“Glimmer,” Bella said in a whisper. “Let’s just back away. Maybe it won’t fight us.”
The words had no sooner left Bella’s mouth than the red unicorn swept its ears back and let out a thundering neigh. It had to have been heard throughout the entire forest.
Glimmer nudged Bella beside her, and the princess shrank into her unicorn’s coat.
They had no way out.
The red unicorn’s black eyes narrowed on Glimmer, and Bella’s unicorn bared her teeth. Bella knew Glimmer would fight as hard as necessary to protect her. But she didn’t want Glimmer getting hurt. Queen Fire’s unicorns were unusually strong and filled with rage. The enemy unicorn struck the earth with a front hoof and lowered its head to charge.
“Enough!”
A familiar voice echoed through the forest.
The red unicorn lifted its head, relaxing its ears, and began backing out of the clearing.
Bella almost fell as she witnessed the unicorn disappearing back into the Dark Forest. Glimmer maintained alert mode, and both she and Bella watched as their unexpected rescuer strode into the clearing.
“Queen Fire,” Bella said, trying to keep her voice from shaking.
“You and your precious unicorn are in my woods, darling niece,” the evil queen said.
Queen Fire looked exactly as she had when she’d made an unwelcome appearance at Bella’s eighth birthday. Red lipstick stained her lips. Long, wavy black hair flowed past her shoulders, and the ends were dyed bright red. She looked nothing like her sister, Bella’s mother. Queen Fire’s eyes were an endless pit of black.
Her long black dress dragged along the ground, and a red cape was tied across the queen’s shoulders. She stopped where her unicorn had pawed the ground and smiled at Bella.
The smile held no warmth. It didn’t reach her eyes.
“Why did you save us?” Bella asked. “You stopped your unicorn from attacking.”
The queen laughed. “It was not out of sheer devotion and love for you, Princess.” The queen tapped a long red fingernail against her cheek. “You haven’t spent enough time around your aunt to know how my world—the real world—works. I saved you and your precious unicorn not just because you are my family, but because it will benefit me.”
Queen Fire’s words made Bella’s stomach drop. Being around this woman was almost scarier than facing one of her unicorns. Glimmer shared Bella’s thinking, and Bella felt Glimmer’s muscles tighten under her hand.
“What do you want?” Bella asked. She summoned every ounce of courage left in her body. “I owe you for your protection. I want to repay the debt. If you even think Glimmer is part of any deal, you’re wrong.”
The queen stared. The forest was silent. Bella felt as though she’d stopped breathing. Then Queen Fire burst into laughter.
“Oh, my Bella!” Queen Fire said, grinning. “You may have a purple aura, dear, but you have the courage of your black-auraed aunt.”