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The basilisk and griffin come in to land close by and a second later, magic shivers through the air and Zayne and Thanouq are back. The men surrounding us part and they stride through. Zayne looks pleased with himself. I’m glad he’s embracing his inner basilisk.

Thanouq is still as gorgeous as ever—like a big, golden, Viking warrior—but he has a strange expression on his face as he looks at me in…awe?

Then he drops to his knees in front of me.

What the fuck?

Chapter 22

When Things get Super Weird

All around us, soldiers are dropping to their knees. Their actions spread like a particularly contagious disease until even those still on the battlefield are down in supplication.

To me?

Weird. And it sort of makes me feel like a freaking fraud.

Only Zayne and Khaosti are still standing. Zayne catches my eyes and lifts a brow. Khaosti looks shell shocked. He’s pale and still bleeding. While I watch, a shudder runs through him, and he collapses to the ground.

Time to shift.

The magic runs through me and I’m back. I give myself a little shake and then run across to where Khaosti lies unconscious,eyes closed. I touch a finger to his throat and feel the raggedy pulse. He’s just fainted. Something to hold over him later. All the same, we need to get him somewhere more comfortable than this. And Stella needs treatment as well.

I glance up, everyone is still on their knees—what is it with that?—I presume they’ve mistaken me for someone or something else. And to be honest, it’s freaking me out.

Haven’t they ever seen an alicorn before?

I’m guessing not.

Zayne isn’t acting much better. While he’s still on his feet, he has this seriously dazed and confused expression on his face.

“What?” I growl.

“You’re a flying unicorn.”

An alicorn actually. “So what? You’re a fucking great flying chicken.” Okay, I’m getting a little defensive. But see, this is exactly why I didn’t want to talk about the whole alicorn thing because I had an inkling that things would get weird. And I was right. I take a deep breath.

I am an alicorn and I’m proud.

How’s that for a mantra?

“You were…beautiful,” Zayne says. I’ve never heard quite that tone of voice from him before. I don’t like it.

“Get over it,” I snap. “Anyway, I’ve always been beautiful.” Actually, I’ve never considered myself beautiful, but that’s beside the point.

He shakes his head and then he sniggers. “Of course you have.” He looks around him at all the guys on their knees. “I hope this isn’t going to go to your head.”

“Fuck off.” I move a little closer and whisper, “It’s freaking me out. Do something.”

When he does absolutely nothing, I shuffle over to where Thanouq is still kneeling head down. I kick him in the leg. “Get up.”

He looks up. His gaze takes me in from head to feet and he frowns. I’m not sure what he expected. Maybe a horn sticking out of my head or something.

“Please get up,” I say. “We need to get Khaosti to a healer. And Stella as well.” I wave a hand toward where Khaosti is still lying unmoving on the sand. Finally, Thanouq gives himself a shake and gets to his feet. With a last frown in my direction, he addresses his men. “We need to clean the area and get the wounded to the healers. Move.”

There’s a general shuffling—the men all move at once and get to their feet, though they don’t take their eyes off me. Thanouq turns back to me. “It’s good to see you again.”

I grin. “You too.” And it is. I like Thanouq. He’s not an asshole like someone I could mention. He would have been the way more sensible option for me to fall for. But I guess I’m not that sensible. I cast a quick glance at Khaosti. He looks so peaceful unconscious. I’m not sure he’s slept since we got him out of prison. It’s like he’s scared of what will happen if he closes his eyes.