They moved, and Cassius tensed again, dipping his shoulder toward the unknown in an effort to afford her some sort of protection, wondering where his bloody clothes were.

“It’s okay, Cass, they’re harmless,” she whispered. “But skittish. No sudden moves.”

He warily eyed the one in the lead, thinking that horn was not harmless.

“Elena,” he growled.

“They come closer.”

He watched, alert but altogether fascinated as the two unicorns moved slowly, making their way toward he and his princess.

“I wonder what they’re doing here. They only dwell in The Enchantments.” She was still whispering.

“Fucking hell,” he muttered as they got even closer.

“Just, rise up…but slowly,” she instructed.

He did, pushing up on a hand, disconnecting from her, which was bloody disappointing, but he had two unicorns on his hands, no clothes on, his woman was also nude, there wasn’t a pixie in the sky and not a sound in the forest.

It was eerie.

Odd.

Not right.

Elena came up with him so they were both on their knees, front to front, and he twisted her so he was between her and the unicorns, his back to them. He turned his head as he did this so he did not lose sight of the creatures.

The lead one halted, drew back, dropped his head, so that long, glittering, spiraled horn was aimed their way.

“Fuck,” he bit.

“It’s all right. Just be still,” she urged.

They were unknowns, but they were beyond exquisite. Their white coats gleamed almost opalescent. The front one, the bigger one, casting more purples and blues, the back one, the smaller one, casting more corals and pinks.

They shifted closer, closer, Cass’s body getting more and more taut, his arms around Elena, holding her tight to him, but ready to toss her away if need be.

And then he saw Elena’s arm drift out.

“Ellie,” he clipped.

“It’s all right. I promise.”

She held her hand low, palm up.

The front unicorn got closer, dropping his head lower, and Cassius got stiffer.

And then he gripped her tight as the unicorn bent even lower.

Only to snuffle her hand.

“That’s it, boy. Get a good sniff in. Hullo,” she cooed.

The unicorn jerked his head back.

Cass braced to lift her into his arms and run.

Then he realized he’d lost track of the other one and therefore started when he felt a delicate snort in his neck on the other side.

His head whipped around, and the other unicorn took a step back.

“She’s flirting with you,” Ellie said happily. “Put your hand out. Let her get used to you.”

Gods, the mare was beautiful.

That thick white mane. Her intelligent black eyes. The dove gray fur that shadowed her nose.

He did as Elena had and reached out, slowly, his hand low, palm up.

The mare bent to it, sniffled, then drew her lips back and nipped.