The Progeny (The Progeny Series) by Ashlynne Laynne Read Free Book Online

wasn’t being stupid. I felt it, Ascher.”
    “It doesn’t matter. We aren’t compatible in that way, and we have to accept that. I don’t want this to bury our friendship. I’ve missed you, Ags.” He stepped towards her with outstretched arms.
    In many ways, Aggie was irreplaceable—the only human he trusted with his secret. She was the first person to offer him friendship when he came to Russell G. Carter High School. He was awkward and had a strange accent that garnered many stares. The others had teased and taunted him, but not Aggie. She’d been like a sister, a confidant and buffer from their cruel classmates.
    Aggie stepped back, distrust burning in her features. “What do you want, Ascher? I don’t have time to reminisce with you.”
    Ascher sat back down on the iron bench.
    She remained standing in a defensive posture—body erect, arms crossed in front. Her heart shaped face wrinkled, her eyebrows furrow ing, as her light brown eyes silently questioned him.
    He couldn’t hear her mind but saw the confusion and hurt on her face. “I need a favor,” he finally said.
    “I figured as much.”
    “I need you to perform a spell on someone.”
    “What kind of spell?” Her eyes widened.
    “A binding spell.”
    “A binding spell , is someone after you?”
    “No. It’s not an enemy . She's a friend.”
    “ She’s a friend,” Aggie repeated in a hoarse voice that confirmed her pain.
    “I wouldn’t ask you, but there’s no one else to do it.” Truth was he only trusted her to do it.
    Aggie’s pained expression deepened, her lips pursing into a thin tight line. “I can’t believe you came here to ask me to bind someone you have feelings for!” Her reply was just as cold as the night air. She closed her eyes, breathing more calming breaths. “Get out of here, Ascher—just leave.”
    “I’m not leaving you here alone.”
    The rage grew in her eyes and her fists balled. “Get out of here while I can still control it!”
    “No!” He flitted to her side, grabbing hold of her , shaking her to wake her from her daze. “Ags. Fight it, fight the rage.”
    She clutched her head. “You hurt me too much, and I can’t control it. Just leave!”
    Ascher gripped her arm tighter. “Are you crazy? There’s no way I’m leaving you here alone!”
    The ground shook beneath them, and a blinding beam of light shot from her grayed eyes, dislocating a branch from a nearby tree, sending it crashing to the ground.
    A sick pit of dread rose in his stomach, because he sensed another amongst them. He shook her, forcing her eyes open. “Ags, did you come with someone?”
    “No.”
    “Someone else is here. I can feel them.”
    “I can’t see anyone , and I can’t feel anyone either.”
    Ascher scanned the park with his sensitive eyes, his keen ears picking up the subtle sounds of the night. There was a beating heart just beyond a thicket of trees. “You can come on out now. We know you’re there.”
    Casey, Aggie’s coven sister, stepped out into the clearing.
    Aggie shot her a defiant glare. “I told you I was okay, Case.”
    Casey rolled her eyes at Ascher. She was a real bitch, and they’d never gotten along. The incident, two summers ago, only worsened an already volatile situation. “I see my sister is still not strong enough to resist you. I tried to warn her, but she wouldn’t listen.” Turning to Aggie, she uttered, “I’m taking you back to the apartment right this minute, and I don’t want to hear any complaining.”
    “She can make up her own mind, Casey.”
    “No she can’t! She’s blind where you’re concerned. Look what she did to that poor tree.” She glanced over to Aggie. “Mother Mias won’t be happy about the tree. Let’s go before he causes you anymore harm!”
    “I’m sorry Ascher, but Case is right. I need to go back now. I can’t help you.”
    “Go on to the car ,” Casey instructed. “I’ll just be a minute.”
    When Aggie was a good distance away, Casey