A Charm for a Unicorn by Jennifer Macaire Read Free Book Online Page A

eased, then took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “Father, you can't force Leonie to marry Sir Wulfe. Let's go find Leonie. I know where she went, and you can talk to Prince Renaldo."
    "What? She's gone to join him?” Her father blanched. “Quickly, child, there's no time to lose. We must go at once. Where is she?"
    "I won't tell you unless you promise not to force her into a marriage she doesn't want!"
    Her father looked at her, his expression troubled. “I spoke and acted in anger, and I regret losing my temper. However, I cannot renege my promise to Sir Wulfe. It's for the best, I promise."
    "How can you say that? Leonie loves Renaldo, and he loves her!"
    Her father took her by the shoulders. “I have no doubt Leonie fell in love with a handsome, young prince. But I know he doesn't truly love her."
    "But..."
    "Just listen.” His voice grew sharper. “Leonie has a charm on her, a charm that makes everyone fall in love with her. It's a sort of wild magic. She can't control it—nobody can. That's why I could never let her go to the village, or see other people. I thought, I truly thought, that Sir Wolfe's proposal was the best thing that could happen to Leonie. For some reason, Sir Wulfe is immune to her charm."
    "How could you let him marry her if he doesn't love her?"
    "Of course he loves her. And he can protect her. He's far more powerful than I am. I couldn't keep her locked up here forever, she needs a husband."
    Ann's head whirled. The prince hadn't fallen under Leonie's spell, he'd simply fallen under a spell. Ann knew about wild magic. It was the bane of magicians because it cropped up out of nowhere and was completely uncontrollable. Poor Leonie!
    Her father's voice grew more gentle. “Come, let's go fetch your sister. I'll try to talk to her with reason instead of rage.” His shoulders slumped. “I only hope that she'll listen, for Sir Wulfe's fury is not to be taken lightly."
    Ann eyed the broken shards of crystal and a shiver ran through her. “No, apparently not,” she murmured uneasily. She looked at her father. “Can we wait a little before telling him about this?"
    "It's too late, he's called a whirlwind and he'll be here shortly.” Her father grimaced and ran his hand through his hair in a nervous gesture, the first one Ann had ever seen him make. “I'd better go and reverse my spell. Come, Ann, lead the way and show me where they were to meet."
* * * *
    Renaldo tied his horse to the low branches of a hazelnut tree and made his way across the meadow. The moon, nearly full, hid behind a gauzy cloud and a light mist lay in fine swaths on the ground. The world seemed cloaked in silver, mysterious and lovely. Spider webs beaded with moonlit dew festooned the tall grass. The night's quiet was broken only by the soft gurgle of the stream and ducks quacking sleepily from the reeds.
    And then, out of the night, stepped a vision. A unicorn emerged from the mist, its horn rising in a gleaming spiral from its snowy brow. Pure white and glowing, as if cast in starlight, it had delicate, silvery hooves and eyes like pale blue moonstones. It paused in the deep shadow beneath an apple tree, conspicuous as a pearl lying on black velvet.
    Renaldo froze and held his breath. Nothing he'd ever seen, except perhaps Leonie, compared to this exquisite creature. And for some reason, Leonie came to mind as he watched it. He wished she could see it, for she'd never believe him. No one, to his knowledge, had ever seen one of these mythical creatures. Even in myth they remained elusive. A symbol of purity, he recalled. He dared not move for fear it would vanish.
    The sound of loud footsteps made him jump, and the unicorn flicked its tiny, pointed ears as if frightened.
    "Don't leave, please,” whispered Renaldo, stretching his hand out as if he could stop it, as if he could touch a dream.
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Chapter Five
Wizards and Whirlwinds
    Renaldo thought he'd see Leonie. Instead, Ann arrived,