Defy The Alpha(s) novel Chapter 785

Chapter 785: Call Back Home

Annequin pouted dramatically. "Oww, is that really how you welcome your savior?"

Great. Violet groaned inwardly. This was officially the worst day of her life. Now this bitch would hold that little act of rescue over her head for as long as Violet lived.

Annequin continued, entirely unbothered. "I mean, I did stop you from tearing your kingdom apart." She tilted her head, eyes glinting with mischief. "You should be thanking me. On your knees, preferably."

Before Violet could unleash the string of creative violence forming on her tongue, Asher stepped in at once.

"Let’s not make a spectacle of this," he commanded. "You claimed you had something to discuss with my mate, so say it and be done."

He emphasized mate deliberately.

Asher wasn’t stupid. He saw the game Annequin was playing. She was provoking Violet on purpose, testing boundaries, and enjoying the reaction.

"You’re right," Annequin said cheerfully, clapping her hands once. "I was merely checking in on our little princess before sharing the good news."

"Good news?" Griffin straightened immediately.

He wasn’t the only one. The other cardinal alphas subtly tensed, curiosity sharp and cautious. None of them trusted Annequin, not even a little.

"Yes!" Annequin said brightly. "From today onward, I’ll be Violet’s teacher."

"Excuse me?" Violet’s expression changed instantly. "What did you just say?"

Annequin didn’t flinch at the danger suddenly radiating off her. She delivered the announcement like it was a gift being unwrapped on a christmas morning.

"After today’s incident, the Queen decided I’m the best suited to help you master your unmaking powers." She shrugged. "Your mother is simply being proactive."

For the first time since arriving in the Fae realm, Violet cursed—in fluent Fae, no less, courtesy of lessons she’d been taken.

Was her mother serious?

This had to be a joke.

Asher, Alaric, Griffin, and Roman exchanged looks. This was news they hadn’t seen coming. None of them spoke. Not when their mate looked one breath away from detonating the room.

Annequin hopped to her feet and approached Violet so suddenly that Violet shifted back, instinctively uncomfortable.

The queen didn’t seem to mind at all. She burst into giggles, eyes alight. "You know, I can’t wait for us to get started..." There was a voracious gleam in her gaze now. "I’ll make a queen out of you, and a weapon powerful enough to destroy your opponents during the competition."

The simmering anger on Violet’s face shifted into confusion.

Why did it almost sound as if Annequin wanted her to win? At least to some extent. Even if it was in a deeply unsettling way.

Before Violet could sort through the thought, Annequin leaned in until there was absolutely no space between them. The cardinal alphas went taut at once, bodies tense and ready to react should the Fae Queen try anything reckless.

"Don’t arrive late tomorrow," Annequin murmured, her voice low, and edged with something that sounded dangerously close to a threat. "I take my lessons very seriously."

Then, just as abruptly, her lips curved into a bright, friendly smile as if moments ago she hadn’t been radiating menace. The sudden shift in mood was unsettling as hell.

"That will be all," she said.

She turned to leave, then stopped directly in front of Asher.

Violet caught the way Annequin’s gaze lingered on him, and a snarl slipped past Violet’s lips before she could stop it. For half a second, she’d almost believed Annequin had changed.

Clearly not.

Annequin ignored Violet entirely, instead gesturing toward the alphas. "Bring them along," she added cheerfully. "They’ll make excellent practice."

And with that, the Queen of Astaria sauntered out, the door closing behind her on its own.

Silence settled over the room.

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