Defy The Alpha(s) novel Chapter 736

Chapter 736: Gifts From Her Mates

That fucking bastard.

Violet kept her expression polite, serene even, but inside, she was furious. The only thing stopping her from standing up and punching Lucien square in the face was the hundreds of Fae eyes fixed on her, waiting and watching her reaction.

She wasn’t stupid. Violet understood exactly what Lucien had been doing since the moment they met. The peryton prince had been circling her like this was some mating display, and apparently, her rejection hadn’t lodged itself properly in his skull.

Her mates were the only ones she would ever want. The only ones she would dance with, and the only ones she would share her life with. No one else.

And certainly not this arrogant, pushy, self-important prince who thought persistence was romance.

"Prince Lucien," Violet said in a composed voice, "I am truly honored by your request."

Lucien’s posture straightened, hope shining briefly in his eyes.

"But," Violet continued, "my first dance has already been promised to my mates."

Lucien’s expression faltered long enough for Violet to savor it.

"I see," he said after a moment, schooling his features. "Then I suppose that cannot be helped."

Violet smiled so hard her cheeks hurt.

She thought that would be the end of it.

Of course, it wasn’t.

Lucien tilted his head, unfazed. "Then perhaps the dance after that?"

The audacity.

Violet opened her mouth to respond, but her mother beat her to it.

"The dance following that belongs to me," Queen Seraphira declared, every head snapping toward the dais.

"Surely," the Queen continued, her tone silken and dangerous, "you are not so greedy as to take that moment from a mother and her daughter, Prince Lucien."

Lucien’s cheeks flushed. He hesitated, clearly unprepared for the Queen’s direct intervention, let alone the intensity of her gaze.

"O-of course not, Your Majesty," he stammered. "I would never presume. I am merely... enthusiastic. It would be an honor to share even a moment with the Princess."

Queen Seraphira regarded him coolly. "Your eagerness is noted. However, I believe it is in my daughter’s best interest that she chooses her own dances."

The words were polite, but the message was not.

Lord Taryn snorted loudly from where he stood, not bothering to hide his amusement. Lucien had always been too confident for his own good.

Lucien flushed deeper, mortification creeping in as whispers from the crowd only grew louder.

"I apologize if I made you uncomfortable, Princess," he said stiffly, lowering his head. "Please forgive my excitement."

For the sake of decorum, Violet said, "You are forgiven," even though she didn’t mean it.

Lucien bowed once more, then retreated into the crowd. But the murmurs followed him.

"Just because he’s the last of the peryton, he thinks he’s untouchable."

"I heard the fourth one is unmated yet. I bet he wants to replace her."

"Can’t blame him, though. He and the princess would be a power couple."

Lucien kept walking, but not before his gaze collided with the cardinal alphas.

Asher’s stare, in particular, was ice-cold, holding a dark promise within it.

Lucien looked away first.

Only then did Violet release the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Her shoulders eased as the tension drained from her chest.

She turned toward her mother. "Thank you."

Queen Seraphira offered a small, knowing smile.

Then she lifted her chin slightly toward Lila.

Lila understood immediately. She stepped closer, and the Queen leaned in just enough to murmur, "Arrange a private meeting with Prince Lucien after the festivities."

Lila nodded and disappeared into the crowd.

However, someone else had been watching.

Baron lounged back against his throne, his fingers tapping thoughtfully against the armrest. His gaze followed Lucien’s retreat, then slid back to Violet, and a slow smile curved his lips.

This was interesting.

The gifts continued coming, and Violet lost count after thirty. Lila had a growing stack, and there were Fae attendants moving carefully, already carrying gifts away to secure storage rooms.

Violet kept thinking the same thing, over and over. Would any of this even work in the human realm? Or was it like a charger that only worked in one realm?

And even if it did, how in the world was she going to take all of this back without looking like she robbed a museum?

Nonetheless, Violet accepted them all with grace as tradition demanded, smiling until her cheeks hurt.

Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, the line thinned.

But just when Violet thought the ceremony was done, that was when Roman stepped out.

The greatsword was edged in crimson light, the metal dark but threaded with red veins. The hilt was wrapped in leather, and the blade’s center held an engraved mark—his mate bond. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"They’re beautiful," she whispered, and it was the truth.

Queen Seraphira’s voice cut through the awe. "That metal—" Her eyes narrowed, recognition flaring. "That is Aethiron."

Violet looked at the queen, confused, but the reaction from the Fae was enough to tell her this was not normal material.

Seraphira said, "Aethiron doesn’t crack under strain and holds enchantments well."

Violet’s throat tightened.

Griffin nodded. "We didn’t know what would actually work here," he admitted. "So we asked Lila. She helped us choose what would last and protect the princess."

Lila, standing behind the throne, looked both pleased and exhausted. She had suffered to make this possible in such a short time frame.

Roman said, "We figured if the Trial is death-or-alive, then you deserve options. A blade for close work. A spear for reach. A bow for distance, and daggers for when you need to be fast. You can choose which one is your favorite afterward." He smirked.

Then Asher said, "We don’t care what the realm thinks, but Princess Violet will go to that trial and win because we will make damn sure of it."

As Asher spoke, his eyes stayed on Baron as if issuing a challenge to him.

Then, to the queen, he told her, "This is proof your daughter is safe in our hands, Your Majesty. Nothing will happen to her."

Alaric also promised her. "We’ll do everything within our power to make sure she survives the Ascension."

For a moment, Queen Seraphira did not speak and simply stared at them.

Then Violet watched something change in her mother’s face. It was subtle but real. The last thread of doubt loosened, and pride took its place.

Seraphira’s chin lifted. "Then I will hold you to that."

Violet’s vision blurred.

She blinked hard, but it didn’t help. The tears came anyway, hot and humiliating and impossible to stop.

Then Violet rose fast and did something wildly un-royal. She rushed down the steps, not caring about the eyes on her.

She slammed into them, her arms wrapping around Roman first because he was closest, then Griffin because he was solid and warm, then Alaric, then Asher.

Violet didn’t even know how she managed it, but she just held on.

Roman laughed against her hair, his arms tightening around her. Griffin’s hand cradled the back of her head, while Alaric simply held her however he could. Asher’s hand closed around her waist, firm and possessive. He was never letting go.

After a while, Violet broke away from the hug, and not minding that the entire kingdom was staring at her, she grabbed Roman’s face and kissed him on the mouth. It didn’t last, because she turned to Griffin and did the same. Then Alaric, and finally Asher, making sure they understood how much their effort meant to her.

In this life and the next to come, it would always be them. She would always choose them.