The Queen's Conquer

Chapter 44 : Sacrifices

Coccineous • [kaak-sin-e-as]
Bright red; scarlet.

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"I'M GOING TO MURDER YOU!" Sterling roars, already charging for her brother.

Metallic sounds clack together, indicating a warning for her to stop as the weapons aim for her moving frame. The female freezes, blood soaking her entire front and arms from when she'd been holding her mate's wound together.

I'm only able to glance to my right again to see Killian has taken over putting pressure on the gaping hole, his hands soon turning crimson. I shudder at the sight—at the fact that Liam's face has drained of any color. But he tries to stay still despite the way his body trembles with every breath he attempts to take.

Lilith's cheeks are stained with splatters of Liam's blood, too, because she was standing directly beside him when the shot was fired. But now, silent tears fall from her eyes, forcing the red streaks to slide down her face.

And it leaves me shocked. Because I never thought I would see such a strong woman like her break down in my lifetime. It just never seemed possible.

Xander has found a place behind a nearby tree, and the rest of my warriors only observe from afar, shock riddling their features.

From my coverage behind the rock, I look over once more, finding Sterling and Markus having a standoff with each other.

"Ignorance will get you killed, sister," he croons.

"You want to talk about fucking ignorance, Markus?!" she screams at him. "Fine. Fine! SHOOT ME THEN!"

And that's when I realize Sterling has lost her senses. Because her mate is bleeding out fifteen feet away and she can't seem to get a grip on what she's truly asking for.

So I stand, revealing myself. The weapons are aimed at me now and growls ripple through the trees around us as the rogues shift their attention to my body.

"Do not shoot her," I order. Sterling spins around, glaring at me with red eyes—both from her incessant tears and her raging fury. But I ignore it as I focus on her brother.

Markus seems to smile at the sight of me, taking a few steps closer as he swings his gun at his side. "I thought you'd be out here, Alpha," he taunts.

"What do you want, Markus?" I finally ask.

"Samuel, please," Sterling begs, her body shaking with fear as she looks between us and her half-dead mate. And I realize she's pleading for me to find time for Liam—because every second I spend talking to Markus is one less second my beta has on this planet. Even his fast healing won't save him from this.

If that bullet was shot anywhere other than his chest, he would've been better off. But we need help. Goddess, we need a fucking miracle.

All I'm able to remember is the time I was shot at that ball by Max—how I was in Liam's shoes once. But that was different. Because the bullet that pierced my skin had been made out of carbon fiber. Not silver coated in wolfsbane.

I can scent it from this distance. Even the soldiers carry different weapons since our attack on their kingdom—ones meant to carry such fatal artillery. Ones that actually kill a wolf. They've learned; they've adapted because of their alliance with the rogues.

No one moves a fucking muscle, I order the short command to my group of watchful warriors and my friends, realizing what even one wrong action could do for any of us. We play defensively. Your Beta's life is on the line; everyone's life is on the line.