Celeste had not known real fear until she heard them discussing her life like it meant nothing.

She screamed, though it came out muffled, her body thrashing wildly against the bindings.

That stupid bird prince had forced a nullifying elixir down her throat before dragging her here, hence her powers was useless, no matter how hard she tried to reach for them.

Before anyone could ponder over the issue,

Lila snatched the dagger from Hannah’s hand, and in a blur of motion, she was already beside Celeste.

"May you never rest in peace," Lila spat, her eyes burning with raw hatred. Then she drove the dagger straight into Celeste’s chest.

Celeste’s body jerked. Her muffled scream broke into a strangled gasp as the blade pierced deep, right where her heart beat erratically beneath her ribs.

Her breath came in short, wet bursts as

pain exploded through her, consuming everything. She fought to stay alive, but it was too late. Strength was already leaving her.

Her vision blurred and the faces around her distorted, while the room tilted. A choking sound forced its way out of her throat as blood pooled in her mouth, spilling past the gag in thick, slow drips.

Her eyes remained open, frozen in that last moment of disbelief. Silence settled over the room.

Lila pulled the dagger free without a word, stepping back as if the act had cost her nothing.

"You can start now, there’s no more time."

With more time wasted, the Queen’s soul would wander away from this realm. And now Celeste’s.

The first priestess nodded, her expression solemn, gaze fixed on the now lifeless body.

She commanded, "Align the bodies side by side."

Taryn moved into action, pushing the wheeled table so that the Queen’s body and Celeste’s lay side by side with barely any space between them.

The second priestess ordered, "Give us room. Your living essence cannot interfere with this ritual. You in particular..." she said to Annequin, "your aura is too heavy. It might disrupt the process."

Whether she was telling the truth or simply seeking revenge for earlier, Annequin lifted her hands in mock surrender. "Have at it then."

She left the room entirely.

Annequin was smart. If the ritual failed, no one would say she had interfered. Moreover, she could use this time to go comfort her grieving mate.

As for the others, they stepped back as far as the room allowed. Thankfully, it was enough.

The first priestess turned to the other.

"Let’s begin."

The second nodded. "I’ll lend you as much energy as I can."

"Thank you," the first replied.

The first priestess brought out a red string which she used to bind Queen Seraphira’s hand to Celeste’s. She then turned Seraphira’s head and Celeste’s so they faced each other.

Then she straightened, her eyes fluttering close. "Fuil go fuil. Anáil go hanáil..." the priestess began with a low voice, the words heavy with meaning.

Almost immediately, the second priestess joined her, her voice layering beneath the first, strengthening it.

Just like that, the room pulsed with power, a sharp static charge like Alaric’s lightning crackling through the air, every hair on their bodies standing on end.

Seraphira’s body was the first to begin to glow. It was small at first, then glowed brighter.

"It’s working." The second priestess informed the first one who kept chanting.

Like a spreading current, the glow traveled from Seraphira’s body, seeping into Celeste’s through the red cord like liquid light.

Then it flickered and the first priestess stiffened slightly.

"I feel resistance," she whispered with a tight voice.

"Celeste’s soul must be resisting. Push through, do not let the soul drift." the second priestess urged her.

Then she placed her palm on the body of the first priestess, beginning to share some of the energy as promised.

"Do we need to do anything?" Alaric couldn’t help but ask. He hated the fact he just sat there, doing nothing.

"There’s nothing we can do except disrupt them. All we can do is hope." Lila said, her heart racing amid the calm she betrayed.

"Come on, you can do this, your majesty." She prayed in her heart.

The temperature in the room dropped drastically, their breath turning visible as something unseen stirred between the two bodies. Even greater chills broke out on their body.

The chanting from the first priestess grew louder and stronger.

"An té a éilíonn thú, diúltaím dó.

An rud a choinníonn thú, brisim é..."

Suddenly, Celeste’s body jerked violently as if something foreign was trying to force its way inside. The glow had now enveloped her body, flaring brighter.

The room pulsed with energy and the walls groaned, as if even sesame was sensing and obviously being affected by the unusual magic trying to be contained. Outside, thunder rolled and clapped loudly, heralding the supernatural occurrence.

A wisp of light entered Celeste’s body and a choking sound tore from her throat right before silence fell. The glow vanished just as well.

The priestess staggered back, the second one catching her before she collapsed completely.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then they watched with startled gasps as Celeste’s once dark hair changed entirely to purple, just like Queen Seraphira’s.

What the—?

Celeste’s eyes snapped open, her irises completely purple as she gasped like a drowning victim coming back to life. She began to thrash violently against the bindings, struggling to break free.

Hannah frowned. "Are you sure that’s the—"

But there was no room for doubt when the Queen’s magic tore through the bindings like they were paper. Then she sat up, coughing harshly.

Lila stepped forward hesitantly. "Your Highness?" she asked, unsure.

Then the Fae turned and Lila gasped.

The face staring back at her was no longer Celeste’s. It was the Queen’s.

This was not just a soul transfusion. The Queen had completely taken over Celeste’s body.

But Seraphira paid them no mind. She stared down at her hands, flexing her fingers slowly as if trying to understand this new form.

Then she spoke, her voice rough, and scratchy, "Where the hell is that bastard, Baron?"