Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 413: Betrayed By Her Own

"What are you doing?" Daisy asked in confusion, standing at Lila’s doorstep. The girl was hurriedly stuffing her things into a small backpack.

Daisy wasn’t alone. Ivy stood beside her, brows furrowed as she asked cautiously, "What’s going on, Lila? Where are you going?"

Lila finally looked up, registering their presence.

"Good, both of you are here," she said, turning to her desk and picking up a folded letter.

"I was going to come find you two, but things worked out anyway." She walked over and placed the letter in Daisy’s hand. "Give this to Violet when she returns."

Daisy frowned, trying to return the letter to her, but she wouldn’t take it.

"I don’t understand. What is going on, Lila? Where are you going? Why can’t you wait for Violet yourself? She and Griffin already called to inform us they’ll be back tomorrow. So whatever you have to say, you can tell her directly."

But Lila remained said. "You don’t understand, Violet will never forgive me for the things I hid from her. If she’s truly mated to Griffin, then everything changes. I have to return to the Fae realm. The Queen must unlock her powers—trust me, Violet needs it now more than ever."

"Do you have to go?" Ivy asked, her tone exasperated. "Can’t you, I don’t know, give the Queen a call or however you people notify each other in the Fae realm?" She sighed. "I don’t like this, Lila. Everything’s happening so fast and our group is falling apart. I don’t even understand what the heck is going on anymore."

Lila turned to her. "It’s more complicated than you think. I’ve been operating under the radar, that’s why Baron and his lackeys haven’t found me. Or Violet. But I’ve been called back home, and I need to know what’s going on."

She reached into the pocket of her pants and pulled out a strange medallion, pressing it into Ivy’s hand. "When Violet returns tomorrow, give this to her. Make sure she wears it. You know how stubborn she can be."

"What’s it for?" Ivy asked, lifting the medallion and examining the Fae engravings etched into its surface.

"It’s to mask her from any of my kind who might try to snitch her out in my absence. I’ve placed a masking spell on her already, but I don’t know how effective it will be once I cross realms. So think of it as backup."

"And the letter?" Daisy asked, eyeing it again. "What’s in it?"

"Enough clues to answer the questions she’s been asking herself all this while. It’s spelled so no one else can read it except Violet. Whatever knowledge she decides to share with you afterward is her choice."

sincerity, "But I truly hope both of you stick by her

an uneasy glance,

her bed and slung the backpack over her shoulder,

to be back?" Daisy wanted

rest assured once I’m back, things would be different. I’ll make it up to Violet for real. No more

and Ivy looked at each other

you to the bustop or something? Is there a route that takes you exactly to the

both don’t need to see me out, I’m good."

and pulled her into a hug, saying, "Come

try." Lila was

to her cooly. "Be careful

too. Take care of each

"We would."

still think this is uncomfortable leaving without seeing Violet. "

understand." She said and

the cover of the night,

ensure she was alone, she reached into her pocket and brought out a coin etched with Fae

it into the

lake rippled almost

last glance over her shoulder and without hesitation,

familiar

planned to send a message to Queen Seraphira, updating her on Violet. But instead, a message from Zyrella had found

one tasked with protecting the Queen in her absence. If anything had gone wrong, Zyrella

through the elusive moss-covered spot

the center of the clearing, in her silver armor. Her dark braid hung down her back,

"Sister," she said.

Lila replied,