Rage of the Alpha (Part 2 of the Alpha Queen series)
Chapter 20

It was a good thing Neall decided to enter the fray, because as soon as Ferian saw Lamia go down with the Deamon, he was there in an instant, and the next they popped into the infirmary, where Elves and Witches alike were tending the badly wounded.

The Witch Queen spared a glance in their direction and immediately rushed over to force Lamia's shift between forms. Ferian's gaze met Lamia's mother's and he knew it was bad.

"She needs blood, a transfusion. I can't spare enough, then I will not be able to help any others."

"Take mine," Ferian said without doubt. "Will it work?"

"Only if you are her mate, I cannot guarantee anything if the bond has not snapped into place, but it's worth a try. She's loved you a very long time." She told him quietly while prepping chairs and instruments alike, not wasting any time getting the needle into her own arm.

"I've got it," Ferian said as she moved to insert the needle into his vein.

"Start praying young Prince."

The battlefield was one big, giant blood-fest. It was disturbing. Screams and shouts of anger all rolled into a cacophony of sounds. People were fighting on instinct as fresh warriors joined them, falling seamlessly into a cutting, slicing and dicing competition. Soldiers from both sides became unrecognizable as dirt, blood and pieces of gore attached itself to everything.

Asher was leading Caspian on a merry chase as he flew overhead, blasting ice around the edges of the fighting, effectively blocking off the fresh Deamon soldiers. On his second turn he blasted everything outside the ring into oblivion, killing thousands of enemies.

Saber lightning took care of as many inside the ring, but her focus could not be retained for long since she was battling Argon. Asher carelessly picked up Caspian, blasting his own talons with ice in the process, but he did not feel it. He dropped the sculpture right between Saber and Argon, counting on it to shatter to pieces.

Caspian did not shatter. That blue light surrounding him shielded and the ice was all that shattered. A tactical error on Asher's part that now had his mate within eyesight of Caspian. Asher dove down, landing on top of him, reverting back to his Fae-form and launching an attack before Caspian even saw Saber or Argon.

But Saber did see Caspian - taking a blow across her back from Argon that she did not care to notice once she set eyes on Caspian.

"Your fight is with me child!" Argon tried in vain, because Saber had also shifted to herself.

"I was devastated by your death Caspian," she said above the noise, approaching the dual between him and Asher.

Asher immediately stood aside, happy beyond belief that Saber had not lost herself at the sight of him. But that feeling soon turned to ash at what he felt through the bond, causing him to step back. Argon stopped charging Saber as soon as he noted Asher backing away from his own mate.

"Ahh my love, we had some fun did we not?" Caspian smiled lovingly at her.

"What am I missing here," Argon asked himself more than anyone, replaceing himself beside Asher, also now retreating because of the surge in Saber's phenomenal power. Purple light enveloped her the same as their blue light did them. In fact, it rolled off her like heat on a tar road.

"You mean besides the fact that he is fucked up? Argon, Caspian tortured and raped your granddaughter from the day she turned 15 right up to her 16th birthday. Then he had Mab stitch her up like nothing ever happened. He will die today."

"Mab told you about me?" Argon was surprised, how else would he know his name.

"Caspian offered me a deal, let Saber capture you, not kill you so Mab could live, and let him enjoy you for the rest of however long you rats live."

"He has been here, all this time, living with my mate?" Anger seethed through Argon.

"Mab did not know of his presence. He delivered your child while Mab's focus was on shielding your bond from childbirth. Later he let Mab kidnap him as a baby and was raised as her son beside me as my younger brother." Asher laid the facts bare.

"Do you think, just maybe, your "invisible bodyguard" had those ideas of ruling all along and just maybe, he fed them to your unsuspecting mate 15 millennia ago?" Asher hammered the final nail into the coffin.

Despite everything this boy had just told him, Argon knew he had made a mistake. Caspian had been a mere youngling when he was tasked with the loathsome job of protecting the new Queen. Argon had a memory flash of how happy it made Caspian to hold such a position of trust from Argon.

He had wanted to be exactly like Argon while growing up. Somewhere along the way it must have morphed into being Argon.

Argon did nothing as Saber lifted a hand and Caspian's eyes flew wide as saucers when he was lifted into the air. The pent-up power emanating from the girl was too much even for his own shield of power. The rest of his brothers were suddenly beside him. Realizing the danger, they let go of the spear, letting it absorb back into their blue light to resist the waves from Saber.

Then Mab appeared with a woman whose resemblance to Argon was uncanny. Caspian began screaming as tiny tendrils of flesh was slowly torn from his body, staying suspended just out of his reach. Blood began to drip to the ground with a mesmerizing rhythm.

Saber curled her fingers while her hair flapped around with an unseen wind, the purple glow around her forcing every last person to witness Caspian's downfall. The slivers of skin that had been flayed from his body turned into shards that pierced his form every so slowly, slicing up and down his spread figure, as if he was chained and could not move.

Caspian's screams rose in a crescendo that would have made animals flee and birds take flight if the battle had not already caused it. Laughter caught their attention and they found Saber thoroughly enjoying the pain she was inflicting. The young girl so full of righteousness while they were fighting had turned full of vengeance.

Black lines were visibly intertwining the purple haze surrounding her. A different kind of scream came from Caspian and Argon found he could not stomach what he was seeing. The shards had banded together into various twisted spikes that were piercing his brother's every orifice.

Saber tipped back her head and laughed to the heavens in her newfound madness. Argon found her mate on the ground, head in his hands as if agony was overloading his mind. His daughter came to Asher, grabbing him to her bosom as if she could make it stop just by holding him.

To Argon's astonishment, that was what happened. The youngster looked into her eyes and she nodded, hanging her head against his.

ASHER

This task was too much. How could Neall allow this? How could she even think this? Or even think this of him...

Yet, in the end, what wouldn't he do for Saber? What kind of person would not do anything for their mate? Asher searched Neall's eyes one last time - just to replace any doubt, one tiny speck that did not have to lead to this - there was nothing but sorrow, acceptance and determination.

Cold dread took form in his heart. One last glance toward Saber confirmed that she was turning. Saber had lost sight of all that was good in their world, including their bond. Their connection had turned cold. It felt as if all life had seeped from Asher.

This was what Magnus had felt the moment his mate turned. This penetrating cold that infused itself into your very core. Magnus had endured centuries of this... Asher could not. This solution went against his very Fae nature, but a life like his father's was the only other option. And with a mate like Saber - who could destroy realms, unlike Asher's mother, that really was no option at all. Nothing would survive Saber. Asher's choice was made as he nodded once, letting tears flow.

Neall also sobbed, but in such a controlled way that it somehow made the situation worse. Closing her eyes and tilting her head back, one of Neall's hand went to Asher's forehead - the other over his heart. She pulled him into a standing position like he was a weightless puppet.

Argon's eyes met Mab's, holding only for a moment before they took their places behind the pair. Argon at Asher's back with a hand on his shoulder and Mab gripping Neall's. More screaming from Caspian had Asher clench his jaw tightly as he closed his eyes as well.

Everyone else was still transfixed by the Deamon's torture, so none saw the golden glow beneath Neall's hands. The most intense pain almost brought the new Fae King to his knees, but steady hands held him in place. The wind was knocked from Asher's lungs so that his agony was only his own.

Argon had the presence of mind to turn them invisible to the gathered armies, so there could be no interference. Mab followed his lead and let them all sleep, if Saber turned her attentions this way, no-one would be in danger. She would leave them be if she presumed them dead.

Asher's appearance began to change - his eyes becoming golden and dragon-like, pupils slitted like those of a reptile. Ridges ran from the base of his neck to his shoulders and arms, stopping at the wrists. Pearlescent ridges formed across his forehead, giving the impression of a crown with features running down the sides of his face to stop level with his jaw.

And then it was over. Lares had merged with Asher into a one being. The new appearance could be activated at will, but Asher was stronger, beyond that, he was more. The bond between him and Saber was still intact, but was now encased in that pearlescent substance.

His golden eyes opened on Saber at once.

"Thank you for that warning old friend,"Asher said to Lares, who was now part of him. "At least we will bear this burden together."

He had no idea what the implications were, all he knew was that she was safe. He could protect his mate as an equal. This demon would meet its end, here, and now. Stalking toward Saber, Asher drew her attention only when he was a foot away.

"You can stop this." He told her without emotion.

"Not until there's nothing left," she replied.

"Your alternative is peace, which I will freely give you," Asher said with more force, inclining his head.

"I no longer want peace, I want to break this cycle. I will do whatever it takes," Saber folded her arms across her chest, taking in Asher's new look.

The moment her eyes left his, Asher reached out and snapped her neck. He caught her body with the reverence she deserved, all while his soul was crying for what was lost.

He checked on the bond, just to be sure. It was still there and stayed there even through the hours that Asher was rooted to the same spot. In his mind, he could not tear his eyes from the bond for some reason. Perhaps he was loathe to let go. Or perhaps he just wanted to honour it.

There would be hell to pay, or not, he really had no idea.

Asher's only regret was that it had come to this.