Defy The Alpha(s) novel Chapter 739

Chapter 739: Her True Intention

If Violet had ever thought she had it bad with the Free Fae’s unwelcoming nature, then Annequin had it far worse.

The party that had once been vibrant was gone, replaced instead by uneasy murmurs. Every head in the hall turned toward Annequin as she approached the dais.

Yet the foreign Fae Queen did not look bothered in the slightest. Her steps were confident as she walked through the parted sea of Fae, completely alone, without even a single guard at her side.

Violet couldn’t decide whether it was blind trust or sheer stupidity. Or perhaps Annequin was simply confident that no harm would come to her.

Violet knew her mother would never strike an outsider lightly—at least not without cause—but even so, the display was unsettling.

Annequin stopped at the foot of the dais and, for the first time since entering the hall, inclined her head. It

"Queen Annequin of Astaria," she said clearly, her voice carrying through the vast hall, "greets Queen Seraphira of the Free Fae."

The moment the name Astaria left her lips, the air shifted.

A ripple of murmurs swept through the Free Fae. Heads leaned together while the whispers grew louder, and incredulous. They had always known, in theory, that other Fae realms existed beyond their barriers, but knowing and seeing were not the same thing. To have another Fae queen standing on their sacred ground felt unreal. If not invasive and dangerous.

Queen Seraphira rose from her throne and the movement alone was enough to quiet the hall. She descended the final step of the dais and stopped at its edge.

Her gaze rested on Annequin.

"You may rise," Seraphira said.

Annequin straightened immediately, lifting her chin as she met the Free Fae Queen’s eyes.

Seraphira turned then, not to Annequin, but to her people.

"I know this moment is unsettling," she began. "I know many of you are confused, even angered. But this was always inevitable."

The murmurs lowered, though they did not disappear entirely.

"The barrier that kept us hidden has fallen," Seraphira continued. "And when walls come down, visitors will follow whether we welcome them or not. But Queen Annequin has come not with armies, nor demands, but with an open heart, to honor the debut of our princess. That, at the very least, deserves acknowledgment."

Annequin in question remained still, her expression unreadable.

"We have lived in secrecy for generations," Seraphira said. "And while it has kept us safe, it has also kept us unseen and unknown. Tonight is proof that the world beyond us exists, and that change, while uncomfortable, is not always a threat.

"So let us show the Queen of Astaria who the Free Fae truly are. Let her witness the beauty, the magic, and the strength we have preserved all these years. That is all I ask, free Fae."

Silence followed her words. Then, slowly, the tension eased just enough.

Some of the Fae straightened, their expressions thoughtful. A few nodded, moved by their queen’s conviction. Others, however, remained stiff and distant, arms crossed, and their eyes wary as they watched Annequin.

The divide was clear.

Queen Seraphira returned to her throne while Rhara directed Queen Annequin toward her assigned seat among the honored guests.

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