Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 644: Finally Meet, Daughter

"You mean the same daughter you left powerless in the human realm?" Asher said, his unflinching gaze locked on hers.

The queen’s composure faltered. The polite warmth in her eyes vanished, replaced by a chill that made the entire hall feel smaller.

Violet did not know it, but her aura shifted too as her dark magic stirred, ready to defend Asher if the need arose. Seraphira might be her mother, but she was still a queen, and Asher was overstepping. This was supposed to be her conversation.

Just as expected, there was darkness in the Queen’s gaze. Like Violet, her aura pulsed, a dangerous glint flashing in her amethyst eyes.

Seraphira’s voice trembled with leashed anger. "You think I was happy to leave my daughter in the human realm?" There was no softness in her voice now, only fury and pain tightly coiled together.

But Asher wasn’t intimidated, even as the air they breathed thickened with power, sharp as pins and needles.

"I don’t fault the circumstances," Asher replied evenly. "But from what I’ve gathered, Lila found Violet months ago, if not earlier." He hinted that Lila might not have told the full truth.

"That was enough time to train her, to prepare her for what lay ahead, especially knowing the kind of husband you had. Maybe then Baron wouldn’t have nearly killed her during her dreamwalk."

Asher’s words struck like lightning.

For a heartbeat, Seraphira’s mouth parted in disbelief, guilt flashing in her blazing eyes. Just like that, the pressure of her magic in the air eased.

Even Violet, who sat ramrod straight, gripping her spoon so tightly her knuckles had gone white, exhaled shakily. The suffocating tension began to dissolve, replaced by guilt and shame.

The queen’s eyes softened, the fire in them dimming into sorrow. For the first time, Violet saw not the immortal ruler of the Fae, but a mother who had made impossible choices and was now forced to face them.

he wouldn’t

made a stupid decision," Seraphira admitted, staring at them yet seeing nothing,

powers that Angus might exploit, and at the same time, I was terrified

on Asher. "But do you dare judge me

both wretched men while my daughter grew up without me. Do you know what it means,

was unsettling, almost as if she

You seek control. Yet you forget, Asher Nightshade, life

his seat. He hated being under scrutiny, and right now the Queen held him under her gaze like a specimen

"have you not committed mistakes? Not even

didn’t need to answer, because

Lucille.

and manipulate every outcome like a puppet master, he had played games with the girl, and the circumstances had nearly led to her death. He’d

forgotten that. Neither had

way he flinched, as though struck

no one spoke. Then Queen Seraphira picked up the goblet before her, paused, and said, "However, protect her as fiercely as you challenge me, wolf. The

stirring the conversation from that sensitive topic. "How long am I to stay

her nose flared. Her eyes sharpened a second later,

at the same time Asher did, and the growl that rumbled

eyes one

green that could lure anyone

strode up the dais wearing that same arrogant smile, the kind