No one loved her mother. Not even her daughter. It was what had turned her mother into such a horrible beast.
With her mother’s power and position came such paranoia that Meara had long ago convinced herself no one could be sincere. She’d expected Gisela to hate her and so, by her own actions, Meara had guaranteed that outcome.
As a child, she’d done her best to love her mother.
But cruelty had crushed that love beneath her iron hooves.
And so Gisela had learned to keep her head low and care for no one.
Now…
She wanted the world to see her and more than that, she wanted some of what she’d seen. Did that make her greedy? To want a friend?
Someone to treat her with kindness?
“I do have one form I prefer over the others.” The truth was out before she could stop it.
“That is?” he asked.
Gisela shook her head, then did what she’d never done around anyone else.
She shifted into her birth form.
Xaydin gaped as he saw the black unicorn before him. As shocking as that was, it was the horn that held his attention most.
Red, but tipped with black. Never had he seen or heard of such.
A unicorn’s character and skills were always evident to those around them as their horn colors changed as their bearers did. White horns belonged mostly to children. Those who bore them were innocent and pure. Orange came from those who encouraged and passionately led others. Blue horns meant the unicorn was calm and tranquil. They were the unicorns who mediated between others or were found in administrative jobs and tasks.
Unicorn healers held green horns, while yellow signified those who were driven and creative. Purple horns were their clergy or those who held high levels of intuition or magic.
Silver horns usually came with age. It showed wisdom and sacrifice. Great leadership.
Then there were the gray horns who were indecisive and deceptive. Ostracized within Licordia as the bearers couldn’t be trusted. They were renowned for their selfish pettiness and jealousy.
But there were three colors in particular to note, with two of them being exceptionally rare.
The first of those colors was the black horns. Those who’d mastered their powers to such an extent they were to be feared by any who crossed their path.
King Dash had been such a beast for most of his life. His red horn had turned black after he killed his own father and took the Licordian throne. By that infamous black horn, everyone had known the power he wielded and the temperament to make his enemies pay dearly.
His deceased sister’s horn had been gold. Pure of heart, those who bore gold were altruistic…willing to sacrifice themselves for others. For centuries, Dash’s sister had been the only unicorn to bear a gold horn.
To his knowledge, no one since Queen Amandine.
Until Dash had been killed by his enemies. When he returned to life, he did so with something no one had ever seen before…
A black horn that was edged by gold. His dark powers were tempered by his willingness to die for those he loved. To sacrifice himself for his kingdom.
And then lastly were the red horns. While not uncommon, they were still a minority in Licordia as they belonged to those who were angry and aggressive. Those willing to fight to the death.
With the exception of Dash, Xaydin had never heard of any unicorn possessing a mixed color.
Black and red meant she was powerful.
And furious.
Yet there was more to it than that.
