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.

and Violet took the central corridor with Lila and Rhara leading the

were brought into the breakfast hall, and it felt

long and bright, set beneath a domed ceiling laced with trailing ivy and thin panes of colored glass. Sunlight broke

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

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

"Daughter," she called out.

Violet’s breath caught.

color of riverlight, and a golden circlet on her head that marked

a banner down her back. She crossed the space between them with a pace that seemed slow and yet arrived all at once, taking Violet’s hands in both of hers, her

the name with less effort than

Asher. "Alpha Asher,"

aback by the respect in her tone. Since arriving here, all he’d been called was beast,

He caught himself. She wouldn’t win him

his chin respectfully,

the head table. "Let’s eat and

they climbed the short steps. When they reached

heard about the incident last night," the queen began. "I’m

realm, the pixies

Seraphira said, honest as a

her chest loosening. "I’ll

was filled with activity. Servants entered with platters of food, each

of thick cream swirled with honey. Trays of sliced fruits Violet knew—peaches, figs, berries—and fruits she didn’t, with skins like glass and soft, sweet steam when

and round loaves whose crusts cracked to reveal tender, fragrant crumb. A carafe poured milk that sparkled like late dew; another poured something pale green that smelled of mint and