Chapter 614

Lila was quick on her feet, the lightning strike missing her by mere inches. Still, the hairs on her arms stood on end, reminding her how close that had been.
“Where did you take Violet?!” Alaric roared,
electricity sparking across his arms.
“Violet!” Griffin cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted her name at the top of his voice.
They had landed in another part of the vast garden, and that bolt of lightning had been the perfect giveaway to their location. So when Griffin shouted her name, Violet echoed back. “I’m here!”
Immediately, both men ran toward the sound.
They met halfway, with Griffin scooping her right off her feet as though she weighed nothing. He inspected her frantically. “Are you hurt?” he demanded, hands running over her arms and sides.
“I’m fine, just—atchoo!” Violet sneezed violently. “God, the flowers in this place are awful!” she groaned, rubbing her nose.
Before she could say more, a rustle came from behind them. Alaric’s senses sharpened immediately. He turned, and there was Lila stepping through the foliage. At once, Alaric moved in front of Violet, lightning crawling down his arms like glowing veins, the air humming with static. One wrong move and she’d be ash.
“There’s no need for violence,” Lila said calmly, her expression unreadable. “I lured you here on purpose. I knew Violet would never come alone without her mates.”
Only then did Alaric and Griffin really take in their surroundings. Until now, all they’d cared about was finding Violet. But as they looked around, realization struck hard.
The garden stretched endlessly, filled with strange, luminous flowers while two crescent moons hung beautifully in the sky.
“Where are we?” Alaric asked, though he already sensed the answer.
Lila straightened proudly. “Welcome to the Fae Realm.”
Even Violet who had already suspected it was caught off guard by the announcement.
The moment she’d landed here, something deep inside her had stirred, as if her soul had recognized the place before her mind could. The air was lighter, alive with magic, and it seemed to seep into her pores. She could feel the realm, breathing with it, and pulsing through her veins. If she’d ever felt powerful before in the human realm, she felt invisible here.
Still, Violet frowned. “You could’ve at least warned us—atchoo!—before dragging us through a damn portal!” She sneezed again, then cursed through gritted teeth, “Oh, for fuck’s sake—atchuh!—get me out of here already!”
Lila narrowed her eyes, unimpressed. “Hopefully you’re not allergic to flowers, Princess, or the entire realm might go into shock.”
The Fae live in alignment with nature. The trees were their lifelines. Every home, every court, even the palace grew from the living roots of this realm. Their world did not exist beside nature—it was nature itself.
Violet frowned. She hadn’t even met the Fae yet, and already she could feel the weight pressing down on her shoulders. What if they didn’t accept her? What if she was too wolfish to be Fae? What if her own mother looked at her and saw nothing but a mistake?
She suddenly didn’t seem too thrilled.
Alaric sensed her withdrawal through the bond and, without hesitation, reached for her hand. His palm was warm, giving hers a firm squeeze.
“We’re here with you,” he said simply.
It was just a few words, but somehow, they anchored her. Strength seeped back into her chest, and Violet took a deep breath. Well then, if the Fae didn’t like her, that was their problem. She could always leave this glowing, flower-choked realm and go back to Earth, where she belonged with her lovely mates.
“Come,” Lila commanded, “I’m sure the others are frantic already.”
At the mention of the others, Violet’s eyes widened, hope flaring through her like a spark. Surely, Lila wasn’t talking about Asher and Roman—was she?
Suddenly, the world felt brighter. “They’re here?” she asked, her voice trembling with excitement.
Lila answered. “See for yourself.” She summoned another portal, light rippling outward.
Violet didn’t wait for permission. She practically jumped into the portal, her heart pounding so fast it drowned out everything else.
When the light dissolved, her feet barely grazed the ground before a familiar voice called out her name.
“Violet!”
She turned just in time to see a blur of motion.
“Asher!”
She stumbled forward, and the next thing she knew, she was lifted clean off her feet as he twirled her around. It looked like a scene straight out of a romance movie, sheer, overwhelming relief radiating from both of them.
Asher didn’t wait another second. His lips crashed into hers.
Violet gasped, then melted against him, her fingers sliding into his hair as if she’d been starving for the feel of him. He pulled her closer, pressing her tight against his body until there was no space left between them. There was only heat and the sound of their heartbeat.
Asher deepened the kiss. All the hunger, all the ache he had carried since the last time together poured into it. His tongue found hers, tasting, claiming, and remembering every part of her he had missed.
Violet moaned softly, her body reacting before her mind could catch up. She held on like she would never let go, the world around them fading. They kissed again and again desperately, like two people trying to make up for lost time.
When they finally pulled apart, breathless, their lips were red and swollen. Asher rested his forehead against hers as he tried to catch his breath, staring into her eyes. Even a blind man could see the amount of affection he had for her.
Violet couldn’t help the blush that crept up her neck. Everything about Asher was always so intense, from his touch to the way he looked at her.
Then someone cleared his throat, loud and intentional. They both turned.
Violet’s heart skipped when she saw who it was.
Roman.
He rubbed his nose, pretending to look casual. “Tell me,” he said, “how in the world am I supposed to compete with that?”
Violet giggled softly. “Roman.”
But Roman wasn’t joking. It was as if he made up his mind right then to truly compete. Before Violet could speak, he closed the space between them. His lips caught hers, hot and sure.
Violet gasped, hands gripping his shoulders, and the next thing she knew, her feet were off the ground. Roman lifted her easily, her legs wrapping around his waist. His hands slid down to her bottom, squeezing hard, his groan deep and raw.
God, it had been a while.
Unlike Asher’s kiss that burned like fire, Roman’s was pure sin—slow, rough, and dirty. He kissed her like he wanted to taste every breath she took, grinding against her in a rhythm that made her dizzy.
Their moans mixed, filling the air, their bodies moving like they were caught in slow music only they could hear. Heat coiled through Violet, every nerve alive. She wanted him, badly. Her hands fumbled against his chest, ready to tear through the layers between them—
Then her eyes flew open.
People were still watching,
“Fuck my life,” Violet whispered under her breath, face burning hot.
Roman just grinned, whispering against her lips, “Worth it.”
Violet smiled at his antics. Roman would be the death of her.
Then she turned and froze.
A group of Fae stood before her, dressed in intimidating armor. Their bright eyes were fixed on her. Six of them in total were tall, elegant, and had this otherworldly aura to them. They didn’t speak, but their stares said everything. They were studying her, weighing her, as if trying to see if she was truly one of them.
What was she supposed to do? Violet had no idea. Her heart thumped in her chest, and though she tried not to look nervous, she could feel their scrutiny crawling all over her skin.
She wasn’t like them. Not entirely. Their pointed ears, their perfect skin — everything about them screamed power and grace.
And she was just Violet.
Then, almost unconsciously, she dropped the glamour that had been hiding her true form and her reflection changed. Her ears weren’t as sharply pointed as theirs, but they were subtly and undeniably Fae.
Oddly enough, Violet felt lighter. It was as if she could finally breathe again.
Lila stepped forward with a proud smile. “They’ve come to welcome the princess to the palace.”
At once, all six Fae dropped to one knee, their heads bowed.
“Your Highness,” they said in one reverent voice.
Violet blinked, unsure how to respond.
From the side, Roman whistled. “Well, would you look at that. Our little mate’s got worshippers now.”
Violet’s cheeks warmed.
Then Lila said, “It’s time to go. Your mother awaits you, Violet.”
Her mother.
Violet’s stomach turned. Her fingers trembled slightly, but before she could overthink it, the Fae soldiers rose and parted, forming a path.
Lila led the way, while Asher reached for Violet’s hand, his grip firm.
She managed a small smile and nodded.
“Fine then,” she whispered. “Let’s do this.”
What’s the worst that can happen anyway.