Page 105 of The Mating Quest

Good thing I’mlikeable.

Taking hold of the unicorn’s mane, he swung up onto his back. “Thank you,” he toldJaeden.

The Fae looked grave. “Your thanks will be finding Cormac and destroying his horde cult. They are intent on seizing power in the DarkKingdom.”

Ethan nodded. “I will, or dietrying.”

Jaeden grinned. “I advise you to holdtight.”

“I’ve ridden horses before. I know how toride.”

“Not one swift as this.” With that the Fae slapped the unicorn’srump.

Calisto whinnied and took off. Ethan swore lightly, and held on for dear life, racing away to the sound of the Fae’s amusedlaughter.

Ilana trackedCormac’s scent to the edge of the Crystal Forest. There, it vanished. Frustrated, she sat on the ground, eyeing the forest. A stream wended through the trees and then vanished into the dry soil of the BlastedZone.

Knowing Cormac, he might have washed his scent in the stream and ventured into the forest to hunt for innocents to drain their magick. She studied the trees, felt a cooling breeze. This was the Crystal Forest, a pure land where those with little magick felt protected and free to live their lives. She’d lived here for a long time, but not since Cormac died. Then she’d feared the dark magick inside her would repel the gentle Others calling ithome.

Would they run from her now, terrified? Or aid her in thehunt?

One way to tell. Ilana followed the stream, stepping carefully on the green moss- covered rocks embanking thewater.

Anxiety lessened as she advanced further into the forest. Long ago, she’d found peace here. The forest amplified her weak powers and she’d relished the feeling. But never one to stay in one place, she knew her life was wasted living in peace when Others sufferedelsewhere.

The stream wended through a magnificent moss-draped canyon, where tawny mushrooms grew in the shadows. Ilana carefully splashed in the stream to avoid stepping on thefungi.

“Hey, why did the Mage cross the stream?” a tiny voice calledout.

Ilana stopped. “Why?”

“To get away from the hallucinogenic!” another tinny voice sangout.

“Mushrooms are good for you, but don’t eat me!” another voicescreamed.

She went over to greet them. The mushrooms beady eyes brightened and one nodded. “Ilana!”

“Hi guys. Been a while.” Smiling, she patted one’shead.

He giggled. “That tickles. Ilana, we missedyou!”

“Ilana, why don’t you ever date me?” another said. “I’m a fun guy. Get it?Fungi.”

She laughed. “I get it. I missed you as well. But I’m here on serious business. Have you see a Dark Fae pass throughhere?”

“No,” came thechorus.

Worried, she glanced around. “Where are yourcaretakers?”

As if answering, a bearded gnome emerged from a small cave in the canyon wall. He wore a blue stocking cap, stood about two feet tall. Gone was his usually merry expression, as he stroked his graybeard.

“Blinkin,” she greeted him. “Where are theothers?”

“Hiding.” The gnome sniffed the air. “Something wicked this way came and they arefearful.”

He lowered his voice. “There are rumors of zombies roaming the CrystalForest.”

A chill raced down her spine. At least she headed in the rightdirection.