Secret of the Unicorn (Avalon: Web of Magic #4) by Rachel Roberts Read Free Book Online

face and followed.
    “Ahh!” Ozzie shrieked, clinging to her for dear life. “Watch out for that branch!”
    Emily ducked just in time to avoid getting smacked by a gnarled tree limb. Unfortunately she failed to notice the exposed root in her path. Her sneaker caught on it and she went flying, landing with a thud in a pile of dry autumn leaves.
    “Whoooo- aaaah! ” Ozzie flew off her shoulder and landed a few feet away. “Urfff!”
    By the time they managed to sit up and make sure nothing was broken, Storm had returned. “Whatever it is, it has powerful magic. I couldn’t get near it,” the mistwolf admitted, panting.
    Ozzie nodded, brushing a twig out of his fur. “I think it’s safe to say we’re not following a basilisk,” he said. “My guess is pegasi.”
    Emily sat up, thinking back to the brief glimpse she’d caught of the creature. “I didn’t see any wings. Why do you say ‘it,’ Storm? Seemed like several creatures.”
    “ I could only make out one set of tracks ,” Storm answered.
    “Are you suggesting it’s one creature?” Ozzie asked. “They were all around us. How could one animal move so fast?”
    Emily bit her lip. “One set of tracks,” she said. “I could feel it—it’s hurting bad,” she whispered.
    She looked up to see Storm sitting directly in front of her. They were almost nose to nose. The wolf’s golden eyes glowed deep and warm.
    “ Perhaps you should open yourself to those feelings, try to follow them ,” the mistwolf suggested.
    Emily looked at the ground. “I’m afraid.”
    “Fear is the worst enemy we face. I am here.”
    Emily knew the mistwolf was right, but she hesitated. She had just healed so many, felt so much fear and suffering. How much more did she have to give? Even Adriane and Kara didn’t really know the toll it took on her.
    Still, she had to reach inside and find the strength. It might be the only way to help the creature—or creatures—that clearly needed her help. “Okay,” she said. “I’ll try.”
    “Hang on to me.”
    Emily reached around the wolf’s neck and hugged the animal close. Doing her best to keep her mind clear and still, she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, exhaling in a whoosh.
    Soft fur against her cheek, Emily smelled pine and forests, clean and sweet. She felt the strength of the wolf against her like a wall, impenetrable and solid.
    The rainbow jewel flashed brightly, and she reached out with her mind.
    The emotions hit her in a wallop, making her cry out in shock and pain. Instantly she felt Storm’s iron will bolster her. “Steady, healer.”
    She stayed open, inviting the fierce pain, intense anger, and violent sorrow into her very soul. These feelings were stronger than those she had felt from the quiffles and jeeran back in the meadow. And a powerful undercurrent of magic throbbed along with these emotions, twisting them, making them stronger and more dangerous until Emily was gasping raggedly for breath.
    “Don’t run. I want to help,” she said breathlessly. Her jewel glowed with an intense blaze of color. Then all was quiet.
    Arms still wrapped tightly around Storm’s neck, she opened her eyes. Ozzie was on her shoulder, arms wrapped tightly around her neck, his eyes shut, his ferret brow furrowed in intense concentration.
    “You can let go now, Ozzie,” Emily said, pulling away from Storm.
    Ozzie’s eyes flew open and he leaped back.
    Emily gave each of her friends a kiss. “Thank you, both.”
    “No problem,” Ozzie said proudly. “Did you get through?”
    “I don’t know.” She got up and started into the forest. “This way.”
    Storm and Ozzie flanked her as she walked, following the trail of shifting emotions. Her rainbow stone gleamed steadily with dark, murky colors. Agony, dread, and desperation pulsed through her body, grabbing her heart and squeezing it, faster and faster, until it felt as though it would burst right out of her chest and—
    “ Wait .” Storm’s voice broke