Magic was simmering beneath my skin, whistling like a tea kettle as it begged for release. This time instead of balking, I was able to let go. Pent up energy erupted from me, mingling with his, in an explosion of golden sparks. I became light-headed as the feeling overwhelmed my senses.
Raf jumped out of the way right in time. Magic took over and transformed me into somethingother. It hadn’t hurt. It hadn’t felt like much at all, but the sensation of a new body was bewildering.
Rafael’s mouth was hanging open in awe, but he recovered quickly. “Come with me.” I staggered after him, learning how to pick up my new feet. White legs and golden hooves.
He kept a hand on my neck as he led me to the pond, while I adjusted to my new senses. My ears pricked as they took in more noise than I could process; the crunch of our feet in the grass, Raf’s breathing, small creatures burrowing underground, buzzing insects near and far. Layers upon layers of sound. And my vision had been altered too. The trees surrounding the grove were razor sharp, but color had been desaturated, like I was in a dream within a dream.
We stopped at the water’s edge and Raf gave me a wide grin, pointing to my reflection. “Take a look, Goldie. You’re unbelievable.”
thirty-eight
Iwas a…unicorn. I looked at Rafael in disbelief before shifting back into my human form and falling to the ground. He scooped me up and spun us around with excitement. “You did it! I’ll try not to take it personally—that you shifted for the first time to avoid dancing with me.”
“I think I was able to shift because I feel safe with you,” I blurted out.
His face dropped into a thoughtful expression and I immediately regretted my choice of words. We sat, staring at the horizon, staying silent as I digested what had just happened. I plucked a flower absent-mindedly, needing something to fidget with. I inhaled sharply, taken aback, when I noticed it wasn’t just any wild flower, but an orange Marigold. I turned to Raf in confusion.
He studied me, shrugging as he rubbed at the nape of his neck. “I… uh. It's nothing. I just like them.” My heart skipped over itself as I gnawed on my lip, trying to maintain a neutral expression.Breathe, Marigold.It was just a flower… well, just afieldof them. I couldn't let myself go there—I couldn't let myself think about Rafael's feelings and what might inspire him to fill an entire grove with flowers that reminded him of me. If I dug any deeper, I wasn't sure what I might discover. And it terrified me.
I cleared my throat. “So… I’m a unicorn,” I said slowly, pulling my knees to my chest. I tried to give a tight smile, but instead I grimaced. I was tired of surprises. I would’ve preferred to be a normal, boring horse, but the gods had never bothered to ask me what I wanted.
“Unicorns are as rare as world walkers… Myths amongst even magic-wielders. It’s said that your horn has the ability to channel wild magic—that it can siphon energy from any source it chooses. A unicorn’s power is supposedlyinfinitebecause of this. I’ve also heard that unicorn blood has the ability to bring anyone back from near death, which explains your healing magic.” This all sounded too good to be true, but Rafael appeared agitated.
He was fidgeting… avoiding my gaze as he continued. “The unicorn horn… it’s rumored to work even when its been removed from the body. There have been fables, historical accounts… of corrupt individualstakingthe horn—wielding it like a wand. If someone was to steal your horn, they’d have access to unlimited power. There are no known horns in existence for this reason—our ancestors destroyed them to keep power out of dangerous hands.”
“Oh… I see,” I said softly. “So… I’m to be hunted for the rest of my life.” What would the Elders do to have that kind of power? What would the Queen do? They’d salivate at the chance to cut out the middleman.The middleman being me.
I buried my face into my hands as hot tears clouded my vision, threatening to rain down my cheeks. A sob escaped me, followed by another.
Rafael pulled me into a hug, letting me soak his shirt. “You’re not alone. As long as no one knows what you are, we’ll be okay. When Louis returns, you’ll open the portal before anyone suspects a thing and we’ll get you out of this world—away from anyone that would want to hurt you.”
He was gentle with his next words. “Don’t tell Galen… Don’t let him bite you. Your blood would act as the strongest drug in existence to a cursed faerie. He can’t find out what you are, what your power is capable of—he’s too unpredictable. Do you understand?”
I peeled away from him with wide-eyed remorse. Reluctantly, I moved my hair away from my neck and showed him the swath of swollen marks and bruises dappled across my skin. I could only imagine what it looked like to an outsider… to Raf. Galen had been biting me frequently, perhapstoofrequently, but I didn’t know how to say no. And it was fine.Wewere fine. It was consensual.
For a brief moment, infinite rage flickered behind Raf’s eyes. Power rippled across the grove as trees groaned and the ground shuddered. Waves formed on the glassy surface of the pond, lapping at my feet. His face was perfectly blank, but his clenched fists were shaking. What would happen if all that powererupted? I swallowed hard, shoulders sagging, while Iwatched him stand, then pace. He was on the brink of exploding—I’d never seen him like this andI had caused it.
“Well shit,” he sighed, once he’d composed himself. I hung my head in answer.
He sat back down, taking my hand in his and said, “Don’t. Don’t be ashamed. This isn’t your fault. Galen took advantage of you. I’m sure he didn’t tell you how addicting it can be tobothparties—how he wouldn’t be able to stop once he’d tasted your blood. He might not know that you’re a unicorn, but he knows how strong your magic is. While I don’t fully understand the way cursed faeries react to blood, I know that not all magic is created equal. Yours would be like drinking top-shelf faerie whiskey… like the highest grade of opium. And he’s always been one to over-indulge. He should’ve known better. This isn’t on you.”
My hackles rose as I came to Galen’s defense. “It’s not his fault. Heneedsblood to use his magic. I was told that it’s natural for faeries to drink from each other—that it’s part of the blood-bonding ritual.”
Raf curled his lip in disgust as dark shadows spilled from him. “The blood-bond issacred. The curse has made a mockery of it. He can get his blood from the well-stocked supplies in the castle. There’s no reason that warrants him biting you, other than he’s apredator. Have you even considered the possibility that he’s using you for yourblood, for yourpower?”
My heart stopped. If he’d been trying to strike me where I was most vulnerable, then he’d succeeded. But he waswrong;I was worthy of love—with or without magic. Galenlovedme.And none of this was his fault… it wasmine.
He’d told me from the beginning that my blood had a drug-like effect on him, but I hadn’t discouraged him from biting me. Humiliation burned my cheeks and churned my stomach. If he was addicted to my magic, he’d grow increasingly unhinged if I didn’t give him access to it.
Something fractured inside my chest as I met Raf’s stormy gaze. “Because who could possibly love me forme? Certainly notyou. Your casual cruelty has hurt me in more ways than your brother ever has,” I hissed.
His throat bobbed as his mask of anger faded into surprise. “Goldie, I’m sorry. The words came out wrong. My brother’s inability to love has nothing to do withyou—”
“I’d rather be a fool in love, than a loner who pushes everyone away,” I bit back with venom. “Maybe I’ve had blinders on, maybe I’m in over my head, but at least I’mtrying. One day, you’ll have nothing left but your shadows, with only yourself to blame.” My voice cracked as I continued. “And I guess now is as good a time as any to tell you—Galen is coming with us to Erador.”
thirty-nine
Amixture of devastation and shock passed over Raf’s face before it hardened to stone. We stared at each other, the energy in the air palpable. It felt as if a crack of lightning might strike at any moment. I’d welcome it, if it meant ending this miserable tension.
