finished eating, they began to spiral around the stones. They spun and swirled like a flock of birds.
They were, I had to admit, absolutely transfixing.
“They’re beautiful,” I whispered. I glanced at Marroc, who looked as enchanted as I was. But when he licked his teeth with a hungry look in his eyes, I realized he probably just wanted to drain their souls.
The Emperor smiled. “Listen,” he said, holding a finger to his lips.
I strained my ears until I heard a low humming that rose and fell. As the fairies danced around and around within the circle, the humming grew louder.
“They’re singing,” I whispered.
My worries seemed to fade away now. The song grew louder, and a smile spread across my face.
“Oh my gods. I recognize that song. It’s ‘Halo’—they’re singing Beyoncé! I heard it on the way over.” Baffled, I turned to the Emperor. “How do they know Beyoncé?”
He grinned. “They’re magic; they can sing what you desire to hear. You just have to know the song, to love it, and they’ll sing it. Now do you see why I brought you here?”
I listened as the fairies danced, twisting and twirling their tiny bodies in time with the music. I knew there was something I had to be doing now—something about a ring, saving the world, assassinating the High Elf royalty, blah, blah. But dancing… now that would be amazing. To simply let go of my worries, to release all the pressure on me. To twirl and sing like the fairies.
Only then did I realize I already was dancing, hands over my head, hips swaying.
Marroc was looking at me with sharp eyes, like he was ready to pounce and bite into my neck. But the dead were no fun, were they? Spoilsports.
Now, I found my legs carrying me toward the fire, and I stepped into the swirling cloud of tiny spirits. Laughing, I spun around as thousands of fairies swarmed about me like moths. Their wings fluttered, gently stroking my skin, and they kept singing.
“Can you do—” I thought for a second, trying to remember the name of the song. “Can you do ‘Single Ladies’?”
Chapter 29
Marroc
I watched as Ali danced, spinning round and round, surrounded by the glittering fairies.
Part of me wanted this to be real. I’d never seen her like this. Relaxed and happy, an expression of joy spread across her face. Drinking her would be pure light, pure beauty—the most exquisite rush.
In the firelight, her silver hair flowed around her shoulders like a waterfall, her eyes glittered like jewels, and she laughed.
But this was not real joy, no.
This was an enchantment, and I had to stop it. I turned to the Emperor. I’d slaughter him if I had to. But as I tried to stand, I found I couldn’t move, that something held me to my chair.
When I looked down, I saw that threads and cords stretched over my legs and arms. They bound me to my seat like the filaments of a spider’s web. Dark rage poured through me like billowing smoke.
Little creatures moved at my feet. From under tiny mops of black hair, the pointed faces of pixies grinned at me.
My lip curled as I looked back up at the Emperor. I wanted to explain to him that as soon as I freed myself, I’d be draining him of blood and life, but the words wouldn’t come. Icy wrath flooded my body. I tried to stand again, but if anything, the pixies’ bindings seemed tighter.
The Emperor was staring at me, his lips curled up in a half-smile. Then he leaned forward, just out of reach of my teeth.
His whisper was so quiet, only I could hear. “She’s mine now.”
Chapter 30
Ali
I danced, spinning and spinning, twirling and twirling, the fairies flying around me like tiny stars. It was a perfect rush of joy, excitement, and freedom. While I danced, the fairies sang “Single Ladies” not once, not twice, but three times, and I never wanted it to end. I was about to ask for it a fourth time when they suddenly stopped, falling silent.
They drifted around me like motes of dust in a sunbeam. Their bodies were still, their voices silent. Only their wings moved, faintly fluttering, just enough to keep themselves from falling to the ground.
“Keep singing,” I heard myself say, pleading. “Keep singing.”
But they’d stopped listening to me. They’d turned away, and I saw they were looking at the Emperor. He stood before me, illuminated by moonlight. His dark hair fell to his neck, his green