colored curls. Her smile was brittle and taunting, twisting her slender lips into a jagged line.

“Trust us, you don’t want her to grace you with her presence.” She snickered, “As for the spell, once the sacrifices are complete there is one more step, but we’ve got that covered. That’s all you need to know.”

Through the shelves I saw one of Deacon’s shoulders lift in what I assumed was a shrug.

“Mm, I’m inclined to disagree with you. You’re asking me to go all in on a game I’ve never played before and won’t tell me the rules we’re playing by. If my brother were alive, and it were him you two were paying a visit to, he’d be asking the same questions.”

The one with the fiery hair didn’t seem to like being disobeyed, because not only did she bristle at Deacon’s words, but her glowing eyes grew brighter, and her scowl deepened. Her companion leaned forward and placed a vine covered hand on her shoulder. When she spoke, her voice was soothing and her expression oddly serene despite the tension in the warehouse.

the

course her name is Ember.’

away to see or hear the three of us,

gain my trust, girl, but it’s a damn good start.” Deacon

she acknowledge he even spoke. “We have someone on the inside, someone close to the tri-brid that will complete the last act. After that, our Mistress will have total control over her physical form.” Her eyes flared brightly as she finished speaking, glowing with a malicious sort of victory that set my

the next. Now wasn’t the time to lose my cool. It didn’t matter if there were spies in the pack, if the people closest to me were pawns set out to steal not only my life but

made it out of here I’d have to sit down and list all of the people closest to me, going through them one-by-one until I narrowed it down to those I didn’t fully trust, and those capable of such a betrayal. The thought of what names

that happens, and you got the biggest baddest wolf-pack in the world on

hoped was an act because I was more

replied while the second witch smiled softly, stroking the

placate them and keep them in control. Your brother wouldn’t have been able to turn down an offer like this. Only a fool would think to refuse. Do you have anymore asinine questions or are

to narrow my eyes and focus hard on Ember, because the air around her seemed to be moving softly. It was thin curls of smoke rolling off her hair and shoulders that I’d spotted, along with the start of actual heat waves. I couldn’t lie, the sight was a bit freaky. I’d seen magic at work in many

spontaneously combust.’ Maya

you already got your three Vampire sacrifices, right? That why you

quota for the Vampire’s has been

is that all the Vampire’s in your little group were murdered.” Deacon replied, humming quietly

“You don’t think it’s only the witches that have spies, do ya? Wouldn’t be the

first. She cut Ember off, who looked like she was gearing up to breathe a column of flame in

is what they became when

glimpse of Deacon’s expression and instantly identified it as one of understanding. At my side, Dina made the smallest of

okay with what they

just as troubling as what Deacon said

and 1 can’t help but notice that this plan of hers, the one that ended with six of my people dead, was a bit rash. Correct me if I’m wrong, but a powerful witch that’s been planning this for as long as your Mistress has wouldn’t concoct a last-minute plan to storm the most powerful

several seconds,

“What was so important that your Mistress strayed from her master plan and did something this poorly thought

as I waited for one of the witches to answer, until I began to see spots freckle my vision. I’d been so tuned

down. I’d seen more than a few scurrying

anticipated, even with the hurdles we’ve thrown in her way. If she learns to master it before the spell is completed, all will be lost.” The second witch

“You mean her power with the shadows? Or are you talking about

away. I added some extra oomph,

Her expression was entirely visible through the slats in the shelving, and full of so much mirth I wondered if she’d actually burst

power our kind hasn’t seen in centuries.” She snarled and took a step towards