“I always do,” he said tightly, and then he gave her a half-hearted smile. “I would just hate for her to be caught by someoneoutside of Harmony Glen, someone who would or could hurt her.”
“That won’t happen.”
“How can you be so optimistic?”
She shrugged. “Worrying and fearing the worst won’t help this situation. So we’re going to focus on finding her and bring her home instead.”
Finn smiled at her and nodded.
She was worried about this idea that Pearl could be hunted for her blood or her horn, but then again not everyone out there was as accepting of monsters, which was a sad thing indeed.
Chapter
Nine
Finn was frantic. He was trying so hard to hold back that fear inside, but the last time Pearl had taken off like this during a particularly bad cycle, she’d gone out of town. Far out of town. She was a fast runner when she was in her unicorn form.
He gripped the steering wheel tighter and tried not to speed too much. The last thing he needed was a ticket.
He glanced over at Margaid, sitting next to him. She looked just as worried as him. It was sweet of her to care so much. He didn’t feel so alone in this moment. She met his gaze and gave him a brave smile, which made him feel better. It sucked that their date was ruined, but he was glad she was right here by his side. No one else, outside of the tight-knit community, would do this with him.
The fact that he could trust her with this meant so much.
“Do you know where to start looking? Does she go to the same place every time?” Margaid asked.
“She does. Sometimes she goes to the woods, but most often, she goes to the place where I’m heading.”
It was where they all went after the lightning strike and fire happened, the place where the first responders and recovery team had brought what remained of their father ashore.
It used to be a special place by the lake where their father would take them. A little cove with a beach and a park. Just outside the limits of town. Pearl used to love it there. The place fell into disrepair after it changed hands. Almost as if it represented their feelings about it. So, whenever Pearl got out and started to run, she went straight for that spot.
They left Harmony Glen and he turned down a small gravel road that went up the far side of the lake, and it wasn’t long before he got to the old gate, now boarded up. He parked his truck.
“Is this someone’s property?”
“It used to be, but then it was bought by the next town over, but they haven’t done anything with it. It used to be a park.” Finn climbed over the gate with ease.
Margaid hiked up her dress, exposing her supple, freckle-covered thighs, which made his blood heat with need. She froze at the top. “A little help? That’s big drop down, you’re much taller than me.”
He chuckled and then grabbed her waist, hefting her down to the ground. He loved touching her, he loved being close to her. He just wanted to be with her.
“I’m glad you’re helping. Unicorns tend to prefer females. I can usually calm her down, but they’re really drawn to women.”
“Anything I can do to help. I adore Pearl,” Margaid admitted, which made him happy.
“She likes you too.” They walked along the path and he didn’t call out for her, he let Margaid call her name, hoping it would be enough to have her come out from wherever she was hiding.
The farther they got down the trail was when the hairs all over his body stood on end. Something was not right.
His ears twitched. There was no sound, and then he heard a faint cry.
“Help!” Pearl called out. “Please.”
“That’s Pearl,” Margaid said.
“It’s this way,” Finn said pointing. “Through the trees.”
“Let’s go.”
