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.

with Lila and Rhara leading the way, vines stirring along the

and it felt like walking

beneath a domed ceiling laced with trailing ivy and thin panes of

warm underfoot, and tables curved along either 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

stood a narrow, graceful

"Daughter," she called out.

Violet’s breath caught.

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

pace that seemed slow and yet arrived all at

said the name with

to Asher. "Alpha Asher," she

arriving here, all he’d been called was beast, as if

wouldn’t win him over that

he dipped his chin respectfully, but not submissive.

the queen said, gesturing to the head table.

in hers as they climbed the short steps. When they reached the dais,

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

the pixies

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

thread in her chest loosening. "I’ll hold you to

Servants entered with platters of food, each one stranger and more beautiful than the

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

still clinging 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 dew; another poured something