Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 615: Step Into The Gate

"I dropped us off at the closest location the magic can allow since we can’t teleport directly into the palace," Lila told her as they walked on.

"Why is that?" Violet asked, intrigued.

"It’s for the safety of the royal family. If anyone could just teleport at will into the palace, enemies could easily launch attacks anytime."

"Oh." Violet nodded in understanding.

"Although," Lila added, "your mother, Queen Seraphira, has the unique ability to teleport among her other powers. It would be nice to know what you can do now, princess."

Violet smiled shyly, nerves and anticipation eating her up. All this was new to her, and she was about to meet her biological mother. How was she supposed to act? This was going to be awkward.

It occurred to Violet at that moment. "How did you get out of Baron’s imprisonment? I said I was going back for you, but I didn’t know how, and Asher warned me not to attempt dream walking by myself."

"That was wise of Asher." Lila turned back to look at him, but he didn’t react, his expression unreadable.

She continued, "Baron used me to lure you out, but thankfully nothing went according to his plan. The Queen figured out Zyrella’s betrayal and realized something was wrong. She rescued me."

"Zyrella?" Violet repeated, confused.

"You have so many things to learn. Don’t worry, you’ll be settled soon enough and learn the Fae way." She suddenly announced, "And we’re here."

"Whoa," Violet breathed as she looked up, momentarily halting in her steps. Not just her, even the cardinal alphas stopped, the breath knocked out of them.

The palace itself rose from the heart of a vast forest. Tall, ancient trees loomed on both sides of the narrow path leading to the entrance — if it could even be called that.

The circular gate stood open, made entirely of aged stone and twisted vines. There were no guards, not a single soul watching over it, yet something about that stillness made Violet’s skin prickle.

ordinary enough, but Violet knew no one

whispered to Alaric, referring to

his hand, crackling with a faint charge of electricity, reacting

"The gate opens only when it

muttered dryly,

won’t be able to enter without her?" He took Violet’s hand.

eyes. "We’ve taken that into account. That’s why we tuned the wards sustaining the

mates, right?"

"Excuse me?" Lila frowned.

not just

not, you’re still guests in the Fae realm until the Queen

was clear. They’d known this day would come — the day the Fae would judge them —

their unease, Violet stepped forward. "My mates will receive the same welcome I do. Otherwise, I command

"Otherwise they wouldn’t be standing here.

"Let’s see if the

was. Moreover, what if Violet went in and couldn’t

If he went first and something went wrong, at least Violet would be safe to destroy this

"Asher?" Violet said, concerned.

gate is safe, didn’t she?" Asher smirked.

hesitation, he walked in and disappeared completely. There was no reflection from the other side, only their anxious

I’ll go next," Griffin said, but Roman beat him to it,

then sighed and

just Violet

Lila said and vanished

and reached for Violet’s hand. "Our