“Your acting hasn’t gotten any better than it was in the third-grade talent show.”
“Humor me.”
Lexi joined her friend at the computer, more amused than excited about any traveling plans. When Maggie got on a roll about something, it was better to let her burn herself out than try to stop her. “What are you going to search for? Unicorns?”
Maggie laughed. “Why not?” She typed,trying to find unicornsin the search bar, and hit enter. “Well, will you look at that?” She nodded at the first item on the list that popped up on the screen, then clicked on it. “Seven Cairns, Scotland. Recommended by the Scottish tourism board as the place most likely to spot a unicorn. Cottages available for daily, weekly, and monthly rental.”
Even though the scenic photographs of Seven Cairns pulled at Lexi, her dubious streak persisted. “Back up a page and see what else the search suggested.”
“Hmm…looks like a place to make a stuffed unicorn, a place to buy unicorn costumes, and according to AI, unicorns do not exist. How rude, dashing somebody’s dreams like that.”
“Yeah, well, there is always someone ready to dash your dreams if you are willing to let them.” Lexi chewed on the corner of her lip, ruminating about all that such a getaway would entail. She had always dreamed of visiting Scotland. According to Mammaw, her great-grandmother had been born there. “So, you’d be willing to handle my practice and make this your home base while I was gone?”
“Absolutely.”
Lexi fully trusted Maggie. They’d been best friends since preschool. “You know everyone on the board will help if you need them. Mammaw trained them well.”
Maggie nodded, already looking smug with victory. “I know.”
“How long do you think I should take off? I don’t want to be selfish.”
Maggie waggled her head back and forth as though weighing all the options. “I’ve heard tell that unicorns can be very elusive creatures. I would think you would need at least a month. After all, you have to settle into their habitat and make them feel comfortable enough to trust you, especially since you’re not a virgin anymore. If you were still a virgin, they wouldn’t be able to resist you.”
“Yeah, well, we can’t exactly un-ring that bell now, can we?”
“Nope. That proverbial ship has definitely sailed.” Maggie tapped on the keyboard again, then hit enter with a flourish. “I sent Seven Cairns your name and email address. The rest is up to you.”
Another shiver rippled through Lexi, but this one was different. It was almost like the feeling she had always gotten whenever Mammaw praised her for a job well done. This must be the right thing to do. If Mammaw took the time to smile down from heaven, then it had to be the right decision.
“Here’s to Scotland and unicorns,” Lexi said.
“And finding the change the cards say you need.”
“Amen.”
* * *
June1811
Sevenrest Manor
Highlands of Scotland - within the Fae world of the Seventh Realm
Queen Nyna,Prince Jeros’s mother, exploded into the conservatory as if charging into battle. “Ye canna stay here at Sevenrest forever. No son of mine cowers. My son knows his duty to the Realm and accepts it.”
A heavy sigh escaped Jeros as he turned from the window and faced the woman who had never cared about or understood him, nor ever been the least inclined to try. “Good day to ye as well, Mother, and how are ye this fine beautiful morning?”
“How do ye think I am? We arranged this marriage to appease the Fifth Kingdom, and ye failed to appear for the announcement. Failed to represent the Seventh Realm as it should be represented. How the devil do ye think I am? We are on the brink of revolution. Is that what ye wish?”
“Screeching is unnecessary. My hearing is impeccable, I assure ye.” Jeros strolled alongside the wall of windows and concentrated on the peaceful view of the trees gently swaying and fluttering in the wind as if dancing to music. “Princess Faeniana can marry someone else of the Realm to appease her kingdom’s agitators. I feel certain one of my lesser brothers would be more than happy to overlook her selfish wit and cruelty for the abundance of her physical attributes.” He pushed one of the taller windows open a bit wider, concentrating on the shushing of the breeze through the leaves. The sound soothed him. Kept him from saying things to his mother that he might not yet wish to unleash. “And ye know as well as I that the Fifth Kingdom will still go to war. That is what they do. Warmongers. The lot of them. Not happy unless they are stirring chaos and leaving death in their wake. Too much Unseelie blood in them, if ye ask me.”
“Ye speak of their Unseelie blood and yet it is yerself who choose to wear the mantle of darkness rather than the light.” Queen Nyna charged forward, her teeth bared and lightning flashing in her pale eyes. “Ye are full blooded Seelie. Yet ye dress like one ofthem?—”
“One of whom, Mother?” He knew who she meant. He simply wished to make her say it.
“One of those bloody Scots. Ye have always admired those mortals. For what reason, I canna fathom.” She strode forward, shaking a finger. “And yer hair should be the shining white of yer father’s and his father’s before him. Not the blue black sootiness of a wicked raven’s wing. Ye know that well enough. Ye look like an Unseelie yerself.”
Jeros restrained himself, fighting to be respectful, although he had begun to wonder why bother. “I wear the mantle of darkness because it suits me, Mother, and the Scots are a rare breed of mortals whom I respect and admire. Let it go. And no matter how much ye rant and rage, I will not marry that woman. Match her with Warlen or Ganan. Or someone else from the Court. I feel certain that someone other than myself would welcome the challenge of taking her to wife.”
