The faerie scoffed. “Because I have ambition. I want the throne, so I did what any faerie would do.”

Val clenched her fists. “Your assassin put hundreds of innocent humans in danger, never mind your adopted sister!”

“Humans!” The faerie sneered. “What of them?”

Val took a belligerent step forward.

“Take it down a notch, all of you!” the queen barked.

Her command was irresistible, and Val backed down.

“Your understanding of your sentence is convoluted.” The queen folded her arms, wisps of smoke escaping her fingertips. “Your crimes were attempted murder and human endangerment, as Eiravel pointed out. Do you understand that those warrant immediate banishment to the prison realm without trial under Eternal Law?”

The faerie froze. The bravado leaked from her shoulders, and her wings drooped. “Yes,” she whispered.

Banishment to a world without magic. Val shivered and touched the amulet on her chest. It was an unthinkable fate.

“Do you understand that faerie law demands your death?” the queen persisted.

The faerie slumped. “Yes.”

“Then do you consent to a sentence of thirteen years’ magical vassalship to Eiravel Stonehold?” the queen demanded.

The faerie stared at Val. “You?”

Val raised her chin. “Yes. Me.”

The faerie sneered, but her eyes held terror.

“Well?” the queen snapped. “I have other affairs of the kingdom to deal with, so make your choice, faerie.”

This was Val’s last chance to back out. She glared at the sullen, unremorseful faerie but couldn’t bring herself to say a word.

“Fine,” the faerie muttered. “I’ll enter the vassalship willingly. Anything is better than death…or the prison realm.”

The queen shivered, but the shudder didn’t end with her spine. The floor of the throne room quaked under Val’s feet.

“Anything is better than the prison realm,” Julie quietly agreed.

Val blinked, remembering that the queen who stood before her had willingly cast herself into the realm to save the world from the scourge of the Wild Hunt. She’d only survived because her adopted mother was unmagical to the core and had walked into the prison realm and back out unharmed.

The faerie folded her arms. “I still believe my sentence is unfair. I should be on the throne!”

The queen rounded on her. “Do you reject it, then?”

The faerie cowered.

“Thank the queen for her grace,” the faerie king snarled. “I would not be so merciful.”

The faerie hung her head. “I don’t reject it,” she muttered.

Val shook her head, disgusted. No remorse. No repentance. All she wants is to look out for Number One.

“Very well.” The queen turned to Val. “The binding ritual will be conducted at midnight in the heart of the botanical garden under heavy wards. Dylan will show you the exact location.”

“Why, Your Majesty?” Val asked. “Shouldn’t we get it over and done with?”

The queen’s lip quirked. “I enjoy your enthusiasm, but this is powerful, dangerous, forbidden magic. While the media know the ritual will take place, they think it’s tomorrow night. No one can be here except those I trust…and, well, you.” The queen inclined her head at the faerie.

Fourth scoffed.

“I understand, Your Majesty.” Val bowed.

“Have a day out in Avalon Town, Val. You’ll enjoy it.” Julie grinned. “I’ll see you at midnight.”

Genevieve drove through the streets of Avalon Town as Val lay back in the driver’s seat, stifling yawns. She’d grabbed a ten-minute nap from the Eternal Palace to the edge of town. In Avalon, snoozing in the driver’s seat was acceptable if one was in a vehicle as magical as Genevieve, and her eyelids felt heavy as she scrolled through her phone.

She tapped Enzo’s chat and wrote a text.

Unexpectedly have business at the Palace tonight. Think Dante can cover for me?

Enzo’s response came unusually quickly.

Business?

Long story. Explain later. Can’t get out of it. Queen’s orders.

Kid asked if he could pick up a shift tonight anyway. We’ll be fine.

Val exhaled.

I owe him one.

She put her phone down and gazed at the streets. The town bustled, so Genevieve was crawling through heavy traffic. Honks, whinnies, mad barks, and spectral shrieking filled the air. A headless man on a black stallion cut in front of Genevieve, and she honked. When the headless guy flipped her off, Val snorted and rolled her eyes in solidarity with Genevieve’s outrage.

An old lady shuffled along the sidewalk, leaning heavily on her stick as she walked a three-legged dog with sulfur fumes rising from its jaws. The dog barked at a young centaur, who cantered down the sidewalk on spindly legs, tossing newspapers into postboxes with an archer’s accuracy. A gaggle of children with pointed ears and long hair followed, their uniforms proclaiming they were from THE ESMERELDA PENDRAGON SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL ELVES. The harassed-looking weredog in charge of them ran distracted circles around the group, keeping them together.

“Nothing like this town, huh, Gennie?” Val mused. “So many different species working together.”

Genevieve flipped her dials in excitement.

“Where are you taking me, anyway?” Val straightened, stifling another yawn, and raised her seat as Genevieve turned into Avalon Plaza.

The large square with its many-colored cobblestones was almost invisible, thanks to the thick traffic. Pedestrians, carriages, riders, and cars hustled this way and that, disappearing into one of the six streets branching off the plaza or vanishing through the portal to New York City. Genevieve halted to allow an army of young wereelephants to stroll over the crossing. The trunk of each was wrapped around the tail of the one in front of them. They were wearing school uniforms as well.

“School traffic,” Val grumbled. “Hate it.”