Defy The Alpha(s)-Chapter 804: Annequin’s Secret

Annequin went on,

"When the queen thought she was awakening Violet’s power, all she really did was compress it into that dome. Imagine trying to force a beast through a tunnel meant for rabbits. It doesn’t calm down. Of course it would go... " She didn’t finish. Instead, the Fae spread her hands outward, mimicking an explosion, a dangerous thrill in her eyes.

The queen of Astaria continued, "Her powers wanted a release from their cage. Violet was overwhelmed all at once, and she panicked. Her unmaking ability—" she suddenly stopped and huffed. "Can we just call her power the Null or the Devourer or something? ’Unmaking’ is quite a mouthful, don’t you think?"

Violet lifted a brow. She was going to kill this bitch very soon.

"Atomization," Alaric said.

"What?" Annequin blinked, clearly lost.

"If we’re going to give it a name, that would be the accurate one."

"Dude," Roman said flatly. "That sounds way worse."

"Can we go back to the story, please?" Griffin cut in. "Or am I the only one being told Violet’s powers are sentient?"

Annequin took the cue.

"So she—"

"Lost control," Asher cut her off.

His voice was calm but edged with challenge as he continued, "Magic is an extension of one’s will. How can you be certain her power is sentient simply because she spared a few people from being obliterated in the past?"

His gaze locked onto hers.

"With enough training and discipline, one can manipulate and direct their power to certain degrees."

No one else spoke, watching the exchange with quiet interest.

"You’re right," Annequin conceded. "But you forgot one thing." Her eyes gleamed. "I have a sentient ability too and we know how to recognize one another. After all, no amount of discipline could have controlled that much destruction during the North Pack..." She trailed off mid-sentence as something clicked.

A slow, unsettling smile spread across Annequin’s face. Her eyes slid back to Asher.

"But of course, you already know that, don’t you, Asher Nightshade? You just wanted to know how I knew about the North Pack incident."

Oh. Everyone stared at Asher. That was a trick question.

Asher’s gaze hardened.

"How do you know about the North pack incident, Annequin, Queen of Astaria?"

A subtle tension rippled through the training grounds. Even the fresh morning air that drifted across the field seemed to pause. The Cardinal Alphas had gone taut, ready for a fight.

Annequin watched them with lazy amusement.

Then, slowly, like peeling off a mask, her expression changed. A fiendish smirk curved across her lips.

"You certainly didn’t think you were the only one with mental abilities, Asher Nightshade. You’d be surprised how easy it is to sift through a wolf’s memory."

Mental ability?

Violet and the guys stared at one another, horrified. You have to be kidding.

Annequin went on, her tone taunting.

"This is the Fae realm. Has no one taught you lesson one-oh-one of visiting these lands? Always put up a mental shield." Her voice dipped, playful and dangerous. "We are tricky creatures after all."

No one saw Violet move. One second she was standing beside the others and the next, her fist slammed straight into Annequin’s face.

Annequin staggered back a step, more from surprise than pain.

"How dare you!" Violet snarled.

Before anyone could react, Violet swung again, landing a second punch that snapped Annequin’s head sideways.

"You went through their fucking minds?!"

Her voice shook with rage. The air around her trembled dangerously, magic stirring beneath her skin. She would have done far worse, but Griffin moved faster.

He stepped in behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and hauling her back before she could launch herself again.

"Calm down, Violet," Griffin said firmly, holding her against his chest.

Violet did calm down. At least physically. But inside, she was still burning.

Annequin straightened slowly, wiping a trace of blood from the corner of her lip.

Then, to everyone’s surprise, she laughed.

"Oh, come on, If I didn’t want you to know about my mental ability, do you really think I would have mentioned the North pack in the first place?"

That made them pause.

So she had revealed it intentionally.

Alaric crossed his arms, his tone dry.

"So we should thank you for revealing that you’ve been strolling through my memories without my permission."

Annequin tilted her head.

"Oh, not just yours, darling."

She pointed casually at Griffin and Roman.

"All of yours."

Then her gaze slid to Asher.

"Except his, of course.. He would have figured it out immediately. Even then I had to be careful so he wouldn’t suspect me."

She said it as casually as if she hadn’t just confessed to mentally violating them.

Annequin dusted off her sleeve.

"You boys should be careful about how openly you leave your minds wandering in the Fae realm. The Free Fae like to claim they’re benevolent. But make no mistake." Her eyes glinted. "Every Fae is capable of evil."

Roman’s lip curled, a low growl rumbling in his throat.

"Why are you telling us this?" he demanded. "You just admitted to taking a trip through my head and I don’t like that."

And yes, he looked one second away from tearing into her.

Beside him, Violet’s voice came out dangerously quiet.

"Why are we still talking?" Her eyes flashed with Thalia’s fury. "I should just kill her already."

How dare this bitch invade her mates’ minds.

Mine.

Violet’s fingers curled into claws.

She would rip Annequin’s throat out.

Annequin raised both hands lazily.

"It’s actually a peace offering."

The words left everyone surprised.

"I know we didn’t exactly start on the right foot, but I’m willing to start over."

"Not happening," Asher said flatly.

His eyes were cold.

"I don’t trust you."

He informed Violet.

"I’ll speak to the queen. She’s leaving the Free Fae today."

"Then you’ll have no one to train Violet." Annequin argued.

"No need," Asher replied. "You already told me her powers are sentient. I’ll take it up from there."

"Can you really?"

Asher’s brows drew together.

"You are her mates. That means she cannot harm you and that puts her training at a standstill." Her eyes slid to Violet. "She needs to learn how to control that Unmaking ability. And for that, she needs to be pushed."

She looked back at the Alphas.

"But since she can’t harm you as her mates, how exactly is she supposed to learn?"

Understanding dawned across Alaric’s face.

"That’s why you wanted us here," he said slowly. "We were supposed to be your test subjects."

Annequin shrugged.

"Who else would volunteer? The entire realm is terrified of the princess."

Violet snarled.

"Don’t listen to her."

Her voice burned with stubborn determination.

"We’ll find another way to train me."

Her glare locked onto Annequin.

"She’s leaving today."

"Oh, you don’t want to do that." Annequin said, though there was a strange tension in her voice.

Violet blinked at her.

"Excuse me?"

She stared at Annequin as if the Fae had suddenly lost her mind.

"What makes you think I won’t?" Violet challenged, folding her arms as she looked at her expectantly.

Annequin didn’t answer. Her silence stretched just long enough.

Violet’s lips curled into a wicked smirk.

"Thought as much."

Satisfied, she turned to leave. She had barely taken a single step when—

"Please!"

Violet stopped so abruptly the sand shifted beneath her boot. Her brows shot straight to her hairline.

Did she just hear... please?

Slowly, she turned back.

Annequin stood where she had been, but the smug confidence that usually dripped from her expression was gone. In its place was something far less comfortable.

Anxiety.

Violet stared at her.

"What did you just say?"

Annequin made a low, irritated sound in the back of her throat, like the word itself tasted bitter. Begging clearly didn’t suit her.

She looked like she’d rather swallow glass.

Finally she muttered through clenched teeth, "I said... please."

Violet and Asher exchanged a look. Oh, something was very wrong. Annequin had far too much pride for this. The spoiled queen practically breathed arrogance.

For her to beg?

No.

They were missing something.

Asher stepped forward, his voice careful.

"So why can’t she kick you out of here?"

Annequin groaned, dragging a hand down her face.

"Fine," she snapped. "You want the truth? Here it is."

She looked away for a moment before forcing the words out.

"I can’t leave because I have nowhere else to go."

Violet scoffed immediately.

"Oh please, that’s not the truth."

She gestured at Annequin incredulously.

"You’re the Queen of Astaria. You said it yourself."

The boys looked just as confused.

Annequin sighed heavily, like the admission physically hurt.

Then she muttered,

"I was the Queen of Astaria."

Her eyes flicked back to them.

"I’m exiled."

Silence fell over the training grounds.

"My father kicked me out of his kingdom."

She crossed her arms, clearly hating every second of this conversation. "So yeah, there you have it."

Violet’s jaw slowly dropped open.

What in the Fae...