Alpha Asher and Lola novel Chapter 168

Read Alpha Asher by Jane Doe Chapter 168 – By the time backup arrived, and Rowena stabilized the Vampire whose heart were still beating after having her throat slit, I was utterly exhausted.

The trick I did, somehow managing to control the otherworldly power that was known for being uncontrollable, left me with little to no energy and a raging case of cotton mouth.

Even worrying about Asher, which I’d been doing since the blood witch said he had problems of his own to deal with, sapped what little strength I had left.

As I swayed where I stood, staring down at the five lifeless bodies, the shadows watched from their hidden alcoves within the forest. Tristan stood nearby, his eyes flitting to my face every few seconds as though he were worried I’d topple over at any moment.

I sure felt like I was, but I’d never admit that.

Instead I frowned at the blood that watered the earth and thought about the words that the blood witch uttered.

“Make use of their blood…” I said quietly, lifting my gaze to peer at the darkness that surrounded us.

Cassidy continued to gnaw on her lower lip, which she’d been doing for the last half hour. “What do you mean by that?”

Tristan grunted, which was indication enough that he knew exactly what I meant.

“As reward for your service, you may feed on the blood that was spilled, only that of the five Vampire’s who needlessly lost their lives this night.” I said to the shadows, my voice strong despite the lead that weighed down my bones and claimed my energy. At the last moment, staring down at the men who had harbored such hatred for someone they knew very little about, I added: “…all I ask is that you return their bodies to the earth.

I wasn’t sure if the tendrils of darkness could feel my lack of strength, or if they were simply that hungry, but they swarmed the ground like the fog that often cloaked the entire town in the early morning hours, when the air was thick with humidity.

Cassidy let out a sound that was halfway between a croak and a wail, taking several steps back though the shadows still slithered around her feet.

“What in the h**l…” She muttered.

Within seconds the ground was clean, free from the blood and the bodies of the d**d Vampire’s.

“Lola, are you alright?” Tristan said quietly, his voice so low that I had to strain to hear him. “You look like you need some sleep…”

“I do, and I will, but only after I figure out how the h**l this happened.” I told him; thankful the others weren’t within hearing range. “Have the Vampire taken to a cell …one of the nicer ones. I don’t want her harmed, I can’t begin to stress that enough.”

“I’ll stay with her to make sure, but only after you’re safe in bed.” He replied, and as he held my gaze it wasn’t desire I felt, but the genuine need to protect and serve his Queen.

The handful of wolves on patrol who knew the location of Asher’s personal holding cells escorted the Vampire, each one under strict orders to only use force should she try and escape–and judging from how much blood she lost, that wouldn’t be happening anytime soon.

Cassidy was promptly escorted home by a few of the remaining warriors in the patrol team. She must’ve not been too shaken up because the reluctant glances she tossed our way told me she didn’t exactly want to leave.

Rowena, Cordelia, Tristan, and myself all ventured back to the estate, where tensions continued to rise until I wasn’t sure who was angry with who.

The way Cordelia stared at me as the four of us stood in the kitchen struck me as odd, especially considering it was her spell that had failed to work properly. For the first time, I was wondering if my gut feeling about her were incorrect.

Was there a chance she was one of the leaks spilling information to the blood witch?

“Could I speak with you alone, Cordelia?” I asked, shattering the haze of silence that had befallen the three of us.

Tristan’s reluctance weighed on my shoulders, reinforcing the nagging thought that I might’ve been wrong.

As soon as we were alone, her stoic expression fell, deepening the lines that circled her eyes and mouth. “You’re wondering why my spell didn’t work, and I wish I could tell you, Lola, but I just don’t know.” She placed her hands flat on the marble countertop and stared down at the flat colors. “There’s a chance it could’ve been overridden by the blood witch’s magic, but she would’ve needed a significant amount of blood to fuel such a thing. The only other option is that those Vampire’s were already within the territory lines when I casted the spell.”

“We’ll have to assume that they were, which means I’ll have to talk to Asher as soon as possible.” I forced the words through clenched teeth, fighting the urge to start shouting down the mate-bond, linking his mind with my own and potentially distracting him from what could easily be battle.

Even if I did manage to get through, I’d most likely have seconds before I passed out.

“There’s something I needed to talk to you about, Lola …” Cordelia’s lowered voice and unwavering gaze put a stop to my disorganized thoughts, bringing my attention back to the present. She leaned forwards, skewering me with her eyes. “What exactly did you do back there?”

I blinked at her, flashes of memory dancing behind my eyes. Tendrils of darkness wrapping around limbs, piercing the skin like razor thin needles that held the Vampire’s in place. “I’m not following.”

“The blood witch sent six Vampire’s after you and reanimated a d**d body, yet you and your friends are alive. Not only that, but the amount of residual power I felt was intense…to say the least.” Cordelia replied, pursing her lips. “The shadows were watching you, child, and don’t think I didn’t see them clean every blade of grass free of blood.”

“I’m not sure what you want me to say, Cordelia.” I murmured, following the feeling in my gut that told me to keep quiet, to give as little information as possible. “I don’t know exactly what I did, but it worked, and the threat is gone for the time being. Isn’t that what’s important here?”

“It is important, but it’s not the only important thing.” She said ominously, her eyes flickering to the same doorway both Tristan and Rowena vanished through. It led deeper into the house, past the living room and curved staircase to the lounge and back door.