She stood in the center, facing Merlin. His gaze dipped to her amulet, then returned to her face. “Eiravel Stonehold,” he boomed, “do you understand the depth of this magical binding?”
Val hesitated. “No.”
The corner of Merlin’s lip quirked beneath his well-kept mustache. “I’m not surprised. This is ancient, forbidden magic, and for centuries, I thought it was lost. Let me explain. A magical binding is similar to a geas. Do you know what that is?”
“An almost unbreakable magical vow.” Val rubbed the back of her neck. “They can be evil or good.”
“Yes.” Merlin nodded. “Geasa are linked to the creation magic that runs through every Lunar Fae. Magical binding works in a similar manner. This is more than a vow, though.” He nodded at the obsidian cage. “This magical binding will alter the essence of this faerie’s being. As her biology and magic tell this faerie to fly, breathe, and think, it will now tell her to obey your commands. She will be totally in your control. Do you understand?”
Val swallowed. “Yes.”
“Then bring out the vassal!” Merlin’s voice rose. “Let the binding commence!”
Flames hissed, and a ball of fire formed in Guinevere’s fist. She held it up as a warning. Two knights opened the obsidian cage. Fourth fluttered out and hovered at the circle’s edge, her head turning left and right.
“Flee if you choose, faerie,” Guinevere growled, ball increasing in size. “Understand that I will use deadly force to contain you.”
The faerie stopped and gritted her teeth. Her tiny hands curled into fists, and she fluttered into the circle. A shudder ran through her as the moonlight bathed her body. Like Sinatria, she wore a dress woven of grass and leaves, although hers was torn and bloody in places.
“Go on, Hat,” the queen murmured.
Merlin closed his eyes. Val froze as tendrils of silver magic grew like creepers across the circle. They found her boots and wound around them, then climbed her legs. Her amulet throbbed like galloping hooves as the magic curled around her torso.
Val couldn’t help closing her eyes, soaking in the beauty of the lunar power. This magic was unlike anything else in the world, able to transform, heal, create, and command. It was as old as the world and as new as the dawn.
The faerie gave a strangled gasp. Val opened her eyes as the magic wrapped around Fourth’s delicate arms and legs like shackles. She struggled, but the tendrils of light seemed stronger than iron chains.
“Hat—” the queen began.
“By Eternity Law, I may not proceed with the ritual except by her consent,” Merlin grumbled. “Snowflakes.”
“Hat!” Julie snapped.
“Fine. Do you consent?” Merlin demanded. “Or are you stupid enough to sentence yourself to death or the prison realm?”
The faerie stopped struggling. “I consent,” she growled.
Merlin nodded, and more coils of light wrapped around the faerie’s body. She twitched and shivered, then cried out. The queen winced, but Merlin, teeth gritted, pressed on. The faerie squirmed.
Val gasped as a new sensation shot through her chest. It was painless, yet it made her want to wriggle, too. Something now connected her to the faerie, and for a moment, Val felt the buzz of Fourth’s wings like they were her own.
As quickly as the magic came, it was over. The light slowly dissipated into a thousand silver sparkles that hung around them in a brilliant curtain, then vanished into the night. The amulet stilled, and the fae’s glow dimmed.
The faerie fluttered to the ground and landed on her hands and knees in the deep grass, panting. None of the knights moved to keep her from running away.
“That was it?” Julie asked.
Merlin nodded, pleased. “I’ve still got it!”
“Is she okay?” Val asked, staring at the faerie.
“A little uncomfortable, no doubt, but she’s fine,” Morgan assured her.
The queen folded her arms. “She’s fine for as long as you allow her to be, Val.”
Val rubbed the back of her neck. “Uh, what do you mean?”
“I cannot overstate the depth of the magical binding,” Merlin chipped in. “Eiravel, this faerie must do everything you order her to. It is part of her biological and thaumatic makeup now.”
Val stared at him.
“If you tell her to stop breathing,” the queen added, “she will.”
Val shuddered.
“You could kill her with a word,” Merlin told her, “and maybe you should.”
Julie cuffed him on the back of the head. “Hat!”
“Sorry,” Merlin muttered.
“Merlin’s ass crack,” Val whimpered.
“Hey!” Merlin protested.
“Sorry.” Val ran a hand through the locks on her new brunette wig. “This is intense.”
The faerie wobbled to her feet and pushed her shoulders back. She clenched her jaw so tightly that a lump appeared on her cheek.
