Oh...
Yeah, that made sense.
“So, what? Black horns are the unicorn equivalent of a small penis?”
His jaw went slack as he stared at her as if he couldn’t believe what she’d just said. “What?”
She snorted. “Well, why else wouldn’t you tell me?”
He was aghast. “What in the name of the Thirteen Kingdoms would make you think that?”
Did he really have to ask? “Why else won’t you tell me?” she repeated.
“Because it’s personal.”
“So you said. But what else could be more personal thanthat, that you wouldn’t tell me?”
Dash sputtered indignantly. They had dead bodies to contend with. Probably more bounty hunters coming for them. A death warrant and she wanted to distract him withthis?
Really?
Frustrated, he did what he rarely did... he explained himself. “It lets unicorns know how much power we hold.”
“Why not just say that, then?” She scowled at him. “What aboutthatcould possibly embarrass you? Unless... you have, what? Baby unicorn powers?”
“No! Wait. What? Have you not seen how much power I have, dragon?”
“Well, yeah, but I don’t know how much they,” she gestured at the bodies, “have in comparison. How would I know? I’m a dragon. So, on the grand unicorn power scale what does black mean?”
He glared at her. “I have no soul.”
Tanis froze at that unexpected, growled comment. “Huh?”
“You wanted an answer. There you go. A black horn means I have no soul.”
She scoffed at his words. “Well, that’s just ridiculous. Everyone has a soul. Who told you that?”
Shaking his head, he closed the distance between them so she could see the evil in his eyes. Evil she was sure that had quelled so many and made them flinch. Even well-seasoned warriors. “No, Lady Dragon. Truth. You want to know why everyone fears me. That’s why. When I was a youth, I killed my own father in a fit of rage. The moment I did, it turned my horn black to show the world that I have no soul or remorse. That my power is absolute, and that I am capable of anything. It is my mark of shame, and my greatest badge of honor.”
Tanis swallowed hard at his ominous tone. Well, that explained a lot. She should probably be terrified of him, too, and yet she wasn’t.
But she did have one burning question. “Why’d you kill him?”
A tic started in his jaw. “For talking too much and asking intrusive questions.”
She snorted at his sarcasm.
“Look, we need to get out of here. The tracking spell those unicorns used isn’t unique. If they found us, someone else can, too.”
He handed the bloody horns to her. “Put those in your bag.”
She looked at them in distaste. Did he really want her to touch them? They looked so disgusting. “Ew. This is so revolting. Unicorn cooties.”
He actually chuckled. “Why do I find that funny?”
“I’m adorable.”
“No,” he said, dryly, “you’re not.”
