Defy The Alpha(s) - Chapter 676

Chapter 676: Baron Won’t Touch Her
“Guys,” Violet said firmly, cutting through the tension gathering in the room again. “Arguing about this all night won’t take us anywhere. I’ve already decided, I’m doing this.”

All four cardinal alphas immediately broke into heated protest.

But Violet held up a hand. “I know you’re worried. Truly, I do. But other heirs before me survived this Trial, so why can’t I? It’s not an impossible task.”

Their outrage dropped to grumbling. They were still unhappy, sure, sure, but not close enough to flip the table.

Violet lifted her chin, stubborn confidence settling into her spine. “Besides, have you forgotten who raised me? Nancy could talk the stripes off a zebra. There was no way in hell I couldn’t talk at least one ancestor into giving me their blessing. No one survives an argument with me.”

This time, the cardinal alphas had no more arguments left. Their mate’s mind was set, and any further protests would fall on deaf ears. And truthfully, beneath all the fear and frustration, they wanted her to win this. To claim what was hers.

All they could do now was stand beside her and fight for her every step of the way.

“Fine, do it. It’s not like we can stop you anyway,” Roman grumbled.

Violet gave him a grateful smile.

Then she turned to Alaric, whose chin was set stubbornly, waiting for his response.

“If any stubborn ancestor stands in your way, tell them you have a mate who’ll zap their ass if anything happens to you.”

Violet burst into laughter, and she didn’t have to wait long for Griffin to add his own brand of devotion.

“You heard Alaric,” he said. “Even the land of the dead won’t be safe from us if any ancestor dares to call you unworthy. Because we see what they clearly don’t, Violet, you’re too damn good for that throne.”

“No,” Asher corrected, his voice turning frost-cold, every syllable edged with lethal promise. “It’s the Fae realm that won’t be safe if anything happens to her.”

This time his gaze fixed on the Queen. “You’d better have everything under control because your kingdom will regret the day it has me as an enemy.”

Silence slammed into the hall.

Yes, Asher had just threatened the Queen of the Free Fae, and the reaction was instant.

Violet could feel the sudden vibration in the air, as the magic thickened, and responded to the Queen’s fury.

But she was not the only one with powers.

At the same moment the Queen’s magic surged, static lifted in the air subtly at first, then began a loud him that vibrated against the walls. Alaric didn’t move from his seat, yet the atmosphere shifted around him like the world was tilting toward a storm.

His eyes changed. A pulse of lightning flickered inside them and strobed once, twice, warning the Queen that he would come to his brother’s aid if it came down to them.

“Enough!” Violet shouted.

At once, the magic in the room faltered as Alaric’s lightning dimmed and the Queen’s power stilled mid-air.

“No more fighting,” Violet said, her gaze sweeping across all of them. “We came here for a purpose, not to destroy each other before the Trial even begins.”

Queen Seraphira’s amethyst eyes shifted to Asher. “You,” she said calmly, though her magic still rippled under her skin, “do well to mind your tone, Alpha. You forget whose realm you stand in.”

Asher’s jaw tightened, a sharp retort already shaping on his tongue.

“But…” the Queen continued, her tone softening ever so slightly, “you speak with the desperation of a man who loves deeply. I cannot fault you for that.”

Asher blinked, taken aback.

“However,” Seraphira’s voice sharpened once more, “threaten my realm again, and you will see just how fiercely I defend it.”

Asher swallowed whatever insult he was about to unleash. Then he lowered his gaze, choosing peace for once.

The Queen exhaled and then turned to Griffin.

“As for your concerns,” she said, “participants are sworn by ancient oath not to harm one another unless the stage of the competition demands it. Any attempt at sabotage outside those bounds is forbidden.

“In your world, you have televised broadcasts. We have our own methods. Every moment of the Trial is observed. If a contender is even suspected of attempting to harm another unjustly, they will be expelled immediately and sentenced to death.”

A hush fell again.

“To a degree,” the Queen finished, her eyes finding Violet’s, “you are protected, daughter. From contenders who might have ideas.”

Violet nodded. That was relieving to a point.

Asher asked, “And your husband? Baron.”

“Baron is another problem altogether,” she admitted. “As you already know, our lives are intertwined. If I move against him too harshly, I suffer the same consequences.”

“So you’d let your daughter get hurt because of that excuse?” Asher snapped.

Queen Seraphira’s eyes flashed with annoyance. “I have assigned guards around Violet who would sooner die than allow my husband to lay a single finger on her.”

She added. “And it may interest you to know that Baron will not openly harm Violet for now. Not when he knows I am gathering evidence to bring him before the High Court. The slightest misstep on his part, and I will have lawful grounds to strip him of his power.”

Asher didn’t look convinced.

The Queen continued, “His greatest hope now is that Violet fails the Trial and dies. That is the only victory left for him. And that,” she said with startling certainty, “is not going to happen.”

Griffin raised a brow. “You sound awfully sure about that.”

Queen Seraphira smiled. “I know the child the goddess gave me. Violet is not destined to die like this.”

Violet flushed, her heart giving a small, startled flutter. Her mother’s faith in her was unexpectedly warm and terrifying. She only hoped she could live up to it.

“Now, there is another matter.”

Everyone straightened.

“On the day you five arrived…” The Queen said, “you were not the only ones who crossed into my realm.”

“What?”