Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 250: Poison Alaric

Asher Nightshade sat on his throne in the Silver Court with all the elegance of a lion at rest, enjoying breakfast. On his plate, he had roasted plantain, golden and caramelized at the edges, and smeared with a hefty dollop of unsweetened Greek yogurt mixed with tahini.

The food was a odd combination as it was

neither sweet nor fully savory, balancing somewhere in the middle. The yogurt-tahini sauce was creamy, tangy, and slightly bitter, sticking to the warm plantain like it was trying to be something it wasn’t.

Most people would be put off by the taste. Not that it was revolting or something, it simply confused the tongue and definitely left them wondering why anyone would take a second bite. Asher, though, didn’t mind. He devoured it all.

He dragged a slice through the food, letting the cream coat the roasted flesh, then shoved it into his mouth. The sauce smeared across the corner of his lips, pale and thick but he didn’t bother to wipe it.

Usually, Asher Nightshade was the picture of orderliness even while eating, but at that moment, he didn’t care. With half-lidded eyes and a cool, lazy kind of threat in his posture, the West House Alpha seemed to be savoring more than just the strange meal. He was relishing the moment. Perfect and ripe as he wanted it.

And it wasn’t long before his cardinal brothers, Griffin, Alaric, and Roman appeared.

Just as he expected.

A subtle curve teased the corner of Asher’s lips, but it was so faint it might have been imagined. Just as quickly, it vanished, his expression sliding back into its usual cool neutrality, revealing nothing.

Griffin, Alaric, and Roman had no idea what to expect when they came looking for Asher. Yet the sight before them startled them more than any tense confrontation ever could. There, laid out on the table before their individual seats were fresh, steaming breakfasts carefully prepared for each of them.

paused, exchanging surprised looks. It wasn’t just the fact that Asher had arranged a meal for them as if he knew they were coming, but that the food was meticulously tailored to their individual preferences. The mind compelling bastard ordered

tender pieces of goat meat, mushrooms, and root vegetables, and followed by flat, chewy bread perfect for dipping. It was exactly

was more indulgent. There was sweet pastries dusted with powdered sugar, drizzled with chocolate sauce was arranged beside a dish of candied fruits. Then a glass of sweet vanilla almond milk completed the setup. The sweet aroma wafted up like a siren call to

still sizzling, paired with roasted peppers and onions. Just the kind of

felt too good

ate his food with the confidence of one who knew

intentionally said, "Did we miss

"We were all

saying dramatically, "What great fate tying

Roman pulled out his seat, no, scratch that, his throne and sat

muttering, "If this is poisoned, at least

grumbled in response, yet he pulled out his own seat and sat. They had come here to talk to Asher. The fact he even entertained their presence meant he was

he was seated, he stared down at his plate of sweetened perfection like it was laced

everything his sugar-loving heart

gaze, catching Asher’s stare from across the table. "Why are you not

"What?" Alaric said.

"Guilty?" Asher taunted him.