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“The Black Unicorn—”
“Girl, are you all right—”
The voices of the others whispered behind me, but I scarcely heard them. I remained where I was, bewitched by the sight of the great beast. A noise to my side startled me. Feddrah-Dahns was beside me now, kneeling on his two front legs, his head bowed.
“Master of Masters, Lord of the Dahns, I bring you the girl and her mate.” His voice was hushed and as awestricken as I felt.
I decided to keep my mouth shut. For one thing, I wasn’t sure of protocol and there was no way in hell I was going to fuck this up. For another thing, my voice seemed to have deserted me as I gazed upon this living legend. Between the call of the Hunt and the power of this beast, I couldn’t muster even a squeak.
The Black Beast moved forward and stopped about three yards in front of us. I cautiously raised my head, afraid to look into those gleaming eyes. If I looked, would I lose myself?
“On your feet, woman,” a voice echoed in my head. “All of you, stand.”
I blinked. He hadn’t spoken aloud, but I heard him loud and clear. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one because Morio, Trillian, and Iris rose from where they’d dropped to the ground. With a small whinny, Feddrah-Dahns pushed me forward with his nose.
I steadied myself, noticing that the ground had quit shifting. One thing to be thankful for. As I sucked in a deep breath and stared up at the creature, I saw that yes—indeed—steam was rising from his nostrils.
Slowly, not knowing why, but feeling it was the only thing to do, I reached in my pocket and pulled out the horn of the Black Unicorn and shaking, lifted my arm and thrust it upward under the quaking moon.
The Black Beast let out a low laugh that echoed through the glade. “I have not seen that part of myself in many years. Nor the hide you wear around your shoulders.” He lowered his muzzle to sniff my cloak. “Yes, this was a far earlier life, an earlier day and age when the spirit seal was first created and then divided. I told them it was a grave mistake, but they would not listen, so I retreated to Darkynwyrd, and from there, to the Deep. Tell me: You wear the mark of the Moon Mother. Have you seen her face?”
I suddenly found my tongue and blurted out, “Yes, I run with the Hunt. I am one of her witches.”
“But not her priestess?” His eyes were like golden fire and I couldn’t look away.
“No,” I said softly. “Nor do I know if I’ll ever be worthy. But it’s enough for me to be her servant, to be her daughter and work her magic.”
Then, the Black Beast stepped forward so his muzzle was staring right into my face, and he bathed me in the steam flowing from his nostrils. “Priestess, though, you would joyfully carry the title if given. Do you know who rides me? There is one, and one alone whom I allow to embrace my back with her thighs.”
Shivering, wondering just where this conversation was going, I shook my head. “No, can’t say I’ve ever thought about it.” I just prayed it wasn’t going to be me.
There was a movement from the shadows behind him, and a raven flew forth from the darkness. A vortex of swirling blood obscured the bird and I shaded my eyes against the waves of incandescent heat that flared out like a sunburst. The air twisted back on itself, rippling reality like the ocean tides. Then, ever so slowly, the magic dissipated.
As the flare faded away, a tall, pale woman stood there, her velvet gaze trailing over us. Her eyes were cunning, sparkled with flecks of gold amidst the obsidian and with a dread so deep I didn’t even realize it had been there, I knew who this was.
Raven Mother.
Raven Mother, one of the Elemental Queens who ruled in the dark woods. Raven Mother, of whom I’d only heard rumors over the years. Raven Mother, who was known for cunning and deception and her violent lust after the Moon Mother’s possessions.>The Black Beast was waiting for us—ancient and ominous—and I wasn’t sure what the hell would happen when we met him. But our date with destiny wouldn’t take no for an answer.
I bit into my sandwich and chewed slowly as a flutter of wings rose from the nearest cedar and three ravens went winging past. It felt like a sign, but just what they were trying to tell me, I had no idea. And for once, I really, really wished I could see into the future.
Thistlewyd Deep was more than a magical forest. It was magic incarnate. As we stepped onto the path, a deep resonance hummed through the ground, singing a song as old as the world. I closed my eyes and answered, embracing the welcome that bid us enter the woodland. Wild—yes, and feral—definitely, but Thistlewyd Deep embodied the nature of the Hunt.
The path was narrow, flanked on both sides by thick undergrowth shrouding the trunks of the trees. As we journeyed under the canopy of branches and limbs, I understood what Feddrah-Dahns had meant. Darkynwyrd would meet its match in Thistlewyd Deep. This forest rocked with energy, the ground shifting beneath my feet with every step. Oh, it wasn’t a tangible shift like a quake, but every time I put my foot down, the ground seemed to roll in waves.
I bit my lip, wondering how the hell we were supposed to keep moving, with every movement shaking reality. Glancing around, I asked, “Does anybody else feel that?”
“Feel what?” Iris asked.
“The ground. Moving. Everything swirls every time I take a step.”
I glanced at the trees. The bark covering their trunks squirmed, shifting patterns. The bushes and ferns nestled at their bases shook as if a powerful wind was gusting through, but I couldn’t feel any currents against my skin that were strong enough to move the leaves and branches.
“Camille, are you okay?” Iris looked worried. She motioned to Morio. “Feel her forehead.”
As he moved to obey, I brushed his hand aside. “I’m not sick, and I haven’t lost my mind. At least, I don’t think I have. But don’t you see? All the plants are swaying to the pulse that’s racing under my feet. Like a hard-core drumbeat. Hell, I feel like I’m in the middle of one of Big Mama’s natural raves.”
They looked around, confused, then Morio closed his eyes and fell silent. Iris did the same. Feddrah-Dahns whinnied nervously. After a moment, both the sprite and the youkai nodded.
