The Unicorn And Her Mysterious Mate

Poison

Skye POV

As Chaos loaded the wagon, the creaking of the wooden wheels echoed through the air. Rook beckoned me over with Malachi and Talon, and we gathered around the map. The aged parchment rustled in the breeze as Rook pointed to various markings.

"One of the reasons no one has been successful at finding the Unicorn Kingdom is because it requires four keys to unlock it," Rook explained. "The map shows where the keyholes can be found, as well as the general area each key is located. But no one has ever been successful at locating the keys."

The scent of ink wafted from the map, its faded lines revealing the treacherous journey ahead. Rook continued, his voice laced with caution, "The key locations are spread out in this realm, not in the safest areas. The first key will require us to leave the wagon in a safe location and travel on foot. That alone will take a few days. It appears the key is near some of the caves in the old dragon territory. Luckily, we are not far from where we need to park to start that journey."

I maintained a neutral expression as I listened, aware of Rook's true motive for keeping me close. Malachi and Talon departed to prepare, leaving Rook and me alone. His gaze met mine, and he spoke again, his words dripping with authority.

"You are being too friendly to the lycan," he asserted. "You mean Chaos, he has a name," I muttered under my breath. Rook's stern expression deepened as he continued, "You are to stop speaking with him unless giving orders. He is nothing but a slave. Understand, this is no vacation for him. He is serving time. If you continue offering him kindness and showing interest in him, he will be the one to pay the price. Understand?"

Anger surged within me, but I couldn't risk exposing my true nature. Rook's intense gaze bore into me as he spoke once more, his voice filled with reminiscence.

"It's crazy how much you look like a unicorn I once captured on orders," he chuckled. "Almost identical. And come to think of it, she was with child. She told me of this special orb in the kingdom, one that could grant one wish. She tried to barter with me, promised she would take me to it if I released her, as she had to protect her child at all costs. She showed me the orb, since your kind possesses the ability to get into anyone's mind. That orb is the reason I want to find the kingdom. I thought her a fool for sharing such knowledge before her promised freedom. So, I delivered her to the Fae Kingdom, as ordered. She was said to be the last of her kind in this realm. And then, I discovered the kingdom vanished. I was the fool in the end. But it would seem luck favors me, as it is now very probable that her child is the one who will lead me right to the treasure," he laughed once again.

"Your evil," I snapped.. "I did what I had to, to survive, and I still do. That's not evil. Your friend King Jade may believe he can create a safe realm, but one person can't control everything. This realm is far more dangerous than he even believes it to be, and in order to survive, you do whatever it takes here," he claimed confidently.

"Now, go get in the wagon. You have a long journey ahead of you. And get rid of those gloves; the power in your hands will be needed," he ordered, his voice commanding. My heart pounded in my chest as I reluctantly took off my gloves, feeling a sense of vulnerability wash over me. I tossed them on the ground in front of him, my palms tingling with the absence of their familiar weight.

I should be smart and run now. Even if my identity is released, I am confident I could make it back to Jade and then home. But Rook is right. Those loyal to Jade may turn on him for hiding my identity. Coming here may have been a big mistake. I wanted to learn more about myself and learn to control these powers, if it was even possible. On top of that, I had the earth crystal within me, another great power that I had to keep hidden and one that required me to be in control.

For now, I must do as Rook orders and find a safe way to escape and stop him from spreading who I am. I walked towards the wagon, Chaos almost done preparing it. I turned my gaze away from him quickly, not wanting to risk causing him any harm. I sat down, the worn wooden seat creaking beneath me, and soon everyone else followed suit. The wagon began to move.

Luckily, no one bothered me as I closed my eyes, seeking solace in the darkness behind my eyelids. I have no memories other than my birth mother's voice speaking to me as a child, and even that memory is hazy. I really did not want to let Rook's words get to me, but they were. I couldn't let them infiltrate the Unicorn Kingdom, even if it meant sacrificing my own desires. Rook will never get his hands on the orb, if it truly exists. I will do everything in my power to protect what remains of my kind.

About an hour into the wagon ride, we hit something, causing us to stop abruptly. Rook and Talon got out to investigate, only to find that we were blocked by a large tree that had fallen across the road. "Lycan, it looks like you will finally be of use," Rook said with a hint of satisfaction, his gaze shifting to Chaos. Without uttering a word, Chaos rose from his seat and leaped out of the wagon to take care of the obstacle ahead.

I peer out at a massive tree on the ground. There is no way he will move that easily, especially with his lycan sealed away. Talon, sensing the struggle, at least attempts to help but then withdraws his hand. "Poison bark," he hisses, and then gets back in the wagon, leaving Chaos to handle it on his own. To my surprise, he does. "Impressive, starting to become worth your cost," Rook says to Chaos, breaking the silence. And then, we start the journey again.

I watch Chaos out of the corner of my eyes as he opens and closes his hand a few times. It's clear the poison is affecting him, his movements strained and stiff. After a few minutes, it becomes noticeable that he is in pain. "Get the first aid kit for the Lycan," Rook orders Malachi, and he does as asked. Malachi walks over to Chaos and looks at his hand. "Damn, you got the poison into your blood," he says, causing Rook to curse. "He's no good injured."

"I've handled far worse," Chaos responds, brushing it off. But then Rook looks at me, a smirk playing on his lips. "Heal him," he says, his voice dripping with satisfaction. I have the ability to do so, but right now, I lack control. "She can heal?" Talon asks, surprised. "Yup, main reason I agreed for her to come. Her fae power is healing," Rook lies, but it's good enough to pass since fae heal with touch as well.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I can't let Rook know I lack control, or he will use that against me too. I get up and walk over to Chaos. "I said I'm fine," he mutters, his voice strained. "Let her heal you. That's an order," Rook demands, his tone firm.

"Your hands," I say to Chaos, and he gives in, holding them out. At first, I place my hands on his, and instantly, I am overwhelmed by the intense anger and pain he feels. But I fight through it, focusing on one thing, and that's healing him. My chest hurts, and my body aches as I channel my healing powers. When I heal, I take their pain into me for a moment, feeling it as if it were my own.

I raise my gaze, and our eyes lock in a moment of connection. I attempt to avert my gaze, but a part of me is curious about what he's thinking. "I don't want to hurt her," his thoughts echo, and just as I'm about to break eye contact, his next thought enters my mind. "She can't sense me." Our eyes release their grip, and he lets go of my hands.

A wave of relief washes over me as he heals. I take a deep breath, strangely unburdened by the usual overwhelming sensations. Touching him is not overwhelming, just mildly draining due to the intensity of his emotions. "Thank you," he says, and I nod in response before returning to my seat in silence. What did he mean by "I can't sense him?"

After another hour or so, the wagon comes to a halt, and we prepare to continue on foot. As I survey my surroundings, I suddenly recognize these woods as the same ones where my family found me. "These woods are fraught with dangers - poisonous plants, beasts, and more," Rook warns.

"So, be cautious," I remark, causing Talon to chuckle. According to the map, the cave is a three-day walk from here, and although it's partially collapsed, the lycan should help us navigate. I resist the urge to look at Chaos, even though something within me compels me to do so. I focus my thoughts on one thing: how to escape and take down Rook. I could handle one or maybe two of them alone, but not all of them. And since Rook controls Chaos, he could use him against me. I don't want to harm Chaos. Walking beside Rook, I listen to him talk about the treasures he's discovered with his crew. Talon eagerly anticipates the towns we'll pass through, mentioning one with an enticing "Entertainment strip." Malachi looks forward to the money we'll make from this journey. Meanwhile, Chaos remains silent.

Despite the dangers, the forest captivates with its beauty. Vibrant trees and unique flora adorn the landscape. I try to focus on these aspects, but my mind keeps drifting back to Chaos. Why am I so inexplicably drawn to him?