Black Magic

CHAPTER ONE

Bree West leaned her head back against the headrest in the BMW she and Jack Bastian had stolen from the High Mistress Zhanna Seale. She was feeling pleasantly exhausted, and she rolled down the window of the car to dangle her fingers outside and feel the gentle rain falling. The car wasn’t moving. It was stuck in some mud near a tree that had fallen over the road. The rain was nearly over too. It was nothing more than a mist on her skin.

Next to her, in the driver’s seat, Jack had his head against the headrest too. He had his eyes closed.

Bree reached across the car to touch him. She loved that she felt comfortable doing that. So recently, they had been closer than she ever knew she could be to another being, and now she still felt tethered to him. It was simple to touch him. Casual, even. She felt as if they belonged together, and she loved it.

But the moment her fingers brushed Jack’s skin, his eyes flew open and he sat up straight.

She recoiled.

They gazed at each other for a second. Jack’s eyes were wide and wild. Are you okay? he breathed.

Yeah, she said.

He looked her over, his gaze raking her from the roots of her hair to her toes, and she suddenly felt self-conscious. She wasn’t wearing any clothes. Jack wasn’t either. She glanced at his crotch, and she couldn’t suppress a giggle. She pressed her knuckles to her mouth and looked away.

It had happened.

She had made love to Jack, and it had been the most amazi—

You don’t sound okay.

She turned back to him. I’m okay. Sorry, I just… She let a smile split her face, full of all the goodness of the moment. She wanted to kiss him again. She leaned across the car for him.

But he shook his head.

She furrowed her brow.

Damn it, Jack muttered. He dragged his hands over his face.

"Are you okay?" she said to him.

He gazed out the windshield. The unicorns, Bree.

She supposed she hadn’t been thinking about that.

You’ve lost them, said Jack. They won’t want to be near you now. You’re no longer a virgin, and the smell of you will disgust them.

She looked down at her hands, and now it was unbearable to be naked. But she hadn’t had any clothes to begin with, since she’d been rescued from the city in nothing but her underwear and a sheet. The sheet was in a heap on the floor of the car. She picked it up and wrapped it around her body, covering herself. Well, it doesn’t matter. I’ll make it work somehow. I can’t lose them entirely. Maybe I can’t live with them or cook for them anymore, but I’ll still be there to help them, and we’ll still need to stand against the witches. She turned to him. Unless you’re not interested in that anymore, now that your mother is… She didn’t finish her sentence. Jack’s mother had been killed, and it was still recent and fresh. Jack had only wanted to strike at the witches in order to free his mother, but now, that could never be.

Jack was looking for his clothes. His shirt had somehow ended up outside of the car. It was soaked. He picked it up ruefully and then bundled it up and tossed it in the back seat. He began pulling on his trousers instead. You’re lying to yourself if you think the unicorns won’t care.

She noticed that he’d ignored what she’d said about the witches and his mother. Maybe it would be best not to push. I’m not saying that they won’t care, she said. Just that… well, there’s no point torturing ourselves over what might have been. We’ve done this now, and it was sort of an accident, anyway, so it’s not like either of us can really blame ourselves.

He sighed, tightening the laces of his trousers.

She wanted to touch his chest. She’d loved running her hands all over his skin while they were joined. Her hands on his pecks, his stomach, his shoulders… But she didn’t reach out for him again. Already, that casual feeling of being close to him, belonging together, was fading away. Bree missed it.

Maybe you’re right, he said. But I wish it hadn’t happened.

She was stung. Really?

He glanced at her. It was all wrong, and you know it. It should have been different. And that was our first time. We can never get that back.

She scrunched down in the front seat, trying to make herself small and unassuming. All of the goodness she had been feeling was slipping away. She didn’t understand. It had been wonderful, the most incredible experience of her life. She and Jack had been one being, and the sky had exploded and the earth had shaken, and…

Jack inspected his palms. I would give anything to go back in time and stop it.

She could only gasp. That had hurt so badly. She clutched the sheet against her chest and tried to fight at the tears that were forming behind her eyelids.

It was quiet. He didn’t say anything, and she couldn’t even find words.

Jack climbed out of the car and surveyed the tires. It was no longer raining. The sun was coming out and the beams of light made his bare shoulders glow. Why did he have to be so attractive? We need to get this thing out of the mud, he said.

She tucked the sheet in at the top worked on the bottom, trying to turn it into a garment she could wear without clutching it all the time. She wasn’t sure it was possible. We need to push it out, right? Don’t you have super werewolf strength or something?

Yes, said Jack, if I’ve fed, and I haven’t recently. Anyway, human strength should be enough to push the car out. Humans do it all the time, don’t they? Can you put the car in gear?

I don’t know how to drive.

You don’t have to drive. Just sit in the driver’s seat and steer so that the car goes the direction we want.

That’s driving.

It’s not, it’s— Jack broke off, looking up at something. He shielded his eyes against the sun, which was coming out from behind one of the rainclouds.

Bree turned in the direction he was looking.

And saw that a black unicorn was standing above them on the road. It was magnificent—dark, sable skin and an ebony mane and tail. Its obsidian horn gleamed purple in the sunlight.

But…

There were no black unicorns.

Of course, in the dream that she’d had about Jack, they’d made love, and then there had been a black unicorn, and now there was a black unicorn, and Jack had always thought the dreams were prophetic, so maybe…

The unicorn was coming for them, trotting closer and closer.

And now, Bree recognized him. Jonquil? she cried out.

CHAPTER TWO

At the sight of her, Jonquil felt a joy like he hadn’t ever quite known. It was like the way he’d felt about that first virgin girl he’d bonded with in the human world, but so much more intense—more intense even than the bond he’d previously felt with Bree. Now, somehow, he was joined to her in a way that made them both powerful. He bounded towards her.

She ran for him.

They were mere feet from each other, and Jonquil trotted to her, his heart full of happiness. He longed for her to throw her arms around his neck, to stroke his mane.

But she suddenly stopped short, a stricken look on her face. I guess you can tell, she whispered. I’m sorry, Jonquil. I’m so very, very sorry. I wish I could explain it to you, but I don’t know if I can. But I do want you to know that I never wanted to leave you, and that I think it’s cruel of the universe to make it so I can only be with the unicorns when I’m a virgin, because Jack and I…

The werewolf was standing a few feet behind her, eyeing Jonquil.

The unicorn didn’t know what it was that Bree was going on about. He only knew that she was safe. He nodded at Jack. Thank you for what you did. You got her back.

Jack stepped forward now. I want you to know, I tried to stop it. I could have tried harder, obviously, but she made it… very difficult, and if you’re going to kill me—

Stop what? said Jonquil. What’s wrong with the two of you?

Bree gave him a funny look. Can’t you… smell it?

Now that she mentioned it, there was something strange about that wolf. Usually, he smelled as foul as the rest of them, but now there was no offensive odor coming from him at all. He pointed his horn at Jack. Maybe it’s because of the sword that you don’t smell?

Wait, what? said Jack. I don’t smell?

"Don’t I smell?" said Bree.

Where is the sword, anyway? said Jonquil. The alicorn sword I gave you to free Bree? You still have it, don’t you?

Bree stepped closer, tentatively putting out a hand to stroke his snout. You don’t smell me?

Why would I smell you? said Jonquil. Then he looked at Bree more closely. What was she wearing? She seemed only to be wrapped up in some kind of strip of fabric, and it was only secured because it had been tucked in. And the wolf, he wasn’t properly dressed either, only wearing his pants, his chest bare. He took a step back. Oh, he said quietly.

Bree’s face crumpled. I’m sorry. I’m really—

Wait, said Jonquil, and he stepped closer again. You don’t smell. Neither of you do. In fact, the way that I found you is that I could… sense you. Right in the middle of that damned earthquake, suddenly I felt as if I was connected to both of you, and then my skin—

Yeah, said Jack, I distinctly remember you being white the last time we saw you.

Something happened, said Bree, turning to look at Jack. "I told you, something—"

Maybe it’s the sword, said Jonquil. Did you do something with the sword?

Jack flinched. I, uh, I lost the sword.

Lost it? said Jonquil.

Well, it was a choice between Bree or the sword, and I chose her, said Jack.

Right, said Jonquil, and then rushed out here to take advantage of her as quickly as you could.

Jack’s face fell.

It wasn’t like that, said Bree. You see, Zhanna gave me this aphrodisiac, and I was very… She twisted her hands together. You know, it’s just very awkward to talk about. But he didn’t take advantage of me.

Jack wouldn’t meet the unicorn’s gaze. Maybe I did.

No, said Bree.

Jack jammed his hands into his pockets and looked away, his jaw twitching.

Bree wanted to touch him again, but she didn’t think he wanted her to touch him. She turned back to Jonquil. Anyway, she said quietly, it doesn’t matter, because I don’t smell bad to you. And she wound her arms around Jonquil’s neck.

Jonquil shut his eyes, basking in that. It was wonderful to have her safe and sound, even if she was coupling with the wolf. He was even pleased about it. Now, she could be happy. She could have them both—Jonquil and Jack—and Jonquil didn’t have to lose her.

She pulled back. But how are you a black unicorn?

I don’t know, said Jonquil. It simply happened, like I said, during the earthquake. I felt this awful feeling, like my skin was vomiting itself up, and then Glade said—

Glade, put in Jack. That’s right. You were supposed to be going to get the rest of the herd, as many of them as you could, anyway, to help save Bree from the witches. So, where’s the herd?

Oh, they came, said Jonquil. They’re here. He tossed his head. After a fashion, anyway.

What do you mean? said Bree. Where are they?

They sort of followed me, said Jonquil. I yelled at them to keep pace, but something’s happened to them and—anyway, I knew you were okay, because I could feel it, and I didn’t see any reason to go to the witches when I could just come straight to you.

Bree released Jonquil’s neck and peered over him. I don’t see the herd.

They’re on the road, said Jonquil. They’re just… He snorted.

What? said Jack.

Bree hurried up to the road to see, and Jonquil and Jack trailed after her.

So, you aren’t going to kill me? Jack said to the unicorn in a quiet voice.

Jonquil eyed him. I would. But it doesn’t appear any harm’s done.

She may still smell awful to the herd, said Jack. Whatever’s happened may just be between the three of us.

Well, that’s the hell of it, said Jonquil. I get the impression that hurting you would hurt me too. He took a long, slow breath. I seem to have been a bit wrong about the black unicorn and the source of its power.

What’s wrong with the herd? said Bree.

Jonquil trotted up to her. They’ve all gone silly, he said.

He, Jack, and Bree peered out over the other unicorns, who were milling about on shaky legs. Some were chasing after flying butterflies, others sticking their noses into flowers, still others rolling around on their backs. Unicorns didn’t laugh out loud, but they were all projecting mirth over their thought communication. Jonquil was deafened by the sound of their internal joy and laughter.

It happened during the earthquake, said Jonquil. I’m guessing the earthquake happened when the two of you were having mating relations.

Bree turned to the unicorn sharply. "You don’t think we… caused the earthquake?"

I’m connected to you both now, said Jonquil. And I know that Draco, the last black unicorn we know of, was connected to a man and a woman as well.

Right, said Jack. You told me that was how they killed him. They attacked his virgins.

Well, I assumed they were virgins, said Jonquil, looking back and forth between them.

But the legend I heard said that the black unicorn was connected to a couple, said Bree. And in the dream I had, we were definitely not virgins.

My dreams have always been, er, explicit as well, said Jack. And they always involved a black unicorn. So, you’re saying what? Bree and I were always destined to… have ‘mating relations’ and turn you into a black unicorn?

Perhaps, said Jonquil. I do know that magical power is powered by either actual sex or by sexual potential. So, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the black unicorn’s power is a more… mature power. That it doesn’t derive from sexual potential, like the regular unicorns, but instead from the actual act itself, or from two people who are committing the act, anyway.

Jack raised his eyebrows. Us doing it made you powerful?

Jonquil gazed out at the rest of the herd. Well, I did feel a surge of magic during the earthquake.

And what about the unicorns? Bree pointed.

That seems to be a side effect of the release of so much power, said Jonquil.

"We made the unicorns silly?" said Bree.

I think so, said Jonquil.

This is just really… Jack rubbed his temples.

* * *

By the evening, the unicorns were all back to normal, and everyone had returned to the encampment, where they were met by Haven, the leader of the unicorns.

She was understandably confused by everything. Apparently, Bree learned, Haven had denied Jonquil’s request for the herd to go and save Bree from the witches, and Bree wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Haven had always kept distance between herself and Bree. Of all the other unicorns, Haven was the only one who had never put her head in Bree’s lap to gain power. She had never made any attempt to learn human speech either. Not all of the unicorns had, but most of them could at least say a few words now. Also, Haven was steadfast in her denial of ever using the unicorns against the witches at all. She wanted to defend the treaty between the witches and unicorns, even though the witches paid it no mind.

But Haven seemed astonished to see that Jonquil had become a black unicorn. Bree couldn’t hear what the leader was saying, since all the communication was done mind-to-mind, but it was all in the Haven’s posture, the way leader gaped at Jonquil and seemed flighty and excited.

When Haven found out that Jonquil was tied to Jack and Bree, she insisted that the two of them stay with the herd indefinitely. That was what Jonquil passed on to Bree, anyway. There was no issue of any bad smells with either of them. All of the unicorns could stay close to them without any bad effects. So, there was no reason for them not to stay.

So, it was all settled and everything was fine.

Except it wasn’t, because of whatever was going on with Jack and her.

Whatever had passed between them had been wonderful for her, but it obviously hadn’t been good for Jack. And she supposed it was probably because she was inexperienced and stupid. Jack knew what he was doing when it came to sex. He was something of an expert.

She must have done something wrong.

She must have been bad at it.

Truthfully, she supposed she hadn’t really done much of anything except, er, bucked her hips a lot. She’d been caught up in how good it felt and she hadn’t taken any time to wonder if what she was doing was the way you were supposed to do it.

Now, she felt embarrassed.

But she thought if maybe Jack explained to her what it was he wanted her to do, then she could try that, and maybe it could get better for him. Everything had been confusing with the rain and the thunder and the aphrodisiac, but next time—if he’d let her have another chance—she could do better.

Of course, it wasn’t likely that there was going to be a next time if they were with a herd of unicorns. Being with the herd didn’t afford them much privacy, especially considering the unicorns were so pleased that she was back and unhurt that they wanted to celebrate.

Talking to Jack about this was going to be impossible right now, she realized.

The unicorns wanted her to cook meat for them, which was a thing that she always did, something that set her and her unicorns apart. And they were still her unicorns, no matter what had passed between her and Jack.

It was strange, because earlier, she had felt so close to him. His body had been inside her body. They had been joined, and she remembered the way it felt to look into his eyes, nose to nose as they breathed in the same rhythm.

But now…

Best not to think about.

She set about preparing the meat, and Dinah helped her too. Dinah was the other, younger virgin that she’d recruited to be with the unicorn herd as well. She’d had big plans, for every unicorn herd to have a