Lawrence walked through the barrier like it was nothing, well he was the one who put it up anyway.

"I respected and admired your father but not his son " he remarked .

Asher gritted his teeth " See who cares " and started towards him but just as he was about to grab Lawrence, he disappeared and reappeared behind him.

" Peekaboo " He poked fun at Asher's failure to catch him.

Asher whipped around and slashed at Lawrence with his sharp nails that wouldn't exactly be referred to as a claw; unfortunately it slashed through empty air.

But just as Lawrence was about to reappear on the other side, a spiked shaped ice flew past him, narrowly missed him but grazed him on the cheek.

Lawrence stopped, touched a hand on his cheek and saw blood. His lips curled up, snorted in disbelief and he turned around, facing Asher who was staring at him with a murderous glare.

"It seems I have underestimated you " he said in a whisper, as if finding it hard to believe.

"Oh trust me, we're just getting started"

Asher then raised his hand forming numerous spiked ice in the air that encompassed him.

During this short moment of hide-and-seek as Lawrence thought, he had studied his teleportation spell. It was limited and could only cover a five meters distance; neither could he stay hidden for more than two seconds.

"What are you doing? " Asher caught the panic in his voice when he directed the sharp edges towards him.

"Unless you're as fast as a vampire or have another trump card, I'm definitely sure you can't avoid this "

"Contrary to what I thought, you've been studying my movements " Lawrence figured out soberly.

He knew once he made a move, Asher would release those spikes and no matter how long he hid - which wouldn't last anyway - the spike would still find him.

"Quite a disaster you would hurt others too " the necromancer pointed out.

Asher understood his point, once he released those spikes it would fly in all directions but Lawrence forgot one thing.

" Lia can't die, at least not by these " he reminded him gleefully.

Lawrence shook his head " I don't mean her you overconfident fool, but him "

That was when Asher turned around and spotted Trevor standing beside his sister, the both of them looking at him in a way that made goosebumps appear on his arms.

If one of these spikes pierced Trevor's heart by accident, there was no way he would survive it; he was a human.

Asher sighed heavily but steadied his heart on his decision, perhaps he could somehow redirect the spikes from reaching Trevor - if the necromancer wouldn't try a foul play, it was still risky.

Flustered and in a dilemma, Asher's powers spiked and the suspended spikes moved a bit forward.

"Ah-ah, you had better be careful" Lawrence said, shaking his finger at him " Just a stab and ' oh my poor child ' Trevor drops dead " Lawrence clutched his heart and demonstrated dramatically.

The veins on Asher's body protruded, it was obvious he was fighting an intense internal battle.

"So what would it be, me or dear Trevor? Make your decision quickly, it's almost time for me to unseal my full potential "

With a defeated sigh, Asher let down his hand as the spiked ice melted into liquid, he lowered his head while the necromancer smirked.

Without notice, Asher abruptly raised his hands and a targeted number of iced spikes flew towards Lawrence with frightening speed.

"Rigescunt indutae" Lawrence who saw the deadly weapons flying towards him out of the corner of his eyes, reacted reflexively and they all suspended in the air just inches from piercing into his body.

Asher knew those spikes would not have killed Lawrence but immobilized him instead.

Though it was hard to believe but he had a feeling Ben was still in there moreover, the necromancer had not unsealed the rest of his powers yet so there was still hope of Ben being rescued.

So he was careful not to hurt Ben's body in vital areas that could take away his life - but this Lawrence was really tough to handle!

" I guess the Raven blood clearly runs in your vein " Lawrence said sternly, he made the ice spikes melt into water with his magic " You almost got me there "

Asher cocked a brow "Having seen what I can do, perhaps you can let go of my mate now "

"Yes, you're indeed a tough and worthy opponent " He acknowledged.

But then a smile that made Asher slightly uncomfortable suddenly brightened his features " I thought ending you would be the best until I realized I was going at it the wrong way…."

He faltered and began to step towards Asher boldly " If I can't beat such a strong opponent,why don't I bring him to my side? "

At once Asher tried to look away but Lawrence's eyes glowed an eerie green colour and as much as he wanted, he couldn't take his eyes away from him.

"Kneel " Lawrence commanded and Asher found his body obeying the strange command

"Yes master " He went on his knees and bowed to Lawrence.

"Yes this is It! " The necromancer rejoiced "At Least you'll be a huge help in fighting off those witches when the time comes "

Suddenly Asher lips kinked to the side in a knowing smile and he slowly rose to his feet much to Lawrence's horror " There won't be such time " he declared.

"Y-you..! " It was Lawrence's turn to gaze up at Asher, wide-eyed and in shock.

" H-how did you escape my compulsion? "

Asher smiled wickedly and said in anguish " Guess you're not the only one with the evil eye? Only that mine works in a different way "

He then grabbed him by the neck and lifted him a few metres off the ground, looking straight into his eyes saying,

"You would leave the boy's body and…. "

Lawrence realizing what he was about to do, began to panic, flailing his limbs about and trying all forms of escape.

But when all his plans proved abortive, he turned his head to the side and shouted in a loud voice,

" My queen, help me! "

Then something happened.

Asher knew he definitely heard the shredding of clothes and a threatening feral growl and the next he was tackled to the ground.

A white majestic yet ferocious looking huge framed wolf pinned him to the ground, it's long claws digging into his skin painfully and drawing blood while it's fear inspiring razor sharp teeth snapped and hovered over his face.

Shock struck Asher still for a while and until his stomach was ripped open did he wake-up. He raised his leg and landed a powerful kick at the werewolf side, tossing her to the side.

He jerked to his feet " What did you do to her ?!" Asher screamed at Lawrence who had made his way back to the altar, he was mystified at the scene.

An evil cackle left Lawrence's mouth "What do you think? " his brows raised over twinkling eyes "Of course, I helped her unlock her full potential !"

Asher's face darkened " I swear I'll have you killed - " he took a threatening step but was pushed to the ground again by Lia in her wolf form while Lawrence began the ritual.

He winced as her teeth grabbed onto his hand but a blow made her let go. But his heart ached when he heard her whimper in pain, he was hurting his mate.

So he knelt beside the injured wolf

"Lia, I'm sorry " he placed his hand on the wolf's side but what he never expected was a vicious kick that sent him flying and crashing into one of the graves .

Well damn love, See who cares now!

He sprang to his feet in anger just as lia leaped towards him but he grabbed a skull from the overturned grave and hit her with it.

Lia fell to the ground unmoving, as if passed out but Asher's eyes were focused on Lawrence.

He couldn't tell if that was supposed to happen or as a result of Lawrence's magic but the moonlight casted a spotlight on him and the altar.

He was unsealing his powers, Asher realized shockingly. He was about to take a step forward but what he never expected was someone plunging a knife into his chest.

Trevor.

Asher easily backhanded him and he fell to the ground but that didn't mean he was okay.

He was weak, the venom was beginning to kick in but it was made worse when Lia whom he thought was down, jumped on him again.

This time she went all out in attacking him, it was obvious her intent to end him.

Contrary to what he expected, Asher was not aggrieved at all. If he should die for her to live, then so be it! His only regret was that he didn't get the chance to love her the way he wanted.

Amid the attack he tapped into the matebond, reached out and stroked her white fur, she looked so beautiful tonight.

But the moment he touched her, the wolf froze and the attack stopped. The next, Asher heard her whine and she began to lick his face tenderly as if it would heal his wounds.

A smile touched his lips, his mate was back - but he was too weak to move. He felt a liquid touch his cheek and he realized with shock, she was crying.

" I'm sorry " He whispered and his eyes shut close slowly followed by an anguish howl from the wolf beside him.