"That bastard has finally done it!" Alaric cursed Baron as he urgently pressed down on the Queen’s chest, trying to resuscitate her.

They needed her dead, yes, but without a priestess and a compatible body, she was as good as gone. He needed more time.

"Your Majesty!" Taryn shouted as soon as he noticed what was going on.

Although he was aware of the plan to revive the Queen in another body, it didn’t mean he wasn’t wrecked seeing her unmoving form. He wasn’t even sure the transfusion would work.

Taryn was at her side, nearly shoving Alaric out of the way as he took the Queen’s hands in his, shaking her vigorously as if that would wake her.

Many would assume he hated Seraphira. After all, she had practically caused Poppy’s death. He had blamed her at first, but she was all he had left as a reminder of Poppy. Though Seraphira was a bit naive, she loved her people and did everything for them. Perhaps a little too much, spoiling them in the end.

"Come back, Your Highness!" he moaned, willing the Queen to wake. She didn’t.

"Out of my way," Alaric nudged him. "Right now, you’re more of a hindrance than a help."

Taryn barely got a hold of himself, watching as Alaric placed both hands on the Queen’s chest, lightning flitting around them as he tried to kickstart Seraphira’s heart.

When nothing happened the first and second time, a low, mournful groan escaped Taryn’s throat. He ran a hand through his hair anxiously. Then a pair of small arms wrapped around him in comfort.

"It’s alright, Taryn. Everything will work out," Hannah said, patting his back.

She was so small compared to him that when Taryn hugged her back, he practically swallowed her in those stacks of defined muscles.

"Sorry to interrupt your little lovey-dovey moment, but where the heck is Lila and Annequin? We have a small window before the Queen’s soul moves on from this plane," Alaric hissed, urgency in his voice.

Right at that moment, the door burst open, setting off Taryn, who growled threateningly, and Hannah, who already had a weapon at the ready, both assuming it was an enemy.

But to their surprise, it was Prince Lucien, alongside two palace guards. And not just that, he was holding onto a very familiar face.

Celeste.

"She was caught trying to escape through the borders," Lucien explained.

Everyone stared at Celeste, not just because she was an obvious enemy, but because a purple butterfly flew into the room and perched on her shoulder, staying there.

"Sweet goddess," Alaric’s lips curved to the side in delight. Right on time.

"She’s the compatible body?" Taryn couldn’t believe it.

Hannah smirked. "Isn’t karma such a bitch."

Alaric commanded at once, "Get her onto the other work table and bind her."

Lucien didn’t waste time. He gestured to the guards, who grabbed Celeste on both sides.

"What are you planning to do to me? Let me go this instant!" Celeste shrieked, struggling against them to no avail.

The guards showed no emotion, ignoring her screams as they dumped her onto the table. One of them was clearly an earth wielder, judging by the way vines sprang from the ground and wrapped around her body multiple times, securing her to the surface. They coiled around her wrists and ankles, tightening with no chance of escape.

"I am going to kill you all!" Celeste spat. "You think this is over? Baron will return, and I will enjoy watching him torture every single one of you."

Hannah scoffed from the side. "Yeah, I’d love to see him try, considering he ran with his tail between his legs."

Then her eyes darkened. "Also, you talk too much."

Before anyone could react, Hannah had already stuffed a piece of cloth into Celeste’s mouth, reducing her to muffled protests.

Taryn looked at his little monster with pride in his eyes. His idea of human females had always been fragile creatures with no stomach for violence, but not her. She kept surprising him. Then again, she wasn’t exactly human.

They were still preparing when Lila and Annequin stepped in, accompanied by two graceful Fae in white ceremonial dresses.

Priestesses. Not one. But two of them.

Although the one beside Annequin looked pale. If not traumatized. Only the goddess knew how Annequin had convinced her.

"We found—" Lila faltered as her gaze fell on Celeste. "What is going on here?" Her questioning look landed on Alaric.

"The goddess delivered the compatible body right on bloody time."

"What?" Lila blinked, then her eyes narrowed at Celeste. "Is that so?" she mused with dark satisfaction. Sure, she wanted to kill the bitch, but this was enough punishment.

Annequin chortled. "The heavens do know how to checkmate."

"You have the priestess. Here’s the body. The Queen’s already dead. I’d say we get this over with," Alaric said, impatience clear in his tone.

It was only then that Lila truly looked at the Queen and noticed the stillness.

Grief clawed at her chest, wrapping around her like a tightening coil, but she forced it down.

There was still hope.

"You know what to do," she said, nudging the priestess forward.

Annequin released hers as well. Better two than one. Just in case Lila’s priestess didn’t know her trade—though she didn’t say that part out loud.

While that was happening, Lucien moved to Zuru’s body and lifted her gently.

"I’ll prepare her for the funeral," he said.

Taryn nodded.

As Lucien passed Annequin, she tried to speak.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t—"

But he cut her off with a cold, bloodied stare and walked past her without a word.

Annequin sighed. It had been hard enough trying to win him over. But now? Her mate hated her, and that was going to be a problem.

Unfortunately, she was never one to back away from an exciting challenge. Her lovely prince didn’t know what was coming.

Game on.

One of the priestesses spoke, her gaze fixed on Celeste. "She needs to die."

Hannah lifted an iron dagger, a slow, dangerous smile forming on her lips. "So... who’s doing the honors?"