Page 17 of Winter Goddess
He suddenly grows still, his ears twitching.
"Touch my horn," he rasps, his eyes rolling back and forth like he has no control about them.
I hesitate for a moment, but then do as he asks, grabbing his horn, still making sure to stay away from his shaking legs.
A flash of rainbow light assaults my senses and then I'm floating, no longer in the courtyard. I know this place...
"Where are we?"
I swirl around and stare at Blaze. The unicorn is looking as healthy as ever, his fur shimmering in the colourful light surrounding us.
"You don't know?"
"We're in your head, silly. This is your dream, not mine."
I blush. "When I first stepped through the Gate at the Calanais Stones, I ended up on a rainbow.Thisrainbow." I don't tell him that I also had sex on this very rainbow. It's already embarrassing enough to be back here, in the tackiest place in the universe.
"I like it," he says cheerfully. "You've got taste."
"Shut up and explain what's happening."
He whinnies. "So impatient. But you're right, we don't have much time. My body won't be able to deal with the magic overdose for much longer without your help."
"Magic overdose?"
He paws the ground, looking a little sheepish. "I overate."
"Seriously? You ate too much and now you're having seizures?"
"It was on purpose."
I shake my head, incredulous. "You wanted this to happen?"
"When I get gorged on magic, I get visions. Sometimes, not always, but in a place as full of magic as this Palace, I thought it was worth a try."
I sigh. "And you couldn't have warned someone about it?"
"You weren't there," he complains. "And I didn't think it would happen this quickly. Now, when we go back, you need to listen exactly to what I say. I can't always remember, so don't expect me to tell you afterwards. Then, you need to pull the excess magic out of my body. It might make you feel a little weird, though."
"Weird? How?"
He blushes in his strange unicorn way. "Remember sparklies?"
"No. No way!"
I step away from Blaze, glaring at him.
"It's the only way. Just make sure that someone gets you out of sight quickly." He grins. "Especially now that you've decided you're going to be Queen."
"I have not," I protest, but he groans.
"Time to go back. Remember, listen to what I say. Write it down, if you have to. Then get the magic out of me. It hurts."
Before I can say anything, the rainbow light flashes again and I'm back in the courtyard, stumbling away from the unicorn who's still on the ground, his entire body twitching.
"Get my Guardians!" I shout at one of the onlookers. "Now!"
They hurry away and I turn back to Blaze.
