The Alphas Queen

The First Casualty Of War

Max let out a chilling growl as he looked at the bloody lump on the floor. At the sound of his name, he lifted his head, wincing at the pain. Gemma tried to walk closer, only for Max to stop her as he circled Conner with hate in his eyes

“Gem’s” Conner said as blood trickled out from the side of his mouth

“Max” Gemma said as she tried to push him aside “Let me see”

“NO” Max spat out

“What do you mean no? He-” Gemma started before she was cut off

“I don’t have much time” Conner said with a painful sigh

“How did you get in?” Max asked him

“Because I also have some of the Fae/elfin blood in me” Conner said without lying

“Your Jorr aren’t you?” Max asked

“What?” Gemma gasped out in shock “No way, Max-”

“I am” Conner gasped out

Gemma took a step forward even as Max tried to hold her back. She approached Conner from his left and stopped just short of where he still sat curled up in a ball. With eyes wide, she looked at the figure before her

“How? What happened to you?” Gemma asked

“Gemstone-” Conner cut off when Max let out a chilling growl “Gem’s, listen to me. Don’t interrupt. Please”

“Let me-” Gemma started

“No. No, just listen. Forget that I’m hurt, just listen” Conner begged

“But-”

“Gemstone, let him speak before I kill him” Max said, his teeth clenched

“I was sent to find out about you when we first met. I was deliberately placed to bump into you and start a conversation...to flirt and eventually ask you out” Conner said in a rush

“So...so none of it was true?” Gemma asked

“Why the f**k does that matter?” Max growled out

“At first no, it wasn’t” Conner said, ignoring Max’s outburst “But after our third date, I started to like you. I started to care. I was conflicted and the more I got to know you the more I questioned my mission”

“Your mission?” Gemma asked in confusion

“To be the first to have s*x with you and then drain you of your essence, your power” Conner said

Gemma paled at his confession, her eyes widening even as her heart twinged. When Max lunged for Conner, it was Jianna who held him back; her wolf flashing in Gemma’s eyes as she conveyed to Max that she needed to hear him out

“What made you change your mind?” Jianna asked

“Y...You’r her wolf aren’t you?” Conner asked, his voice cracking a little

“Yes. Now tell me before the need to rip your throat out overtakes me!” Jianna snapped

“I fell in love with you...with Gemma. As we started dating, you started burrowing into my heart deeper and deeper. I started to care more about you...about Gemma than my mission” Conner said, taking a deep breath

Jianna could hear Max as he alternated between growling and muttering. She could feel his anger, his jealousy and his hatred through their bond; his feelings so strong that she felt her own feelings take on his and wanting to hurt Conner as Max wanted to do.

“When we started to get more involved, that first time when I tast-” Conner cut off , his eyes widening as Max leaped over Gemma and landed a punch to Conner’s cheek, breaking skin and causing Conner to bleed more.

Gemma came forward once again as she screamed out Max and Conner’s name, even as Max lifted another fist to hit Conner. Gemma ran in front of Conner, her hands held up in a sign of defeat as Max’s fist stopped an inch from hitting Gemma. Breathing hard, Max started to swear, demanding that Gemma move out of the way

“Please don’t Max. Something else is going on here. Can’t you tell?” Gemma pleaded with Max

Max, face reddened as rage coursed through his body, his mind jumbled with images of Conner and Gemma being intimate. When he started to project those images to her unknowingly, Gemma paled and tried to hold his hand; but he threw her hand off his fist as he walked away, shaking his head.

“Conner” Gemma said as she tried to help him

Conner held out his hand, stopping her from coming closer

“I started to fall deeper in love, deeper into you. Before I knew it, we had been dating for a while and all I could think about was being with you as your husband. You still hadn’t displayed any power and I was glad. So f*****g glad. Because it meant I could convince...them I could have you” Conner said as he struggled to breath

“Them who?” Max asked

“I told Goine that you didn’t have any powers and that I didn’t think you were anything special” Conner said, as he coughed, blood escaped from his mouth

“Goine?” Gemma asked

Conner started to cough even more, clutching his side as he rocked side to side. Max walked closer to Gemma and helped her to stand and placed her behind him. When Conner stopped coughing, his eyes closed as he tried to breath in air; he started to speak again as he continued on with his explanation

“Three months after that, I proposed to you. When you said yes; I was so f*****g happy. I was in love with you. But it was a lie...from your end because I could never be the one you really wanted. I could never be...him” Conner said, looking at Max “When you said yes, there was this hesitancy in your voice; like you knew you shouldn’t say yes but since I was your back up plan; you did”

“I...Conner-” Gemma cut off, unsure how to continue

“It’s ok, I knew” Conner said, taking another deep breath. “I really thought it would happen and work. But when he came back…..we broke up. Of course at that time, I didn’t know he came back”

“I...it wasn’t just because of that. I came to break up with you once I realised that Max and I-” Gemma made a sound of pain “But when I came into the flat with your key, you were with Goine-”

“I thought you had been there” Conner said with a smile, cutting her off “I was in a rage. Here I was, in love with you. Ready to tell you everything and Goine was there, telling me how you would break up with me. Because we hadn’t had s*x. I was being taunted by him and I didn’t want him to discover my change of heart. So I went along with what he said. Half way through his talk, I swear I felt like you were close but I thought I was crazy. You were always in my thoughts, on my mind”

Gemma’s eyes widened as she saw Conner struggle to breath. When she tried to approach him again, Conner stopped her. When Max saw this, his protective instinct became almost unbearable for Gemma as his strong emotions clogged the air. Malakaie whispered his thoughts to Max and Maxsius and while Maxsius was pleased; Max felt a sadness even thought he was glad about having Gemma safe again

“When you didn’t answer my calls for a few days, my anger built and built. By then, I knew Max was back. I knew your heart belonged to him but I wasn’t ready to accept it. My love turned to anger. My desire turned to rage. I hated you with such a passion when you broke off our engagement and disappeared. I couldn’t follow you because I knew you would ask question’s.....ones I couldn’t give to you at that point and so I agreed with Goine. You had to die” Conner explained

“How did you know about Max and I?” Gemma asked

“Our traitor in your group” Conner said “This person told us how you both were taken away to the safe house and then eventually here. To the academy. That you and Max were actually mates”

“Who?” Max burst out

“Who is the traitor?” Gemma asked, her heart thumping painfully in her chest

“There are a few but who this person is, I don’t know” Conner said

“You’re lying!” Max shouted, hands fisted

“I swear. I don’t. Not that one at least. There are traitors even I don’t know about nor have heard their names but only know of them. Of what they have done and this one told us every step you both took” Conner said

“How have you been getting into our dorms?” Conner asked

“The first time I tried to enter, I couldn’t because of the spell. I carried a lot of hatred in my heart. Goine had to use spells on me, I had to learn how to control my anger and hate; my desire to hurt you both. There was a councilman’s daughter who has been helping us because we convinced her that Gemma was fake and that she was here to turn people against each other. Goine set it up. Once I was able to control my hatred, with Goine’s strong spells; I was able to get in but only for an hour at a time. My anger and jealousy would start to surface and so I would leave. I only came in to monitor what you guys were doing, what was being said”

“Why didn’t you attack?” Max asked

“Because as soon as I brought a weapon for bad intentions, I would have been found out. Nait has placed very specific and strong spells on your dorm. I don’t know how, but he has placed even a stronger one on your bedroom. Unless they are invited each time into the room, no-one can enter. It took almost two years of watching you, of…..of getting to know you….of falling in love with you again to change my mind” Conner explained

When Max stiffened in anger again, Gemma held onto his hand and squeezed her support.

“I started to change and needed Goine less and less to come here. Then when Pontus told me about needing more help. I jumped at the chance” Conner said

“Why would Pontus tell you?” Gemma asked in surprise

“Because I’m half demon and half elf...I’m his cousin...Goine is my half brother” Conner stammered

“WHAT?” Gemma shouted out

“SONOFABITCH!” Max exclaimed

“I...don’t have much time” Conner gasped “Gem’s there are people who I don’t know who are traitors. Big players. There’s two people call Ger Hanssien and someone called Tolli who are in your pack that have been feeding us...i..in....information”

“They are pack guards” Max and Gemma said together in surprise

“There’s….” Conner started coughing up blood, his body shaking with every breath he took.

“What’s happened to you?” Gemma whispered

“My mother is a demon that has visions. I nee...need..” Cutting off with more severe coughing, Conner struggled to breath. When Gemma tried to approach him again, Conner begged her not to come closer.

“Please let me help you” Gemma cried out

Shaking his head, Conner took a few more minutes to cough before quietening; his body still for so long that Gemma thought he had died. When Max called his name, Conner answered as he clearly struggled to breath

“Goine...killed my mum. He found out I wanted you safe. They couldn’t accept it. Mother tried to save me, and he killed her” Conner said between laboured breaths “Been hiding and planning how to tell you. Then because I no longer have any hate at all, I could come into the academy as myself. As I was about to come through the portal here, Goine found me and attacked” Conner said as he finally moved his arm away from his side.

Gemma gasped; Max swore. There was a big gap of bone and skin missing from his right side stomach as it looked like the skin had burnt and eroded away. Gemma closed her eyes and looked away as she tried to erase the image before her. All she could think about was how that gap looked as if a shark had taken a bite out of him! Suddenly Malakaie took over and stepped closer to Conner who looked at him in shock

“As-Nipoium” Malakaie said “He combined it with some sort of shade flower”

“What?” Gemma asked as she looked at Malakaie

“Goine. He combined a nightshade flower with acid. So when he attacks, the wound stays open and festers. If he has somehow learned how to do this, this changes the game plan. It means someone only needs to be grazed by this and they will be out of the fight” Malakaie explained as he looked over the bloody figure in front of him

“W...who are you?” Conner asked as he finally now lay on his back, the pain twitching his body as blood now flowed freely

“Conner, let-” Gemma said, stepping closer

“You can’t go closer” Malakaie said as he stopped Gemma “See that black substance that looks almost like tar? Think of it like quicksand. It can’t attach itself to cold objects but only living things. If it transfers over to you, it is possible that Goine has the same acid eating mixture in itself, which means that you would be eaten alive, killed”

“H..he’s right” Conner coughed “That’s why i didn’t want you near”

“We can’t just leave him!” Gemma shouted

“I can’t be saved. But you …….can” Conner coughed “U...under…..sofa, blue...paper...folded....Air...The vision” Conner screamed out

The tar was now spreading higher up his torso as the arm holding it back no longer stopped it. Gemma cried out as Malakaie held out his hand whispered two words, before a layer a ice covered the tar, stopping it momentarily from spreading

“You...exist” Conner stuttered

“What did you do?” Gemma asked in shock

“I used ice to hold off the acid. He doesn’t have long” Malakaie said

“Y...you are not Max” Conner said as he looked at them

“Malakaie” Malakaie introduced himself

“Goine said you would come but that they would know if you did because Tom….is still alive and he would start to age and lose what vitality he has left. Y…...you are her opposite” Conner stated facts

“I am” Malakaie said with a nod as he held Gemma close “Where is he?”

“I...I don’t understand” Gemma said looking between the two

“I am her protector, her shield. I am the coolness to her light and I will lay down all life before her. Now tell me where he is” Malakaie said

“Who?” Gemma asked

Conner coughed as they saw the acid start to eat up his torso once again. As Conner screamed , his mouth opening in pain as he tried to breath through it, Gemma closed her eyes as tears rolled down her face. Once again Malakaie blasted ice a thicker layer of ice onto the tar and the cooling effect helped Conner to breath even as he struggled to stay awake

“Con” Gemma whispered, sniffling at his pain

“Back in the S...cottish borders. At the pack house” Conner stammered

“You lie!” Malakaie said, his eyes like thunder

“S...wear it. But not in the human realm. One of the doors...leads to Goine’s castle in S’Aulmar...arghhhhhhh” Conner screamed as the acid started to creep up

“f**k!” Malakaie said, closing his eyes for a second

“F..inish it” Conner begged

Malakaie opened his eyes and frowned. Conner was gritting his teeth, sweat pouring down his face as pain was ingrained into his face; his body taut with tension. Malakaie seemed to be thinking as he looked at him

“Do what?...god! There has to be a way to help him” Gemma said quickly

When Conner saw a long sharp, shard of ice appear in Malakaie's hand, resting at the side of his left leg, Conner turned his eyes to Gemma

“I rea...lly..loved you Gem’s. B..est thing to ever hap….pen to me” Conner smiled “i...i’m sorry i helped them”

“Who?” Gemma asked urgently

“Pa..pap..er” Conner stammered, his eyes glazing over in pain “Do...it”

“You keep saying that! Do wh-” Gemma cut off with a scream

Malakaie had lifted his arm and in one quick throw, he threw the shard of ice and it flew through the air and hit the intended target; piercing Conner’s heart. Conner jerked up in pain before the ice shard embedded itself more firmly into the heart. As Conner looked at Gemma, a small smile tugging at his lips; he felt a thin layer of frost cover his body as if patches of a jigsaw puzzle appeared all over him; numbing and stopping the tar from going any further. With a last sigh of peaceful breath, Conner’s body shut down, his eyes glazing over as he died with the last image of Gemma before him.

Gemma sobbed, covering her mouth with both her hands; her body shaking as Malakaie took her into his arms and held her. The smell of blood strong in the air. The tar; now finding no heartbeat to race after; started fizzle and spit, small bubbles appearing where it had eaten through the body. With a wave of his hand, Malakaie whispered a spell and a bed sheets floated to the living room and covered Conner’s body; hiding the sickening, bloody image from anyone’s view.

After a few minutes of letting Gemma gather herself, Malakaie summoned Pontus to tell him to come urgently to the dorm. At this time, Pontus usually took care of all dorm chores but because Gemma had sent a message to him about them leaving for a few days; she had asked him to run a few errands away from the dorm. Malakaie walked closer to where Conner had originally been curled up and bent down, careful not to touch the body or the sheet.

Reaching under the sofa, his hands moved around until he felt the paper with his fingertips. Grabbing it, he pulled it out and walked over to the still quietly crying Gemma; picked her up in his arms and walked out of the living room and into the dinning area. Sitting her down on the chair, Malakaie took the ever present jug of water from the middle of the table, poured her a glass and made her take a few sips. When he gave her a handkerchief, and she had wiped her face; he gave her the blue paper.

Looking at it, Gemma bit her bottom lip before reaching out to take it from Malakaie with trembling hands. Opening it, she frowned before flipping it each side

“There’s nothing there” Gemma said

“It’s spelled. Only you can read it” Malakaie explained

“How?” Gemma asked with a frown

“He said his mother was a demon….they usually do it so it’s personal to that person. Like a drop of blood or….AIR! Conner said air! Blow on it” Malakaie said with a rush

Gemma sniffed before blowing onto the paper. She gasped as her fingers burned and she let the paper go. When the paper fluttered to the table, the imprint of Gemma’s finger was etched into the paper and words started to appear

“Essence of three, shared as one. Created in pairs like the moon and the sun. While one flourished, the other was undone; but from it comes betrayal of the blood. Her essence can create life, the plane of all will live; but given to the other means death and destruction from within. For the hatred is great and the lie too sweet; that all was forgotten and was unseen. Love of pure hate and love of pure soul, will allow the astrid to defeat and grow”

Gemma looked at Malakaie who was frowning, shaking her head, she read it again; her heart galloping. She felt like she knew what this meant but it was such a hazy thought that she couldn't catch it.

“What does it mean?” Gemma asked

When Malakaie picked up the paper, immediately; the writing disappeared. When Gemma blew on the paper; the words still didn’t appear. Frowning, she took the paper from Malakaie and tried again and the words appeared. When Malakaie took the paper from her to read the words; once again they disappeared. Gemma took the paper back and held it as she blew on it. Once the words appeared again, she held it up for Malakaie to read

“Conner spelled it so only you can hold, touch and read it. Anyone else touching it - “ Malakaie stopped when he saw Gemma’s pale face, her breathing erratic; her heart beat loud in his ears. “What? What is it? Gemstone?”

With shaking hands and gulping breaths, Gemma turned the paper over; tears spilling from her eyes as Malakaie read what it said. The first two names were known since Conner told them...three others didn’t make sense as they didn’t know those people...but the last two broke them. Swearing colourfully, Malakaie mind-linked those that he needed to be with him as he gripped Gemma’s shoulder who kept shaking her head in denial

Letting the paper drop, Gemma cried out as Malakaie tried to hold his mate; his own heart shattering at the betrayal. Black dots danced in front of her eyes as she tried to take deep breaths but it didn’t help; she felt like there was no air in the room

“Gemma! Gemma, god-damned it breath!. Baby breath!” Max shouted as Malakaie retreated,

But it was no use. With a last shuddering breath, Gemma fainted as Max caught her; the two last names on the list floating before her eyes before darkness descended

Carrie and Liam