Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 643: Gentle Killers

Asher’s fierce loyalty was a thing to study. The moment Lila explained the spell, he stepped forward without blinking.

"Do it on me first," he said. "If I’m fine after breakfast with the queen, the others can take it."

Violet opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her a look that said this wasn’t up for debate. She closed it again, squeezing his hand instead. He squeezed back with assurance.

To be honest, Asher expected they would invite some priest and that it involved some ritual, you know, witch style.

Instead, Lila only moved closer, "Hold still," she said.

Then she breathed a string of soft, old words against his skin. A small prickle ran under Asher’s flesh, as if a veil brushed him from crown to heel. The hairs on his arms stood on edge, then settled. Just like that, the tingling faded like the after-spark of a touch.

"That’s it?" he asked, stunned. He had been looking forward to a little pain.

"That’s it," Lila said. "It should blunt glamour, shield you from charms, and let your body accept our food. If anything feels wrong, tell me immediately."

"It won’t," Violet hoped to the gods. Still, her eyes stayed on Asher, searching his face for any sign of discomfort.

He rolled his shoulders once. "I’m good."

"Good. Let’s go."

Griffin and Alaric stayed behind to babysit Roman—and really, to babysit each other—while Roman paid a very noisy price for pixie nectar.

the way, vines stirring along

were brought into the breakfast hall, and it felt

domed ceiling laced with trailing ivy and thin panes of colored glass.

side in elegant arcs instead of harsh lines—Fae didn’t like straight things, apparently—and each table was draped in cloth that looked like it was woven from

dais of pale wood, stood a narrow, graceful table. Queen Seraphira rose from it the instant she

"Daughter," she called out.

Violet’s breath caught.

effortless, as always, wearing a gown the color of riverlight, and a golden circlet on her head that marked her

down her back. She crossed the space between them with a pace that seemed slow and yet arrived all at once,

name with

her gaze to Asher. "Alpha Asher," she greeted with a

respect in her tone. Since arriving here, all he’d been called was beast, as if he were some

He caught himself. She wouldn’t win

his chin respectfully, but not submissive.

the queen said, gesturing to the

fingers tangled in hers as they climbed the short steps. When they reached the dais, they all sat together

the incident last night," the queen began. "I’m sorry your first hours

a realm, the pixies do not show much respect to

aren’t open to most things," Queen Seraphira said, honest as a cut. "In

in her chest loosening. "I’ll hold

activity. Servants entered with platters of food, each one stranger and

fruits Violet knew—peaches, figs, berries—and fruits she didn’t, with skins like glass and soft, sweet steam

to them, roots roasted until their sugars sang, and round loaves whose crusts cracked to reveal tender, fragrant crumb. A carafe poured milk that sparkled like late