Defy The Alpha(s)-Chapter 811: On My Last Breath

"So...." Asher started, "You’re telling me the plan is to swap a priestess and add guards? You’re betting the whole plan on Baron attacking Violet when she’s asleep? What if he does it before the ceremony? What would you do?"

"No one is foolish enough to attack Violet, at least not when she’s awake. You already know what she can do." Lila pointed out.

Yeah, they all knew that. Literally erasing one out of existence. Except that power was unmastered and, in the course of fighting back, she might as well delete the whole realm.

"I’m sure," Lila said with conviction. "That’s when he’d attack. The Ascension of Death runs for an hour and in that window of opportunity, when Violet is unconscious and powerless, Baron would definitely not let it go."

"So while Violet is vulnerable, we just wait around for Baron to attack her?" Griffin frowned. "That sounds quite dumb to me, and I would rather Violet remain a stranger to the Fae than risk her life for this." He was seriously concerned.

"Like I said, the princess will be safe. We’d protect her."

"And you think Baron doesn’t know that?" Alaric countered. "He’s about to murder the queen and princess. What makes you think he doesn’t expect resistance? Moreover, how are you sure that the so-called guards you trust aren’t in cahoots with him?"

Roman concurred. "Exactly. I mean, if I’m about to take over the kingdom, I’ll start by buying out the guards. Classic villain one-oh-one move."

Violet breathed, "And I’m just going to sit here and pretend my life as we know it has a possibility of ending soon."

What she heard next were growls from her mates.

"You are not going to die, not on my watch." Asher was the first to respond, his voice low and dangerous. "I’ll rather burn down the Fae realm than lose you. Do you hear me?" he promised, his eyes filled with fiery intensity.

"Yes, my purple love, we’d rather render the Fae homeless than lose you." Although there was mirth in Roman’s words, there was a promise there too.

"You are not dying. Not even the goddess can take you away from us." Griffin swore to her.

Alaric said his part too. "It’s together, forever."

Violet’s mouth hung open, rendered speechless by their words. Her pulse raced, her heart rejoicing, a comforting warmth washing over her at the thought of having mates who would fight even death itself just to keep her safe.

"Thank you," Violet whispered, smiling at all four of them.

They soaked in the moment for a while before Queen Seraphira said, "Since you all are against the plan, I’m trying to guess you have a better one."

Asher began, his words sharp, "How about locking up Baron, then executing Celeste and every single member of that council? You’d be known as a tyrant, but fear is better than respect. Your child will be safe, and your people would award you more respect. But of course you wouldn’t do that, would you, Queen Seraphira?" he sneered. "You’d prefer to be praised by your people on the surface and have your authority questioned by all and sundry, to the point you cannot protect the only child you have?"

"Enough!" Seraphira hissed, her eyes flashing with power. The palace seemed to quake with her authority, and while it was a powerful move, the effect was instantaneous.

The queen began to cough.

It seemed innocent at first until it became a wracking cough.

"Your Majesty," Lila said with alarm, lifting a handkerchief to her mouth. She took it and continued to cough.

Even Violet stood from her seat, having no idea what to do. When her mother finally lifted the handkerchief, there was a smear of blood on it.

Violet’s stomach dropped.

If the thought of her mother dying had felt like a dream, then seeing this right now felt like a rude awakening.

She was really dying.

Asher and the others looked at one another. Though he felt pity for the queen, it only solidified his thoughts.

She was weak.

"You should not exert yourself anymore, Your Majesty," Lila chided her, concerned.

But Queen Seraphira, her gaze boring straight into Asher’s, told him with fervor, "I will not make the same mistake as my ancestors. Violence is not always the answer. The goddess brought Violet this far, she will see her through to the end. So no, I will not turn into a bloodthirsty tyrant to prove your point."

If there was any way to groan out loud, Roman would have done it with the way his head fell in disappointment.

The queen continued, "We will assess the guards thoroughly and confirm those loyal to us. To further increase security, we will arrest Baron and the members of his household a few minutes before the trial. That way, we throw off their plan and demoralize his people. That should be enough, right?"

The question was obviously aimed at Asher.

The West Alpha merely shrugged. "Whatever the queen says."

Queen Seraphira stared hard at him, then let it go. "I’ll want time alone with my daughter now."

None of the Cardinal Alphas protested. Each of them rose from their seats. They stole one last glance at Violet before exiting the room.

Once outside, Asher broke away from the group.

"Where are you going?" Roman asked, brows knitted with suspicion.

"I need some damn air," Asher retorted without looking back.

Except that had been a lie.

He had a destination in mind.

Unlike the queen, Asher Nightshade preferred to go on the offensive—or at the very least, have a backup plan. Since he didn’t have the authority to eliminate his enemies outright and protect his girl, plan B seemed to be his only option.

Asher finally stopped at a certain door and knocked twice.

The sentient palace had made it clear it didn’t like violence—almost like its queen. Asher snorted. It wouldn’t surprise him if the magic of the palace was linked to her.

The door opened.

Annequin, Queen—no—former queen of Astaria stood there.

At first, confusion flickered across her face as she glanced around, half-expecting this to be some kind of trap. When she saw no one else, her expression shifted into something far more playful.

"Well, hello," she drawled. "Finally abandoned your unofficial mate and came for me?"

Asher’s expression didn’t change.

Cold. Unmoved.

"Don’t make me think this was a mistake."

"Fine," she groaned, rolling her eyes. "If you didn’t come to grace my bed, Alpha Asher of the West Pack, then I’m guessing this is serious. So what do you want?"

This time, Asher’s expression eased—just slightly.

"How would you feel about doing something unselfish for once?" he said. "It might help your journey toward becoming a decent leader."

Annequin lifted a brow, clearly unimpressed.

Then she smiled.

"What are you waiting for?" She stepped aside. "Come in."

Meanwhile, back in the room, silence lingered between the queen and her daughter.

Lila stepped out briefly, only to return moments later carrying a small porcelain pot of tea. The faint aroma of herbs filled the air as she moved toward the queen.

"This will help stabilize you, Your Majesty," she said, pouring her a drink.

Seraphira accepted the cup without a word. She lifted it to her lips and drank.

Then she closed her eyes.

Her shoulders relaxed slightly as she exhaled, as though the weight pressing down on her had eased, even if only a little. The tension in her face eased, and she remained still, quietly savoring the effect.

After a few seconds, she opened her eyes again. She set the cup down.

Violet leaned forward, her voice cautious. "How do you feel?"

"Better," Seraphira answered simply.

Lila gave a small nod before stepping back, leaving the two of them alone once more.

Then came the awkward silence.

Seraphira broke it.

"You must resent me. Think me weak."

Violet’s lips parted but no words came because deep down, it was true. If the queen had acted differently—stronger, harsher—maybe none of this would be happening. Maybe Baron wouldn’t be a threat and she wouldn’t be dying.

Seraphira didn’t miss the silence. She gave a small, knowing smile.

"Your grandmother, Elowen, was everything you probably want me to be. You likely took your temper from her."

There was a faint trace of amusement in her voice, though it didn’t reach her eyes.

"She was decisive. Ruthless. Quick to eliminate threats. And while it solved problems, it created others."

Her gaze drifted slightly, as though she was seeing a memory.

"Everyone feared her. There was no freedom. No joy. No room to breathe."

She looked back at Violet.

"I swore I would never become like her. And though it may seem like that decision has backfired, I do not regret it."

Her voice grew firmer.

"There is peace in the Free Fae realm. There is love. There is happiness. People are free to choose, free to live, free to love. That would never have existed under my mother’s rule. And I’m not making excuses for my shortcomings, but I hope... you understand why my decisions are the way they are."

Slowly, Seraphira reached out, her fingers brushing against Violet’s cheek.

The touch was gentle.

"I’m sorry I didn’t train you properly," she said softly. "I only wanted you to have a normal life, far away from all of this. But in the end, that too was a mistake."

Then she took Violet’s hand in hers, gripping it with surprising strength.

"But I promise you, Violet, I will not let anything happen to you." Her fingers tightened. "I swear it on my last breath."