Defy The Alpha(s)-Chapter 820: In love With A Shifter Fae

Griffin and Roman’s absence felt like a vacuum in Violet’s heart.

But instead of staying indoors and sulking, she was outside training. She had to be powerful enough if she wanted to return to the human realm and help them

Until she could control her powers, she was nothing but a threat even to the said human realm.

Asher was by her side, of course. With just two days left until the trial, they had no choice but to train like mad. While her unmaking powers were their main focus, she had to train others too and her mother, Queen Seraphira, assigned another Fae to guide her through her elemental abilities.

Although it took practice, Violet quickly realized it was easier to bend the earth and manipulate it than it was to control the darkness. Perhaps it was because she wasn’t at risk of destroying the entire Fae realm with it, but there was a strange peace in that.

After hours of relentless training, they finally took a break. Asher got them food, and now the two of them sat on the ground, eating. It was oddly relieving to see that he wasn’t wolfing down his meal the way he had at breakfast. That was so weird and unlike him.

"So what’s next?" Violet asked, a hint of excitement in her voice.

Her muscles ached, but in a good way. She could feel it. She was getting stronger.

From his position beside her, Asher replied, "We’ll practice your flying. We don’t know what situation you might find yourself in, so we have to make sure you can get out of it if given the chance."

Violet understood exactly what he meant.

If Baron made a move, she needed to be able to escape.

"So who’s teaching me? You?" Violet raised a cocky brow, chuckling.

"Funny," Asher said flatly. "However, love, it’s quite unfortunate I’m a land creature."

"Oh, I know. I just can’t help pulling your legs now that Roman’s—" Violet trailed off.

She didn’t need to finish. Asher understood.

Roman, who usually filled the silence with jokes, was gone. They hadn’t heard from either of them yet, which likely meant they were busy or something. Besides, time moved slower in the human realm than in the Fae realm.

Alaric, too, was still occupied with Zuru the healer, working on a way to track a compatible body for the queen.

Before Asher could respond, his attention snapped elsewhere. His features hardened instantly, as if he had seen something unpleasant.

Violet turned to follow his gaze and found Annequin.

She frowned. "What’s she doing here? I don’t need her for training."

"Beats me," Asher said curtly.

"You do know I have Fae hearing, right?" Annequin’s voice cut in smoothly.

Violet wasn’t moved, fixing her with a flat, unimpressed look.

Annequin lifted her hands in surrender. "Alright, I admit it. I was bored. And it seems there’s no one else around here I can relate to except you two."

"You mean torment?" Violet replied sweetly. Too sweetly.

"Fine," Annequin sighed in exasperation.

Then, without warning, she dropped to her knees in front of Violet.

Violet startled.

Annequin clasped her hands together like she was praying. "To Princess Violet Zinnia purple of the Free Fae, my sincerest apologies for attempting to steal your mate. This Fae was in the wrong and has come to repent."

She blinked up at Violet, all mock innocence.

"So, can we be friends?"

Violet was dumbfounded, completely thrown off by the sudden shift. What game was she playing now?

But before she could respond, Asher’s nose flared and a low growl rumbled from his chest.

"Who invited him?"

Both women turned. And their reactions couldn’t have been more different.

While Violet scrunched her nose in annoyance, Annequin practically lit up. Her eyes widened and her tongue nearly slipped out. She looked like a dog salivating at the sight of a bone.

"On my father’s balls... he is mine," Annequin murmured, her gaze locked on the peryton walking toward them.

"Princess," Lucen greeted, bowing his head to Violet. He barely acknowledged Asher, right before his gaze landed on Annequin who was staring at him, unblinking. It was quite unsettling.

Still, she was royalty, so be inclined his head slightly. "Your Highness."

"Such a gentleman," Annequin purred, dragging her gaze over him like she was already claiming him. She licked her lower lip. "Where have you been all my life?"

Huh?

Lucen wasn’t the only one caught off guard. Violet and Asher exchanged a bewildered look.

What in the name of the goddess was going on?

As an Alpha among his kind, Lucen was used to being desired. It was something he often enjoyed. But this was different. This wasn’t admiration, but hunger.

Aside from the fact that Annequin was a foreign queen from an unfamiliar Fae land, there was something about her that made him uneasy.

She wasn’t just dominant but dangerous.

And something in her eyes warned him he did not want to find out just how dangerous she could be.

It dawned on Asher.

"Don’t tell me you’re the one the queen brought to teach her how to fly."

Lucien didn’t even flinch. If anything, the corner of his lips lifted slightly, like he found the irritation amusing.

"I’m the best flyer in the realm," he replied. "The queen knows that."

His eyes flicked briefly to Violet before returning to Asher.

"But if you don’t like it, you can take it up with her."

A low growl rumbled from Asher’s chest and Lucien answered with one of his own.

The air tightened instantly, thick with tension, like a spark waiting for something to ignite it.

Violet’s heart skipped. For a second, she thought they were actually going to fight.

Behind her, Annequin chuckled.

"Oh," she mused, clearly entertained, "he has balls. I like it."

Violet shot her a look.

Annequin only shrugged, completely unbothered. "I haven’t touched it yet, but I think I’m going to like it."

Violet shook her head. She didn’t know which was worse—when Annequin had been flirting with Asher, or now that she was openly simping over Lucien.

Still, she would take this. Anything was better than having that Fae eyeing her mates again.

So yeah. This was the lesser evil.

Violet stepped forward, her hand brushing lightly against Asher’s arm.

"Let it be," she said softly. "It’s just training anyway. What’s he going to do to me with witnesses around?"

Asher’s jaw clenched, but the tension in his shoulders eased just a fraction. The growl died in his throat.

Across from them, Lucien’s expression didn’t change, but a tick appeared in his jaw. He might have stepped back from chasing Violet thanks to the Queen’s verdict, but his ego had not recovered.

Lucien’s gaze sharpened as it settled on Violet, all traces of amusement gone.

"Take off your shirt," he said, his tone suddenly professional, all business. "We begin immediately."

Before Violet could even react, he had already pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside.

Annequin let out a low whistle.

"Now that," she murmured shamelessly, eyes dragging over him, "is a sight."

Lucien was built with a clean, defined strength, muscles layered over power, every movement carrying a kind of predatory grace that spoke of both speed and control.

Annequin had never thought she would be into shifter Fae. In her court, most High Fae looked down on them. But right now, she was very into this one.

Her gaze lingered, unashamed, tracing every line of his body, from the width of his shoulders down to the sharp cut of his waist, pausing deliberately on the ridges of his six-pack.

"Damn," she breathed.

Then with a sudden, fluid motion, black wings burst from his back, unfurling in full, magnificent span.

Annequin swore she nearly combusted on the spot.

Oh, he was an Alpha through and through.

Her lips curled slowly. She couldn’t wait to see how this one fought.

Beside her, Violet stiffened.

Nudity might not have been a big deal for shifters, but she wasn’t entirely used to it. Had she known she’d be flying, she would have worn one of the special shirts designed for that.

A flush crept up her neck as she reached for the hem of her shirt.

"No."

Asher’s voice cut in sharply.

Before Violet could question him, he stepped forward. His nails flicked out, carefully slicing clean slits along the back of her shirt.

The fabric gave way, and her wings unfurled. Violet sucked in a breath as the pressure released.

Behind her, a pair of radiant purple wings spread wide, catching the light, shimmering with an otherworldly glow.

Asher went still, forgetting how to breathe. She was so beautiful.

Even Annequin fell silent, begrudgingly acknowledging the princess was a work of art — in her mind, of course.

Lucien’s expression didn’t change, assessing her instead.

"One thing you should know," he began, stepping closer, "is that your wings are not separate from you. They are an extension of your body, just like your limb. Treat them like one."

To demonstrate, his wings snapped wider, cutting through the air with a controlled force. He used them, a single beat lifting him clean off the ground.

It was so effortless, like breathing.

"They respond to intent," Lucien folded them back just as quickly. "Not effort. If you force it, you fall. If you move with it, you fly, princess... "