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thirty-nine

A mixture 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.

Wordlessly, Rafael faded into a black fog.

When the cloud dissipated, he was across the grove, racing towards the forest in his pooka form.

I didn’t follow him right away. We both needed time to gather our thoughts.

Why did I lack the ability to hold my tongue around him? I hadn’t meant what I’d said.

“ You chose the wrong prince.” His words had echoed through my mind a thousand times.

The truth was, he hadn’t pushed me away—he’d confessed his feelings, braved rejection.

And I’d been a coward, unable to acknowledge what I felt for him—burying it all because what else could I do? I’d already chosen his brother.

I needed to find him and apologize. I was disgusted with myself. Rafael was upset… Galen was addicted to me. I was a monster who’d come to this world to wreak havoc on everyone and everything.

As I sat there feeling like the victim that I’d just sworn I wouldn’t be, my magic shrank from me.

How was I supposed to shift in this mental state?

My pneuma had revealed itself when I’d been dancing with Raf, in a moment of joy.

It was similar to how I’d felt riding through the woods with him, flying above the clouds—a sense of belonging and exhilaration.

In each of those moments, my magic had coated my limbs like a second skin.

I just hadn’t been able to lean in and let go. Until today .

Did my magic surge around him because of how safe he made me feel? Or because of how he made me feel in general? Rolling my eyes, I imagined what smart-ass quip would come out of his mouth if he knew he brought out my inner unicorn.

Galen was the chosen heir, the man I loved. So why was Rafael the one who made my magic sing? Was I supposed to just ignore what the Oracle had said?

“The Oracle!” I gasped out loud. I had to find Raf; we needed to go to her right away.

I pushed my worry aside and visualized myself dancing with Rafael beneath a cloudless night sky.

A warm glow bloomed inside of me. It unfurled like a rose, starting in my chest, spreading down my arms and legs.

I was capable. I was strong. I was a unicorn . And then… I was.

I stared down at the pond’s reflective surface and took in my golden mane.

Dark brown eyes blinked back at me through charcoal lashes, contrasting with snowy white fur.

I had a pink velvety nose and my horn… It was magnificent .

It shined like solid opal, swirling up in iridescent shades of blush, pearl, and teal before coming to a sharp point.

As sharp as any dagger. Let them try to take my horn.

Dust clouded around me as I stomped my hooves and used my newly acquired senses to find Rafael.

Pricking my ears in the direction he’d gone, I sniffed the air and caught his scent.

I felt drunk with power as my legs gathered beneath me and flew through the trees.

This was the feeling I’d been missing all my life.

I found him in a clearing, grazing in his pooka form. He bobbed his head in my direction before slowly walking towards me. Nose to nose, we rubbed against each other in an equine greeting. Strange and yet… not strange at all.

We shifted back to our faerie forms, close enough that I could feel the heat emanating from him.

Thick silence took the place of apologies that suddenly felt unnecessary.

His soft, searching eyes told me he forgave me as he rested his forehead against mine.

Our breath mingled together while his hands moved along my arms, soothing my goosebumps…

creating new ones. His fingers trailed down my spine, causing sparks to explode beneath my skin.

And then his mouth was hovering over my parted lips.

I needed to break the trance I was under, but I felt rooted in place.

My heart was fluttering frantically, like a butterfly trapped in a jar.

I put a hand on his chest to push him away, but then I felt his heartbeat.

It was racing just as fast. It was difficult to believe that I had this effect on such a powerful male.

His lips met mine and the world stopped. The kiss was a soft whisper… tentative and unhurried. Our lips molded together and I sunk into the painfully tender moment; the minty taste of his tongue, the electricity in his touch, and the heady scent of his warm, solid body crushed against mine.

He pulled back, studying me, staring straight into my soul.

My insides were thawing, melting, gushing.

His lips dipped back down to brush against mine and I began to tremble.

Luxuriously deep and all-consuming, his tongue caressed mine.

He tugged at my bottom lip, cupping my face, as he traced my jawline with a feather-light touch.

“Raf…” His name tumbled from my mouth in a desperate bid to stop the gravity that pulled us together. Stronger than any force I’d ever felt. And then I was kissing him back, clutching his shirt to keep from falling to my knees, as we ventured deeper.

A strangled sound escaped me and then his hands were tangled in my hair, gripping the back of my head, pressing into my lower back, tugging me closer. His body was hard and hot and shaking . It could’ve been seconds or a lifetime that we stood entwined, beneath the twisting Black Oak trees.

I finally wrenched away, stumbling back in shock.

What had we just done? I held my hands over my lips like he’d branded me—marked me with a permanent vow that couldn’t be undone.

I didn’t know what to say. Words seemed obsolete to the feelings coursing through me.

A mistake… just a mistake. I couldn’t say the words out loud. It hadn’t felt like a mistake.

Raf broke the silence. “Marigold, I need to tell you—” He moved towards me and I extended a stiff arm to keep him from coming any closer.

“No. Don’t . I’m with—” My voice cracked. “I’m with your brother. I-I can’t.”

“But I—” He fell silent when he saw my panicked expression.

I chose the coward’s path and changed the subject, my voice coming out high and breathless. “The witch. I have to go to her before I can be free from my bargain. Will you come with me?”

He gave me a look that shredded my soul, then shook off the remnants of whatever he was feeling. “Yes… Right now?”

I scoffed at his response and then remembered that in one of his flying forms, we could get there in no time. I looked at the sun approaching midday and lost my nerve. “Tomorrow? Instead of training?”

He nodded. “We can come up with a plan on the way back to the castle.”

We transformed back into our animal forms and ran back to the grove, bucking and playing as we ran in circles and relished the feeling of being touched by magic.

We shifted and mounted our horses, which made me bubble over with laughter—at the absurdity of the situation. Hibiscus was extra affectionate with me, rubbing her nose against my cheek. She was grateful there wasn’t another dragon shifter to contend with.

“The witch will try to kill you for your horn,” Raf said as we rode back.

“I know. Before I knew I was a unicorn, I assumed I was something she wanted to add to her collection. Dead or alive.”

“I’ll be with you every step of the way. You wield infinite power now. You’ve just undoubtedly become the most powerful being in this world—probably Erador too. If there are other unicorns in existence, they’re in hiding. She’ll hope you don’t know your strength.”

“Can she be killed?” I asked. If it came down to me or her, would I be able to end her?

“If anything can kill her, it’s a unicorn. And maybe a dragon—that might surprise her enough that she decides to let us go without a fight.” He gave me a smile that I knew was meant to comfort me, but after what we’d shared, caused me to ache with a nauseating blend of desire, guilt, and confusion.

“The way she was drooling over you? I can’t imagine she’d let you go if she knew you could turn into a dragon. Perhaps we can both be part of her collection of oddities.” It was such a morbid thought that we both laughed.

“As long as we’re there together…” He lowered his gaze down to my swollen lips, before galloping ahead and leaving me in the dust.