Defy The Alpha(s) - Chapter 681

Chapter 681: Shattered Dream
“So what do we do with her?” Roman asked as soon as the interrogation ended.

Asher folded his arms. “That question should be answered by the Queen. We’re in her territory, after all.” The sarcasm was subtle, but the jab landed — a reminder of her earlier warning.

Queen Seraphira lifted her head. Her complexion was pale, almost dimmed, as if someone had snuffed out the ethereal glow she always carried. Still, she held her posture.

“So far,” the Queen said, her voice steady despite everything, “she has committed no crime aside from entering illegally. Her memories will be cleared, and she will be sent back to the human realm.”

Violet’s stomach dropped. She wasn’t quite sure what she’d expected, but the ruling still hit hard. Hannah wasn’t trustworthy — not by a long shot — but sending her straight back into that nightmare? After what she’d confessed?

It felt cruel. But what could she do?

“No, no, no!” Hannah’s face was drained of all color. She spun to Violet first with raw desperation in her voice. “Violet!”

But when it hit her that Violet wasn’t the one with the final say, Hannah fell to her knees before the Queen, shaking.

“Your Majesty, please, you can’t send me back! You don’t understand. Ziva will kill me if I return empty-handed. I can’t go back there.” Her breath hitched, terror bleeding through every word. “Please. I just… I can’t.”

Her pleading seemed to fall on deaf ears, especially with the Queen’s impassive expression carved in ice. Even the cardinal alphas looked conflicted by the ruling. Sending Hannah back was the logical, lawful choice but knowing what awaited her, it just felt like handing her a death sentence wrapped in protocol.

“I am sorry, child, but your place is not here.” The Queen delivered the final verdict.

From the look on Hannah’s face, the Queen might as well have struck her. Everything seemed to collapse around her in one crushing instant.

No. Hannah roared inside. She couldn’t go back, not like this. Her hands curled into fists so tight her knuckles bleached white. Then, with fire blazing in her eyes, she said,

“Then by your gods and goddesses, whichever rule your realm, I claim asylum!”

At once, not just the queen, but Taryn, gasped aloud, both of their eyes widening as if Hannah had uttered something forbidden.

“You—!” Taryn choked out, genuinely stunned.

Hannah stood firm, fierce and unshaken in her decision, while Violet and the cardinal alphas exchanged puzzled looks.

“What’s going on?” Griffin demanded into the tense silence.

The Queen’s eyes narrowed with sudden fury as she stepped forward. “Who told you to say that? Was it Angus?”

“What?” Hannah’s breath hitched as she stumbled back, startled. “No—no one told me anything. I just thought asylum is what refugees ask for. And since you Fae are obsessed with your gods, I figured it would make an impact…. ” Her voice trailed off, uncertainty creeping in. “Did I say something wrong?”

Violet turned to her mother. “Why? What does it mean?”

Queen Seraphira exhaled, her expression tightening. “We’ve never had a situation like this. But she invoked the gods directly which means the judgment is no longer mine. It belongs to them.”

A heavy stillness fell. Everyone in the room knew one thing about the Fae:

their deities were never invoked lightly.

Hannah had called them into this, and now, they would answer.

Violet had a feeling this wasn’t the end. She asked carefully, “What happens if they don’t agree?”

Queen Seraphira looked Hannah dead in the eyes. “You die.”

Hannah blinked. “Eh?” Surely she misheard.

“You are not one of us. How dare you call upon them?” the Queen said, regal and cold.

Roman muttered under his breath, “Your gods sure are petty as hell.”

Taryn shot him a murderous glare for speaking ill of their gods.

But instead of retracting her words, Hannah lifted her chin and said, “Then I’ll accept whatever punishment they mete out.”

No one noticed the way Taryn stared at her confused, as if trying to understand what kind of creature she was. But there was also the smallest trace of pride, impressed by her audacity.

“So what happens now?” Hannah asked, eager to get this over with.

The Queen exhaled, clearly burdened. “As far as I know, this is the first case of its kind since the Free Fae separated from the other Fae. That means there will be preparation. The priestesses would ready herself, but with the Trial of Ascension already underway it will take time.”

Hannah nearly bounced. Time. Glorious, life-saving time.

Until she remembered she’d still be stuck in a cold, miserable cell.

“Perhaps, Your Majesty…” Hannah said cautiously, “since I’ve gone from suspect to potential refugee, maybe my living conditions could be upgraded? I don’t exactly have the best company.” She added pointedly, staring at Taryn.

Taryn’s jaw flexed. “We don’t trust her.”

“Exactly,” the Queen agreed. “We do not trust her. But she cannot be treated like a criminal either…” Seraphira paused, thinking. Then said, “Settle her into a comfortable room.”

Hannah gasped, hand flying to her mouth. A real room? With a bed? With blankets?!

She almost cried.

“What about the not trusting her part, Your Majesty?” Asher reminded.

“Taryn will shadow her. Won’t you?” the Queen said firmly.

“What?” Taryn’s face fell.

And Hannah’s bright dream dimmed instantly.

Taryn tried, “Your Majesty, I think—”

“You’re concerned about her betraying us,” Seraphira said. “Are you not capable of keeping an eye on her? Or shall I assign someone else?”

Please say yes, Hannah begged internally.

She was so done with bargain-bin Mufasa. Maybe the Queen would assign her some handsome, gentle Fae warrior who’d fall in love with her, give her hybrid babies, and she could have permanent residence in the Fae realm.

A girl could dream after all.

Then Taryn met her gaze.

Hannah swallowed at the storm brewing in his eyes. He must have sensed her dread because a dark, satisfied smirk curved his mouth.

“I’ll do it,” he told the Queen.

And just like that, Hannah’s delusional princess fantasy shattered into dust.