Not really an answer. She waited, silently for him to further explain, but he didn’t.
“You see up there.” He pointed to a group of stars in the northern sky. “The four faint stars next to the huntsman, Orion?” Damien said softly. “That’s Monoceros Unicornis. His constellation serves to remind all unicorns the danger humans pose to us.”
The zigzagging constellation was faint and barely noticeable next to the brighter stars. “Why would unicorns need a reminder? What happened?”
“A very long time ago, when the barrier between the magical and mortal realms was solid, there was a powerful unicorn named Monoceros Unicornis. He was next in line for the throne; a throne he did not want. Every waking moment of his life, he ran from his duties and responsibilities—always on an adventure, always dreaming of a life more than what his was. One day, Monoceros ventured far from home and walked along the edge of the magical realm. There, he spotted a human—a woman.”
Luna shifted, intrigued. “What was she like?”
“He found her enchanting,” Damien said, his gaze still on the stars above, “with her fiery red hair and emerald green eyes. But unfortunately, the barrier that separated magical and mortal lands kept them apart. They were unable to touch or even exchange a single word.”
“But they fell in love anyway?”
“Yes,” Damien nodded gently. “Every day thereafter, they’d meet at the same spot, at the same time. He would bring her objects to show her, and she’d do the same. They found ways to play silly games together and interact in their own way.”
“How romantic,” Luna whispered, picturing the quiet, forbidden meetings.
“Their love grew so powerful that eventually it tore a hole in the barrier, allowing Monoceros to cross into the mortal world. The two lovers were delighted, and they built a home together, making up for lost time. Untilthe girl’s mother became gravely ill,” Damien said solemnly. “Monoceros hated seeing his lover distraught and decided to use his magic to heal her. Her mother made a full recovery, and she was forever grateful.
“But word about a unicorn with healing powers spread quickly, and humans came from everywhere, demanding answers and their own healing. They wanted miracles, and Monoceros obliged until he was too weak to continue.”
“What happened next?” Luna asked, dreading the change in his tone.
“The humans were not understanding of his limitations. They believed he was withholding his magic from them, so they decided to take it from him. A hunt was announced to collect his horn. Monocero tried to outrun the hunters, but he was exhausted and weakened. They eventually caught him. After they killed him, they sliced his horn off and ground it into powder for medicine.”
Luna’s stomach turned.
“The murderous act was so horrendous,” Damien explained, “so vile that Mother Nature herself grieved, sending fragments of his magic to the skies above to become stars.
“His constellation is next to the hunter to always remind us of the acts humans have made against us. The stars serve to warn us to never let our guard down, especially around humans.” Damien turned to lie on his side, propping himself up with an elbow and resting his head on his hand. “That hole Monoceros created is still the only gateway between our worlds. Thankfully, its location has been lost to humans over generations—a secret we unicorns are more than happy to keep. Eloria is dangerous enough without human kings sending armies through.”
Luna stared up at Monoceros’s constellation, envisioning the ancient unicorn; it seemed like humans have forever been the most dangerous creatures to the unicorn kind.
“Can anyone just wander through this hole?” she asked.
“Yes, but it is guarded.”
She was glad that Eloria would be a safe haven, even if it meant she would never see her family again. A pang of sadness tugged at her heart, and she tried her best to ignore it . . . but the idea that she would never see her sister again tore her to pieces. Maybe once they were settled, she’d askDamien if she could send her sister a letter somehow, tell her she had made it to safety and not to worry.
“Most unicorns have no interest in the human lands,” Damien continued. “The only few who cross are mostly criminals, or those whom the various kings have exiled.”
“You exile your criminals to the mortal lands?!”
“Not me specifically. But yes, it’s common practice in other unicorn kingdoms. It’s considered a fate worse than death. Usually, their horns are cut off completely, and they’re stripped of their magic before they’re exiled. We aren’t monsters, we would not unleash a magical villain into the mortal realm.”
“What about the Darkened One? He has been causing all kinds of problems here. There’s many history books written in the blood of his victims.”
But that couldn’t be true, Luna realized. Damien had told her that Nina had cursed the Darkened One, that she’d basically imprisoned him to his lands.
At the mention of the Darkened One’s name, Damien visibly stiffened. Curious, she questioned, “Are you scared of him?”
“I’m fearful of anyone who has more power than me, as you should be.” He yawned as if to further prove his next point. “It’s late. We should try to get some sleep.”
He was right though, they should. They’d been travelling all day, and she was exhausted too. She rolled over to her side and closed her eyes, but flashes of her previous nightmares flew across her mind.
Screw this.
She picked up her blanket and placed it directly beside the only safety that had ever been real in her life:Damien. She smoothed out the blanket and waited a moment or two for him to protest. When he didn’t, she lay down next to him. As if he could read her mind, his arm wrapped around her, pulling her in. Like two pieces of a puzzle slipping into place, their bodies melded together in all the right spots. A warm sensation bloomed in Luna’s chest.
