by Tamsin Baker
She reached out and stroked a hand down his long, black neck. He turned his head into her hand.
“Oh, my poor darling.”
I helped them. It is what I am designed for.
“There is another bedroom next to this one, Naylaa.”
“Come on... let’s get you somewhere peaceful,” she coaxed the exhausted Unicorn.
He lifted his head and looked at her.
I’ll just stay here.
But Naylaa knew he would sleep better alone and withplenty space around him. The change in energy would be better for him, too.
“The Queen needs her rest, Bronte.”
Naylaa continued to stroke his sweaty neck until he slowly staggered to his feet. His strong front legs gave out twice before he managed to stand, still shaking.
Do not worry, Naylaa.
The King inhaled to say something but Naylaa spoke first.
“He’s fine.”
She tugged gently on Bronte’s mane, trying to stay strong. She had never seen him so weak and it terrified her. She couldn’t live without him.
This favor she had asked of Bronte had taken almost everything he had to keep the two royals alive.
Would it be worth it if Bronte had died instead?
A shudder ran through her body and she clung tighter to her United.
Very slowly they walked from the Queen’s room and into the one next door. The new room was larger and Naylaa pulled Bronte onto a large, plush rug.
“Lie down whereever is comfortable, Bronte.”
He dropped down to the floor where they stood, laying on his side. His chest rose and fell abruptly with his staggered breathing and his coat shone with a film of sweat.
As they had that morning, Naylaa lay over him, laying her head against his shoulder and wrapping her arms around his neck.
He was exhausted, his very essence drained. That in itself terrified her.
But she also felt his bone-deep happiness, his satisfaction in helping the Queen.
It was one of the many reasons she loved Bronte. He was truly good and selfless, in a way people weren’t.
She tucked herself into his legs again and they both slept.
They awoke far past sunrise.
An uneasy panic gnawed at Naylaa. How would she get Bronte home safely?
“Good morning to you both,” the King said as he walked around the bed and approached the area where she lay.
The King offered her his hand and she took it.
He pulled her to her feet in a quick tug. He then led her to a small table where nourishing green soup and green root vegetables lay for her. Tears pricked at the back of her eyes. It was exactly what she needed after the stress of last night.
“Does Bronte need anything specific?” The King asked her.
She cleared her throat in an attempt to get her voice to co-operate. Her emotions were running high this morning and she was on the verge of tears, even though the main danger was now over.
“Lots of water, please. Could you have it brought in here so he doesn’t have to move far?”
The King nodded his head and walked to the doorway to speak with one of his people.
Bronte lifted his head from where it still lay on the ground, then opened his eyes. He’d woken up but didn’t look like he wanted to get up.
She didn’t blame him.
But slowly she watched as he rolled his body up and stood on shaking legs.
His exhaustion made her uneasy. If he needed to get away from danger at this moment, she wasn’t sure he could.
Several of the King’s guards carried in a large wooden container, sloshing water over the rug near the bed.
They placed it on the ground and then backed away slowly, half bent over as though they were bowing to her Unicorn.
Bronte snorted, walked a few steps and sank his head into the water.
He drank thirstily, and once he had emptied the container, Bronte’s energy pulsed strongly within her again.
Thank goodness for that.
Bronte lifted his head and looked at Naylaa. His feelings washed over her strongly and as relief sunk in, he spoke to her.
I want to see the Queen.
Naylaa nodded. She wanted to get him out of here as quickly as possible, but Bronte was right.
Despite her need to run back to the safety of his cave, they needed to check on their patient.
Together with the King, they walked into the next room. Naylaa’s stomach tightened in anticipation. She’d seen Bronte heal people before, but never two at once.
The sight that greeted them pleased both her and Bronte.
“I don’t know how to thank you, Naylaa.” The Queen’s voice was strong and she now sat up in her bed, her green eyes dark and vibrant.
“It was Bronte, not me.” Naylaa said, unable to take any of the credit for a skill she simply didn’t have.
It was both of us, Naylaa.
The Queen shook her head. “I know you asked him to come. Without you, I most assuredly would have died, and my blessed child, too.”
The glowing Queen ran her hands over her stomach where Naylaa could see the rippling movement of the child.
Naylaa envied the woman before her the gift of her pregnancy. She hoped to one day be blessed with a child also.
“Please look after yourself and your child, my Queen. Lots of water and good green food for both of you.”
She stepped closer and ran her hands gently over the Queen’s belly, channeling her mother’s gift of sight.
The answer was there in the forefront of her mind and it brought a smile to her lips to be able to foresee such wonderful news.
“He will be here within the day.”
The Queen’s dark green eyes widened and she sat up tall in the bed. “Truly?” Fear and anxiety surfaced inside the Queen, despite the happiness such an event would bring.
Naylaa knew that many first time mothers feared the birthing process.
“I will send my mother to you by nightfall. She is wonderful with birthing. Her name is Marii. Remember to stand up and move around today. Have a long water bath too, to soak in as much hydration as you can before tonight.”
The Queen relaxed against her headboard and smiled, shifting into pre-labor mode. Her body readying itself for the battle to come.
“We had better be going, Bronte. I don’t wish for you to be in danger.”
I am not worried for myself. The Queen needs to take care.
Naylaa smiled and stopped to soothe the Unicorn with a stroke on his neck.
“Bronte wishes you to know how happy he is to have helped you. But he is worried that you may not continue to look after yourself. He needs reassurance that you will.”
The Queen twisted her large body within the bed, threw back the blankets and lowered her feet to the floor. She took a breath and slowly got to her feet, wobbling a little, but resolutely making her way over to the Unicorn.
The Queen reached out and stroked Bronte’s neck.
Naylaa felt the shudder that went through her United. He did not like to be touched by anyone other than her, but he didn’t flinch away from the Queen.
“I promise not to misuse your gift. I will look after myself and my child,” the Queen swore, her declaration ringing true in word and tone.
Bronte bowed his head in acceptance of her words and stepped away from the Queen and her touch.
Naylaa reached out a hand to his black coat and stroked his neck slowly.
“We had better be getting home. May we have an escort out of town?”
The King stood by the door. His eyes filled with love and gratitude as he stared at his very pregnant wife.
“Of course...” the King stammered, unable to help the way his eyes were drawn back to his wife.
“Walk us to the gates, Sire, then you can take your wife for a wander around the castle. She needs to get some movement into her pelvis before your child is born tonight.”
“Tonight?” The Kings eyes flew to
his wife again.
The Queen smiled serenely and rubbed her belly in a circular motion. “Naylaa tells me we will become parents this evening.”
The King swallowed visibly as he nodded.
Naylaa made to move past the King, but he put his hand out and stopped her as she tried to walk out the door. “If you need anything―ever―you come to me directly and I will grant you whatever it is.”
Naylaa smiled and nodded. That may be a favor she would use in the future.
She walked past the guards, feeling their enclosing movement as they hustled around them. Two men flanked Bronte and herself, and two other men walked ahead to clear any trouble.
A royal escort out of town. Something she never thought she would experience.
Naylaa rested her hand on Bronte’s back, feeling the fear zinging through her blood.
It has been a long time, Naylaa.
“Perhaps I should ride you, rather than walk beside you?” Naylaa whispered to her Unicorn.
That would mean they could get away faster if something happened. Or was that tempting fate by drawing more attention to them?
No, I am fine.
They walked out the main gate and she saw people milling around the entrance. Someone within the palace must have leaked the news that they were inside. Very few people had ever seen Bronte and they were understandably curious.
People.
A ripple of fear went through Bronte, though it was tinged with excitement. He liked being around people, feeding off their energy. However, he didn’t like to be touched without being asked first, and she’d warned him since they were both young about how dangerous people could be.
“Get back, please. Let us through.” The captain of the guards yelled as he waved his hands at the people straining for a look.
“Slowly, Bronte. It’s okay.” She soothed him by rubbing her hand down his side. As they walked through the streets towards the edge of town, more and more people emerged.
So many smiles. Naylaa, this is wonderful.
Bronte began to strut as he became more confident and happy, tossing his magnificent black mane in the air and whinnying loudly. She laughed at his playful attitude and relaxed as they walked through the town.
They were almost out of danger now and no one had shown any indication that they would harm him. They were just curious.
A childish laugh rang through the crowd as a couple of small, black-eyed children ran around the guards and headed straight for Bronte, arms outstretched to touch him.
Bronte reared up on his back feet, terrified at the sudden movement toward him.
What are they doing?
Naylaa gasped, she needed to act. Now!
Her brain was commanding her to rush forward and stop Bronte from hurting the children. He would never forgive himself if he did.
But her genetic link to Bronte caused his fear to race through her body too, paralyzing her.
A large man darted around the guards somehow and stepped in front of the children.
The two young boys ran into the back of the man, who raised his hands, palm up to Bronte. He made soothing sounds to coax him down to his front feet again in the perfect way that only a Unicorn handler would know how to do.
“Shhh. Shhh,” he soothed, running competent hands over Bronte’s face and neck.
Naylaa stood frozen to the spot, staring slack jawed at the stranger. No one except herself had ever touched Bronte in such a way. Gratitude washed over her at the same time as Bronte’s response to the man filtered through.
Pure happiness washed over her.
He is the one, Naylaa.
Before she could thank the man with the startling blue eyes and black hair for saving the children, he disappeared into the crowd once again.
He didn’t even make eye contact with her.
“What did you mean by that, Bronte?” She asked as her muscles began to settle once again.
Bronte shook his mane but didn’t speak again.
Calm now after their scare, Naylaa realized there was no more time to waste. She grabbed hold of Bronte’s black mane and swung up onto his back, leaned forward and bumped her heels into his sides.
The guards rushed forward to clear the way through the crowd as Bronte put his head down and charged towards the forest, his hooves kicking up dirt and leaves in their wake.
The spark left on Bronte’s flesh from the man’s hands warmed her as they rode and she left the town wondering who the blue-eyed stranger could possibly be.
Chapter Three.
Naylaa measured out her morning quota of water, drank it steadily and wiped her mouth. She always felt so healthy after she consumed her much needed sustenance. Her skin tingled and her hair was sleek and shiny with good health.
A sigh of frustration rose, and her mood quickly ebbed. With so few Unicorns alive now, rain was far too infrequent.
Which seemed to be a problem that she was uniquely qualified to try to fix, but with no other herd in the area, she didn’t know how else to make Bronte happier than he currently was.
Her teeth sank into a juicy green fruit, the nutrients filling her belly with the essentials her body needed. Naylaa had tried to eat the food grown for the black eyes and the blue, out of simple curiosity,
but she couldn’t stomach it.
As a child of two green-eyed parents, who also had green-eyed parents, she couldn’t digest the wrong nutrients. The Great Earth had been wise when it had divided up the needs of the planet.
When she had finished her fruit, she dropped the seeds into a small container and stepped outside.
Naylaa needed to visit Para. She had tossed and turned in her huge bed all night, thinking of the man who had touched Bronte the day before.
His touch had seared Bronte, and in turn, her own body ached for release.
Para’s small house was only minutes away and as she got closer, a smile rose to her lips.
Naylaa walked up to the front entrance and knocked on the door.
“Come in,” her friend called out, not bothering to ask who it was in a town with no crime.
Pushing open the door, Naylaa stifled a groan as her sex clenched beneath her dress. Anticipation of pleasure was often as sweet as the pleasure itself.
Para stood stirring a pot of soup over her small fire cooker. The Earthy quality of the food was beautiful, but the taste of it would not agree with Naylaa’s stomach. It was suited for Para and her son, both having black eyes.
“Oh, Naylaa, how are you?” Para looked up, her pretty face lighting up with pleasure.
Naylaa walked straight across the room to her friend and pressed her lips against Para’s lush mouth. Naylaa’s body thrummed with need today and she couldn’t be subtle about something so intense.
Hopefully her lover wouldn’t turn her away.
Naylaa pulled back to look into Para’s black eyes and moved her hands up and across Para’s breasts to stroke her thumbs over Para’s now erect nipples through the rough material of her dress.
“Is Tomei here?” She asked, hoping Para’s son was not at home. It would limit what they could do if he was.
“No,” Para said as she hurried over to shut the main door, reading Naylaa’s mood correctly.
“Are you okay, Naylaa?” Para asked as she took Naylaa’s hand and led her into her bedroom.
Such a simple question seemed to require a detailed response. And Naylaa couldn’t give Para the words for how she was feeling. Instead she just said, “I need you.”
She reached down and in one smooth movement, pulled the dress off her lover.
Para was plumper than she. Her body sagged and scarred in places from birthing a babe. However, Naylaa loved the softness and sensuality of Para’s curves.
Lifting her hands, she stroked Para’s nipples with her fingertips, tweaking each one before running her hands down her lover’s soft belly. Para’s skin was so soft and her manner, incredibly giving.
Naylaa stepped closer and bit into Para�
��s shoulder gently, tasting sweet skin and groaning as her body responded with a tightening of her belly.
“Lie down with me.” Para pulled her towards the small bed and removed Naylaa’s dress with one tug.
She had not worn any underclothes for her visit, so cool air soon touched her heated skin, increasing her arousal.
Para crawled across the bed and lay in the center on her back, face up and body open.
She made a beautiful picture, naked and ready for her. But Naylaa couldn’t help wishing she had the blue-eyed man in her bed instead.
Naylaa shook her head and pushed the thought away. Para had been her lover for many cycles. They shared a mutual affection, and neither one of them had another partner.
But Naylaa had always been very honest about her quest for her true love. She longed for her soul mate almost every day. But until she found him, this lovely, black-eyed female satisfied most of her bodily cravings.
Naylaa moved onto the bed and straddled her lover’s body, leaning down to kiss her deeply. Para’s lips parted for her and Naylaa soon tasted the earthy cooking on Para’s tongue.
Heat rippled through her core, making her pussy throb even louder.
Naylaa moved her legs down Para’s body and twisted so she could lay between Para’s thighs.
There was something so delicious about a woman’s body.
Naylaa nuzzled, licked and sucked at her lover’s full breasts. She tugged at the almost black nipples with her teeth.
When Para gasped and grabbed for her head, she couldn’t help but smile against Para’s skin. She loved how soft and responsive Para’s breasts were. Her own nipples hardened in response and warmth slicked her inner thighs.
Para moaned loudly and arched her back, wantonly running her hands through Naylaa’s hair.
Naylaa reached her hand down Para’s body and rubbed her lover’s small clit, circling the swollen bud until Para was crying out in pleasure.
Naylaa shuffled further down the bed on her knees until her face was level with Para’s core.
She lowered her lips and sucked softly on the juicy, swollen clit, tasting the essence of Para’s desire for her. Then, when her lover was crying out for more, she plunged two fingers inside Para’s welcoming body, making her buck up.