Holy freaking crap. It was one thing to stumble across a hurt unicorn, but to learn that someone was intentionally targeting them. That was a whole new level of evil.
"Is there any way we can help?" I asked, unable to keep silent any longer. "We're not here to harm you - quite the opposite, actually. We want to protect you and your kind from whoever is doing this."
The unicorn regarded me with curiosity, like it wasn't used to being addressed so directly. Its gaze flicked between me and Wade before settling on Beth, who continued to sing her heart out despite the tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Your intentions are pure," the unicorn sang, its song becoming more upbeat. "The danger is great, and I fear that even with your aid, we may not be able to stop what is coming."
"Then we'll just have to try our hardest, won't we?" Wade replied through song, tears shining in his eyes. "We can't let whoever is doing this continue to hurt innocent creatures like you."
"Agreed," Beth sang as she wiped away her tears. "We'll find out who's behind this and put a stop to it once and for all."
"There you go." Wade stepped back and gave the unicorn room to move. "You should be able to walk now but take it easy. Your leg will need some time to fully heal."
The unicorn hesitated for a moment, testing its newly freed leg. A tentative step forward, followed by another, and then it was off, running into the woods, its graceful gait marred only slightly by a lingering limp.
I kept watching the area where the majestic animal had disappeared. "That was incredible."
"Definitely not something you see every day," Beth said, her gaze also still fixed on the spot where the unicorn had vanished. "Thank you, Wade. You were amazing."
"Couldn't have done it without your singing," he replied, grinning as he wiped his hands on his jeans. "We made a pretty good team, didn't we?"
A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I nodded in agreement. Our little rescue mission might have been unexpected, but it had been a definite success.
Wade chuckled, tucking his hands into the pockets of his cargo pants. "I've been around magical creatures long enough to pick up a few tricks. Unicorns are especially sensitive. They respond well to kindness and music.”
I bit back a laugh as I watched them exchange compliments, both clearly trying to outdo each other in the expertise department. It was adorable, really.
"Hey, guys," I said. "What do you think we should do next? Is there any way we can find out who's responsible for hurting these unicorns?"
Wade frowned, his expression turning serious. "I'll definitely be looking into it. I have some contacts in the magical community who might be able to help. Whoever's doing this needs to be stopped."
"Absolutely," Beth said firmly. "I'll talk to my friends too, the more eyes and ears we have on this, the better."
17
EMMA
The car came to a stop,and the engine hummed beneath me as Daniel and I dropped off Wade at his place. Daniel had decided to stay here too, since we were in our neighborhood. All and all, I didn’t mind, I had stuff to do, and my mind was still swirling with everything that had just happened.
"See you later." Daniel gave me a warm kiss before heading into our house. The scent of freshly cut grass filled my nostrils as I took in the peaceful scene. I could stay here all day, but I had to go meet Beth back at the shop.
My stomach growled loudly, reminding me I'd skipped breakfast. Luckily, I always kept emergency snacks in my bag, just in case. That was something Wade and I seemed to have in common. Fishing around, I found a granola bar and tore into it with gusto.
I hurried to the shop, munching my snacks. So, unicorns were real. The world just kept surprising me. But as exciting as that was to learn, I was disturbed about why they were being hunted. Why would anyone be willing to kill such incredible creatures fortheir horns? This wasn’t something we could ignore. As soon as we had a chance to breathe, we needed to look into it.
When I pulled up to the shop, Beth was waiting for me. I barely had to slow down before she hopped into the car. "Hey, there, animal-lover-lover."
Beth rolled her eyes, but the faintest hint of a blush creeped up her cheeks. "Just because Wade likes animals and is good with them doesn't mean we'll end up together."
"Hey, I didn't say anything about ending up together, but, come on, you can't deny the chemistry between you two. It's like watching a nature documentary, 'and here we have the rare Wade in his natural habitat, attempting to woo the elusive Beth with his mastery of animal care,'" I narrated in my best David Attenborough voice.
Beth laughed at my terrible impression. She sighed, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear as we drove down the tree-lined street. "I don't know. After everything that's happened, I'm not sure I even want a relationship right now. But…" She paused. "My therapist did say it's important to keep an open mind. So, I guess it's not impossible."
"You're seeing a therapist?" I asked, surprised by this new piece of information. She'd never mentioned it.
"Of course I am," Beth said, her voice tinged with humor. "You don't think I'd try navigating the mess of my husband leaving me for my sister on my own, do you?"
"Fair point." I chuckled. "Well, I hope they're helping you."
