Defy The Alpha(s) - Chapter 635

Chapter 635: Pet Snake

So much for keeping watch over them.

Roman Draven’s slit pupils narrowed as he studied the picture-perfect scene before him.

Alaric was sprawled across the end of the bed, dead to the world. Of all the people to keep watch, it was Alaric who could sleep through an earthquake.

Griffin of course lay flat on his back, while

Asher, the mighty paranoid knight who’d sworn Queen Seraphira might “hack their necks” in their sleep was fast asleep too, arm slung possessively over Violet’s waist like she was some plush toy.

Typical.

Roman hissed softly in disapproval.

“Brilliant job, everyone. Outstanding teamwork,” he muttered to himself in his serpent tongue.

Fine. If no one else was awake, he’d take on the role of night watch. Not that he’d mind. He’d been itching to explore their new home anyway.

He slithered down Violet’s body carefully, until he reached the floor. Then he stopped before the door that didn’t possess a handle.

Right. The sentient door that apparently responded to “the needs of the occupant.”

Roman tilted his head and waited for the door to open, but there was nothing.

He hissed at the door. Did it not count snakes as occupants?

With a sigh, he shifted into his human form, stretching until bones cracked and the familiar warmth of his skin returned.

Then he waited for the door to open. Still, nothing happened.

Roman frowned, scratching his head. “Open sesame?” he joked to himself.

When nothing happened, he shrugged and said louder, “Open magical door?”

And the door opened right before him.

Roman’s lips curved. “Of course.” He was fucking brilliant.

Shifting back into his smaller, snake form, he slid through the gap before the door could change its mind.

The hallway beyond was quiet, eerily so. Fae magic was so thick in the air even he could feel it, not to mention every corner he turned, was lined with one or two statues.

They were all beautiful statues of animals, but there was something off about them.

Their eyes followed him, or maybe that was his imagination. Either way, he decided against testing whether they could move.

It wasn’t difficult at all to slip into the outer grounds. And if the inside of the palace was breathtaking, the outside was madness.

The air itself was light, fresh and free of pollutants that was common with their realm.

Roman couldn’t help it, he was awed. The moonlight kissed the sheen of his scales, and fireflies danced around him like tiny fairies, lighting his path. The air was rich with perfume; some flowers glowed blue, others pink, while some were shaped so strangely he half-expected them to start talking.

He slid through the foliage, rustling past fern and bloom, and it wasn’t long before something new reached him. Music.

At first, it was faint, drifting through the trees like wind. Then it grew clearer, a strange melody that tugged at the chest, threaded with laughter and the sound of dancing feet.

A fucking party in the middle of the night? That was his thing!

And just like that, curiosity—and maybe a bit of his usual recklessness—got the better of him. He slithered closer, weaving through grass slick with dew. Leaves brushed against his sides, and twigs snapped under his coils as he crept toward the glow pulsing in the distance.

Roman should’ve known better. Every instinct whispered that this was a terrible idea. Strange glowing lights in a magical forest at midnight? That was disaster waiting to happen.

But the music had him. It wasn’t just sound; it was pulling him. The rhythm slid under his skin, curled around his mind, and tugged softly like an invisible thread.

Before he knew it, he was no longer slithering but gliding, drawn forward through the foliage like a moth chasing flame.

The glow ahead grew brighter, spilling color and movement. Roman slowed, curiosity sparking in his serpent eyes as he reached the edge of the clearing.

There, beneath the enormous tree, the Fae danced.

Or rather, a kind he hadn’t seen before. They were tiny, barely the length of his palm, their bodies slender and luminous. Their wings shimmered under the moonlight, and they twirled and swooped with impossible grace, their laughter echoing through the glade.

Their skin gleamed like polished pearl, and their hair came in every color imaginable. One had flaming red curls that blazed like sunset, another wore locks of ocean blue, a third shimmered in forest green, and the blonde at their center glowed like bottled sunlight. Whenever they moved, their wings left trails of glittering dust that floated in the air before fading into faint sparks.

Music flowed from nowhere and everywhere, a melody so intoxicating it made his serpent heart throb to the rhythm.

It was the most beautiful — and dangerous — thing he had ever seen.

Roman knew he should turn back. Every instinct screamed at him to leave. No mortal, wolf, or snake had any business near such magic. But the melody coiled tighter around his mind, soft and sweet, promising warmth, laughter and belonging.

He didn’t even notice when one of them stopped dancing.

The blonde one tilted her head, her bright eyes glinting with mischief. Then she smiled widely, and far too pleased.

“What have we here?”

Her voice was pure honey, and yet Roman felt something crawl down his spine.

She swooped down, wings slicing through the air, and her sisters followed — four of them total, tiny streaks of light descending upon him. Now that he looked closely, there weren’t thousands, only four. But the music made it seem like an entire army was having fun.

“Hello there, little snake,” the blue-haired one said, circling his head with curious fascination.

“Oh, he’s adorable,” the redhead crooned, her eyes wide with glee. “Look at those green scales. So shiny.”

“Where did he come from?” asked the green-haired one, brushing her fingers through the air above his head. “I haven’t seen him in the Queen’s garden before. Look at his eyes, so beautiful.”

“Can we keep him?” the blue-haired one giggled, clapping her tiny hands. “He’d make such a cute little pet.”

Roman turned in circles, trying to keep up with their darting movements, his serpent eyes flicking from one to the other. Their laughter filled his ears, their wings fluttering so fast it felt like a storm of glitter around him.

“—a pet?” the blonde one finished, hovering right in front of his snout. Her smile was lovely but unsettling. “Oh, you’d make the perfect one.”

The others tittered, flying circles around him until his head spun.

“Come, stranger,” the blonde whispered, her voice soft as silk, “eat and drink with us. Dance with us… forever.”

The last word rolled off her tongue like a curse.

Before Roman could even blink, their tiny hands — impossibly strong — landed on his scales. Together they lifted him, wings beating in unison as gold dust spiraled around them.

Roman hissed, twisting, but it was no use.

The pixies carried him toward the canopy above, laughing sweetly as the music swelled.

Up, up, into the branches, and into whatever madness awaited him in their glittering home.