Bite Of Winter (Fae's Captive #3)(26)

The white beast is loosely tied to a hitching post, its bright blue eyes surveying the road, its horn iridescent and catching the light. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in all my life.

“Careful, Taylor.”

“This is just like ‘Legend.’”

Leander gives me a blank look.

“It’s this amazing eighties movie. It has Tom Cruise. And that girl from ‘Ferris Bueller.’”

The blank look doesn’t abate.

“In the movie, there are two unicorns; the last ones. And the lord of darkness wants them killed so the sun will never rise again. The princess screws up and gets one de-horned and one captured, and—”

Leander’s nose wrinkles. “The princess doesn’t sound very bright.”

“Oh, but she is!” I step closer, and the unicorn focuses on me with his big blue eyes. “In the end, she defeats darkness by sacrificing herself. The unicorns are saved, and the sun rises.”

I reach out toward the unicorn’s mane. “May I—” I take a deep breath. “Pet you?” I expect it to simply eye me haughtily or bow its head in gracious assent.

Instead, it speaks! “Sure.” It’s a deep, beautiful tone that reminds me of a clarinet, and I almost fall over dead from excitement.

“Thank you.” I run my shaking hand along his mane. It’s soft like rabbit fur instead of coarse like Kyrin’s.

“You didn’t ask me where.” He blinks.

“Oh.” I pull my hand back. “I’m sorry. Where may I pet you?”

Leander puts a hand to his mouth.

“What?” I ask him.

“Nothing.” He gestures to the unicorn. “Go ahead.”

I swear he’s hiding a smile or perhaps a laugh, but I don’t have time for him. Not when I’m standing next to a real, live unicorn. Best. Day. Ever.

“Put your hand gently on my back,” the unicorn instructs.

I run my hand along him, and he gives a low nicker. “Like this?”

“Perfect. Now run up to my mane slowly.”

“All right.” I slide my fingers along his rabbit-soft hair and up to the crown of his head.

“Now down my muzzle.” His voice drops even lower.

A snort escapes Leander.

I ignore him. He’s clearly jealous that I’ve charmed the unicorn. “Like this?”

“That’s it.” The unicorn nuzzles against me, his soft hair like a perfect pillow along my face.

“You’re so soft.”

“Thank you.” He stamps one hoof. “Now up to my horn.”

A thrill runs through me. “I can touch it?”

“Please.”

I gently run my fingers along it, the iridescence sparkling along my fingertips. “It’s beautiful.”

“Wrap your hand around it.”

“Really?” I peer into his eyes, and he blinks slowly.

Leander clears his throat, but when I look at him, he’s sharing a look with Kyrin.

“It’s magical,” the unicorn coaxes.

I grip the base and slide my hand along it.

He nickers. “Again.”

Leander grabs my wrist and pulls my hand away. “All right. That’s quite enough.”

“Hey, man.” The unicorn turns and stares at Leander. “You don’t see me slapping pussy out of your mouth, do you?”

“What?” I stumble back, and when I glance down, I gasp and clutch Leander. The unicorn is excited. Really excited.

“Where are you going?” He lowers his head, his horn in front of my face. “Keep it up. I was getting there.”

Leander shoves his face away. “I think she’s learned her lesson on unicorns.”

“You got a problem with unicorns? Over here interrupting my handy like a swat twat.” He stamps his hooves, his nostrils flaring. “Bend over and I’ll shove this horn where—”

“Oh my god.” I stare in horror at my hand, the palm still iridescent. “You are disgusting!”

“You think I’m going to turn down some loving from a pretty little changeling like you?” He snorts again. “Next time lick your palm first. I like that better.”

Before I can even think, I slap him.

Leander bursts out laughing.

“I just slapped a unicorn.” I let Leander pull me behind him.

“You’ve had your fun. That’s the end of it, beast.” Leander backs me away from the pervy unicorn.

He tugs at his reins. “You’re lucky I’m hitched up. I’d take your girl right out from under you, winter realm trash. She’d be neighing all night long.”

“Unicorns are bad. So, so bad.” I’m dying. I just slapped a unicorn.

“Your loss, baby. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m hung like a horse.”

Kyrin snorts disgustedly.

I clap my hands over my ears. But it’s too late. Unicorns are ruined for me. My childhood dream just got crushed by a unicorn’s boner.





13





Leander





“Scarred. For. Life.” Taylor plops down at the table Gareth arranged for us at the back of the inn.