The Incubus and the Unicorn

From his hiding place Sen watched the attack with growing horror. He bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, and not even the answering surge of desire from the flare of pain could tear his eyes away from what was happening in the meadow beyond.

He didn’t know how the men had managed to make it this far into the Black Wood, but they had obviously come prepared. Each one was dressed in black leather armor, their faces hard and eyes shining. They were armed with swords and spears, some carrying thick nets that glinted as the sunlight reflected off metal wire entwined with enduring mesh.

Not one of them was mounted, since no horse was stupid enough to allow itself to be led into the forest of nightmares. But overall it made little difference. The men were routing the unicorns with frightening efficiency. Hearing a terrified scream, Sen turned only to watch in dismay as several men threw a net over a rearing mare. Even terrified as she was the mare flailed her forelegs with a fierce savagery that only a female could possess as she tried to keep them away from the young colt cowering nearby. Even as Sen hoped that she would prevail, she was dragged to the ground, her legs becoming entangled in the net. For a moment their eyes met, and Sen could see the white’s of her eyes, the terror that covered her lips in froth as she shivered.

A high pitched whinny drew his attention back to the colt. The colt whimpered again, clearly frightened of the men, but unwilling to leave his dam behind. He skittered away from one of the men when he tried to approach him, crying piteously for his dam. Sen glanced around wildly, hoping to see an adult that could come to the colt’s rescue. All he saw was chaos, unicorns running back and forth as they fled from the men with their nets, their cries of fear and rage mingling to destroy the gentle silence that had reigned supreme only an hour before.

But no Kalor.

Eyes desperately seeking a familiar flash of sunlight over gleaming black, Sen felt the panic grow as his search proved fruitless. As his eyes skimmed over the devastation, he caught sight of a single figure, a lone man standing tall in the midst of the chaos. Confused, Sen focused on the man, unnerved by the way he seemed untouched by the fear and rage that hung heavy in the afternoon air. He did not look anything like the other men. This man was not dressed in armor, but was adorned in plain breeches and a pale tunic, his dark brown hair tied back at the nape of his neck.

Even as he stared in confusion, chills slid up Sen’s spine, and he knew instinctively that this man was bad news.

The foal’s pain filled cry drew his eyes away from the strange man, and what he saw next sent Sen’s heart somersaulting up his throat, only to drop down to his toes. The men had managed to back the little unicorn up against a nearby tree, and were slowly moving in. The leader held a short halter in his grasp, and he was trying to speak soothingly.

Desperate, Sen frantically searched the chaos once again, still unable to locate Kalor. Knowing he couldn’t just sit back and watch the little foal be taken, even if he didn’t have any fighting abilities what so ever, Sen was about to rush the human mercenaries when there was a piercing neigh. Following the sound was a blur of blue black as the nearby bushes exploded outward in a flurry of leaves and branches.

Sen sagged against the tree in relief as Kalor rushed the men in his unicorn form, his horn glowing with an eraged light that rivaled the power of the sun shining overhead. Charging full speed he rushed the men, forcing them to scatter for fear of being crushed beneath diamond tipped hooves. Barely stopping, Kalor then herded the frightened colt into the surrounding trees, keeping his body between the foal and the invading humans as the little one was swallowed by the darkness.

His charge safely away, Kalor turned back to the hunters, bugling a challenge as he pawed the ground. He lowered his horn in warning, silver eyes furious. While earlier they had been taken by surprise, the humans had recovered from their fear, and began to slowly edge towards Kalor, weapons held ready as one of their number retrieved a net. Undaunted, Kalor bugled once more, shaking his mane in disgust.

Then he blurred into motion.

From his hiding place, Sen could only watch the black unicorn with undisguised awe. He hadn’t even known a unicorn could be black until he’d met Kalor. Not a spot of color shone in his coat, every strand of hair a solid black that only a magical creature could have and still have it be natural. The only color on him were his silver eyes and gleaming horn, the spiral bone purest white. Even in this form, there was a grace about him that drew the eye and made it impossible to look away.

Darting amongst the mercenaries as they sought to trap him, Kalor’s coat rippled and gleamed, powerful muscles shifting as he always managed to stay one step ahead of the deadly net. Pivoting on his front legs, Kalor delivered a powerful kick with his hind legs to one of the men when he strayed too close. Even from where he was hiding, Sen could hear the ominous crack as bone was shattered and crushed beyond all aid. Just as disturbing was the man’s cry of pain, the sound mingling with the terrified screaming of unicorns as they fled from the invaders.

Sen was absorbed in watching Kalor’s fight with the humans. That was the only explanation he had for why he didn’t feel the magic in the air right away. It was subtle at first, merely a sweet scent that he dismissed as part of his imagination. But it persisted, soon setting his skin to tingling and sliding along his tongue and down his throat, nearly choking him with the wild rush of pure energy that teased and stroked his hunger to life once again. By the time he realized what it meant, it was too late.

The mage had struck.

The attack came swiftly, a surge of magic tearing through the air as it headed straight for Kalor. Sen tried to call a warning, but his tongue became tangled and useless, the touch of magic going straight to his groin and filling his mind with a haze of want and desperate desire. Sen could only watch as the streak of power stuck Kalor in an agonizing burst of light, the soundless explosion sliced through by Kalor’s agonized scream.

Heart pounding, Sen frantically rubbed his eyes as spots danced across his vision, having been unable to shield his eyes in time to protect them from the flash. Bile rising in the back of his throat, Sen pushed his battered vision to see past the shifting colors to the meadow beyond, and hopefully to see a familiar black unicorn. Instead his fearful golden eyes found Kalor’s prone body, once again returned to his human form.

“Kalor,” Sen whispered, the unicorn’s name leaving his pale lips as curse and prayer both. “Don’t you dare be dead.”

Cold fingers reached into Sen’s chest and squeezed, making it hard to draw breath. He stared transfixed as he silently willed Kalor to move, to do anything dammit except just lay there. Realizing that silence was pressing against his ears, Sen looked to the rest of the meadow.

Every unicorn had come to an abrupt halt, all staring fixedly at Kalor’s prone form. Even the humans had stopped moving, awed and terrified by the display of power. Silence once again reigned supreme, even the air itself held still as if waiting with baited breath.

Only the mage was moving. He walked slowly, as if he had all the time in the world to reach his destination. The air around him glinted ominously with magic, glittering and twisting as it reached greedy fingers out to Kalor’s unconscious form. Or at least Sen hoped he was unconscious. He refused to think of the alternative.

He should have listened to Ferik’s warning. Sen closed his eyes against the shame and guilt that warred within. The half-ling had tried to warn him and Sen had been too arrogant to wonder how it was possible for a human to come and go through the Black Wood without being made into tree fertilizer. Only a mage would have the power necessary. And now it was too late. The only question now was what did the mage want.

The mage made a gesture, and two humans moved towards Kalor, hauling him up onto his knees. The unicorn was limp and unresponsive, and Sen was too far away to see if his bare chest was moving.

“It appears my spell did its job a little too well.” Sen strained his hearing to hear the mage’s low voice. Reaching out, the mage touched two fingers to Kalor’s forehead just beneath the small horn, his fingertip glowing faintly.

The moment the fingers touched his forehead Kalor jerked awake with a gasp, back arching painfully inward as magic coursed through his veins. Then he was sagging in the human’s grip, panting harshly.

Sen breathed a sigh of relief, refusing to admit just how scared he’d been. He ignored the more sensible part of his mind that was screaming for him to get the hell out of there. There was no way he was going to leave Kalor to the mage. Besides, he still needed to beat the shit out of him for leaving him hanging in the forest. Moving as quietly possible, he crept along the tree line, trying to hear what was being said.

He tried not to see the way the humans had rounded up the unicorn herd, leaving them huddled in the middle of the meadow. The stallions had surrounded the mares and foals that hadn’t managed to escape, snorting and pawing at the ground when a human came too close. In spite of the bravado, Sen knew they were stuck. And as much as he wanted to try and rescue them, there were too many humans, and without Kalor, they were doomed regardless.

“I’m glad that your back with us.” The mage’s voice was easier to hear the closer Sen got. “Having you awake will makes things easier.”

Kalor lifted his head, black strands of hair plastered to his sweaty face and neck. “Who are you? Why have you attacked my people, Mage?”

“You may call me Boran.” The mage said formally. Then he shrugged. “As for the reason I’m here, it turns out I needed your herd’s help with a....project of mine.” The mage reached out to touch a finger to the tip of Kalor’s horn. “I have never seen a Herd Master up close before.” Thin lips lifting into a mirthless smile. “You are truly a sight to behold.”

Kalor jerked his head away, glaring at the mage coldly. The unicorn lifted his chin defiantly, undaunted by the men holding his shoulders until their knuckles turned white. “What do you want from them?”

Boran lifted an eyebrow. “You really have to ask? Come now, Herd Master. Surely you are aware of how much a unicorn’s horn would sell for.” The mage sighed absently. “Just the magical properties alone are astounding.” His cool blue eyes settled on Kalor’s pale horn, followed by a smile that made Sen’s skin crawl. “Its hard to believe that once I had thought the legends about the powers of the unicorns were mere myths.” The man shifted, crossing his arms over his chest as he contemplated Kalor from beneath thin black brows. “The Herd Master’s horn is said to be especially powerful.” He reached out to caress Kalor’s horn once again.

Sen gripped the bark of the tree he was crouched behind until his claws sank deep into the resilient wood. The Herd Master was the leader and protector of his herd. In order to protect his herd, the Herd Master was gifted with powerful magic that allowed him to take a humanoid form, as well as strong healing abilities.

Even from where he was crouched, Sen could see the fear and anger clashing in the Herd Master’s expressive silver eyes. “I find it hard to believe that you went to all this trouble just for some horns.”

The mage chuckled. “You’d be surprised, Herd Master. Your kind possess many attributes that my people have learned to use to our benefit.” Blue eyes flicked up to survey the trapped herd before once again pinning Kalor in place. “The amount of money the horns alone could bring would equal a king’s ransom.”

Sen could see the greedy intent shining in the human hunter’s eyes at the mage’s words. It wasn’t hard to recognize, since he’d felt a similar sensation himself when he heard that possessing a unicorn’s horn might cure him of his insatiable hunger. Of course that ambition had been crushed beneath the awe of actually seeing a unicorn in the flesh. There was no way he would be able to sacrifice such a beautiful creature just to fulfill his own selfish desires. Especially since the only way to obtain the full power of the horn’s properties was to cut it off. While the unicorn was still alive.

Judging from the look in eyes of the hunters that were holding Kalor, it was only fear of the mage that kept them from throwing him down and sawing his horn off right then and there. Apparently morals were not a requirement for human mercenaries. Who knew.

Gritting his teeth angrily, Kalor lunged forward abruptly, forcing the mercenaries holding him to strain backward as they fought to hold him in place. “Tell me what you want, Mage!”

Boran seemed pleased by Kalor’s outburst. “I want power, Herd Master. Just like every other mage out there, I seek to better myself through the study of magic.” Darkness slid across bright blue eyes. “But I want more. And I’ve found a way to get it.” Reaching out, the mage grabbed a hold of Kalor’s tunic and hauled his face closer. “I know about the Magic Spring that resides in the center of the Black Wood. And I want it.”

“Then go get it,” Kalor bit out. “What does this have to do with my people?”

The first sign of temper flashed across the Boran’s face, and he shoved Kalor away from him, turning away to pace. “I have tried, but the Black Wood has defied me at every turn. The forest itself shifts, always moving the Magic Spring beyond my reach.”

Understanding dawned in Sen, and his lips twisted into a triumphant smirk. Not surprising really. The Black Wood was not an ordinary forest. It wouldn’t just sit back and watch as a human tried to find its magic center.

Kalor echoed Sen’s smirk. “The Black Wood would not let a human reach the Magic Spring.” His smirk widened. “Especially a mage.”

The mage’s movements stilled, his back still turned to Kalor. “Yes, so I’ve discovered.” Then the mage turned. “That’s why your going to help me.”

“Never!” Kalor spat. “Not after what you’ve done to my people!”

Boran stalked closer until he was looming over Kalor’s kneeling form. “If you don’t help me, then I will be forced to take my displeasure out on your herd.” Boran smiled at the fear that flickered behind silver eyes. “Yes, that’s right. Your people are such beautiful creatures. It would be a shame to have to harm them.” He slid an unreadable look at the Herd Master. “I have much more use for them alive than dead.”

Kalor did not speak, only glared defiantly at Mage Boran. The mage met his gaze, then shrugged. “Fine. Just remember that you chose this.” Boran lifted his hand, giving a sharp nod to a mercenary standing nearby. The man nodded in return, and trotted over to where the mare from before was pinned to the ground, her withers stained with sweat and heaving as she strained against the net holding her in place.

Seeing where the mercenary was headed, Kalor began to struggle wildly. “Get the fuck away from her!” He snarled. In a burst of energy he threw the mercenaries off of him and lunged to his feet, eyes full of deadly intent. He only got two steps when a spell struck him across the chest, freezing him in place.

“If I were a kinder man, I would call my man back and allow you to lead me to the Magic Spring,” said the mage. His eyes remained frosty. “But I am not, and this will serve as a reminder not to cross me when you do lead me to the spring.” The mage nodded to the mercenary, who had paused to watch the small encounter. “Continue.”

Realizing what was taking place, several of the stallions bugled furiously, pawing the air as their eyes rolled wildly. But they did not charge as they so obviously wanted to. If they did, they would leave the other mares and foals exposed. All they could do was watch.

Time slowed to a crawl for Sen as he watched the mercenary kneel by the mare’s head. One of his fellows handed him a small saw, the metal edge gleaming with small runes. Every second drawing out to epic proportions, the blade descended.

Sen didn’t even remember moving.

One moment he was crouched behind a tree, realizing that the mare was about to get her horn sawed off right in front of his eyes and if he didn’t do something she would die, and the next he was sprinting across the meadow. His hiding place was between Kalor’s position and the fallen mare, and utilizing every ounce of speed he possessed, it took only a few breaths before he was on the mercenary.

If Sen had thought time had slowed watching the blade inch towards the mare’s horn, it stopped when he reached the mercenary. His senses were heightened to almost painful awareness. The air was sliding across his skin in a lover’s caress, the scents of the meadow bombarding him in a flurry of sweat, sweet grass and the sharp tang of metal. Every thud of his heart was an explosion in his ears, and green of the grass was blinding, even the dull browns too much for him.

He didn’t know what he was doing. Sen had never bothered learning how to fight. Most Incubi didn’t. Why fight when they could fuck?

Fear giving him strength, Sen lashed out wildly with his foot. As luck would have it he managed to connect, the sharp crack as he broke the wrist holding the blade startling in the sudden quiet. It dropped in a flash of silver, thudding into the ground a hair’s width from the base of the mare’s horn. The man howled in anger and pain, using his free hand to draw his sword in a broad arc. Seeing the move, Sen threw himself back, stumbling over the ropes that had been fastened to stakes driven into the ground, keeping the mare secured. He fell to the ground, trying to scramble away even as his feet tangled in the ropes.

The mercenary loomed over him, eyes dark with fury. “You will pay for that, creature.” A thick fist reached out and grabbed a hold of Sen’s tunic, hauling him off the ground and into the air. The man shoved his face close, and Sen nearly choked on the scent of his fetid breath. “I am going to make you scream.”

Instead of fear, Sen found himself drowning in Hunger. The man was way too close and breath not with standing, he smelled of life. Sen’s mouth watered as he hungered for the life energy that flowed through the man’s veins like blood, his stomach cramping viciously as want slammed through him with every ragged breath. Sen knew with a distant sense of horror that he had pushed his body too far. He stood on a precipice now, and he was only moments of falling into the darkness that writhed below.

Everything has a price. And Sen was going to pay a heavy one for saving the mare’s life.

Staring up into the mercenaries furious gaze, Sen sighed, a small sound of despair that faded into the nothingness as the sun beat down upon them. “Forgive me...Kalor.”

Then the Hunger took him.

It rushed through him with a wild strength that was more pain than desire, setting every nerve on fire until he was clawing at his own skin. He felt the human drop him only distantly, his focus turned inward as need hummed and pulsed against his insides. Physical pain joined the agony of starvation as a boot collided with his ribs, sending him sprawling. Feverish gold eyes looked up to see the mercenary looming over him once again, the man’s features morphed into a thunderous scowl. “What the fuck is wrong with you!”

Sen tilted his head to the side, lavender hair spilling over his shoulder in a tangled mess. “I’m hungry.” His voice had roughened, holding an alien edge.

“What! Who gives a shit if your hungry! I’m going to beat-aaaah!” The man fell back with a scream as Sen leapt on him, fangs bared and claws extended.

“I’m hungry!” The incubus growled menacingly, then an unholy smirk transformed his face. Oozing sex appeal, the incubus licked his lips. “And your going to help me with that.” Gripping the man’s face hard enough that his claws drew blood, Sen slammed their mouths together, shoving his tongue into the man’s mouth. Even as he shoved his tongue into the human’s mouth, his magic filled the air around them. It was only moments later he felt the human return his kiss, Sen’s magic forcing him to feel arousal.

Allowing the man to hold him, Sen broke the kiss and reached one of his hands for the man’s erection, pressing against it even through the thick breeches. The mercenary moaned, and Sen chuckled, manipulating his magic to wrap around the man’s cock, curling around it like a lover’s caress. Using his magic, he steadily increased the intensity of the human’s desire, watching his reactions avidly from beneath thick lashes.

The man moaned, and Sen could feel the man’s building orgasm, his magic fueling the man’s need beyond anything he had ever felt before. Sen smiled, and gripped the human’s erection through the fabric of his breeches, squeezing tightly with his hand and his magic until he was a writhing mass of want. His magic drove the man higher and higher, since Sen didn’t have the time or inclination to use the more hands on approach. Instead he pushed the mercenary towards the edge with unnatural swiftness, until he was only moments from orgasm. As he worked, Sen sent his magic deep into the human’s body, tapping into his life force.

He would have to time it perfectly.

“You really should have known better than to enter the Black Wood, Human.” Sen leaned closer, dragging his tongue up the side of the man’s face. “Our hospitality is to die for,” he whispered huskily into the aroused human’s ear, the man too far gone to feel fear.

Only once he was sure the hunter was completely in his thrall did he allow his magic to push the human over the edge. The mercenary came with a white hot fury, a long low moan being dragged from the man as he spurted his seed, messing his pants. Sealing his mouth to the human’s, Sen swallowed his moans eagerly, tasting power and desire. The orgasm dragged on, and Sen began to pull magic from the human’s body, feasting on it even as he hungered for more. Sen caught the mercenary as his knees abruptly gave out, lowering him the ground even as he continued to feed.

When it finally ended Sen sat back with a sigh, licking his lips in satisfaction as he released his impromptu lover. The man toppled back, eyes wide and unseeing, his mouth gone slack. Getting to his feet, Sen stepped away from the swiftly cooling body, straightening his clothes even as he enjoyed the faint buzz in his veins from the power he’d pulled from the human’s body. It had been so long since he’d fed from a living body.

Sen paused a moment to stare down at the dead human, the hunger that still rode him making grief impossible. “Thank-you for your help, human. You really shouldn’t have entered the Black Wood.” Stepping over the dead body, Sen looked up, and met the mage’s intrigued blue eyes.

Thinking hard, Sen stayed where he was. He considered his power level. While he had gotten a decent amount from the mercenary, it was far from his full strength. Continuous sex was far more efficient than the brutal drawing of power that he’d just done. His method was sloppy at best, the fierce drain killing the human before he could even begin to tap his full potential. Letting his eyes flick to where Kalor was still frozen, Sen knew he would have to be very careful.

He also had a plan. Sen just hoped his insanity wouldn’t get them all killed.

Against his will, Sen’s body shuddered delicately as he caught the scent of Man in the air. His hunger for sex had yet to be fulfilled, and it pressed down on him like a huge weight. Struggling to control the predator that had been given a brief moment of freedom, Sen took a deep breath. He could do this. He had no other choice.

Pausing a moment to meet the mage’s eyes, Sen then bent down and with one hand, ripped up the spikes that were holding the net in place. Using his recently enhanced strength, Sen jerked the whole net off of the mare. Sensing freedom was in her grasp, the mare lurched unsteadily to her feet, legs shaking. When Sen took a step toward her, she shied, prancing back as she laid her ears flat against her head. Then she shook her head and trotted towards the rest of the herd, the mercenaries too involved in staring at Sen to stop her.

Refusing to be hurt by her rejection, Sen sighed, then turned his attention to the mage, who had yet to look away. Lifting his chin and gathering his newfound power around him like a cloak, Sen began to walk towards him. His walk influenced by the sexual hunger that hummed in the air around him, he glided across the soft grass that had been trampled down by hooves and booted feet, every move he made lithe and graceful. Sensual awareness crackled in the air around him until it formed a physical presence that reached out to caress and taunt.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw several mercenaries move to head him off, drawing their blades as they approached. Turning the full power of his gaze on them, Sen was satisfied to see them stop dead in their tracks, eyes going wide as his magic curled around them like an affectionate cat. Their eyes glazed and weapons dropped from limp fingers.

Even as Sen smirked in satisfaction, disgust shivered through him. It didn’t matter what preference they were. There was no defense against pure unadulterated lust. Something of which he was giving off in spades.

He was disgusted to realize how hard it was to continue past them, with him being tempted to make use of their pliable minds and bodies. Passing by them, Sen wasn’t strong enough to resist the temptation to drag a clawed hand across one of the men’s chest in a hard caress. He chuckled in spite of himself when he heard the man inhale sharply, nostril’s flaring as he smelled the man’s instant arousal. He hated himself for being tempted. He had a mission to accomplish.

Keeping his pace light and easy, Sen continued towards the mage, coming to a stop a few paces away. He didn’t speak, letting the silence settle between them as a much needed buffer. The urge to touch and tease was getting overwhelming, and keeping his breathing even was becoming more difficult with every passing moment.

The mage was the first to speak. “An incubus. What a surprise.” Blue eyes flicked past Sen to the prone form lying in the distance. “Its seems to have been a while since you fed, Incubus.”

“I’ve had other things on my mind,” Sen drawled, feeling like an intruder in his own body. He grinned, tongue snaking out to lick his lips with a will of its own. “I couldn’t help but over hear your conversation with Kalor over there, and thought I’d drop by.” Inside he screamed, hating himself for the seductive lilt to his voice, the come hither look that he just knew was shining in his golden eyes.

Boran lifted his thin brows in question. “What do you want, Incubus? As you can see I’m kind of in the middle of something.”

“I want many things,” Sen stated vaguely, absently dragging a claw against his bottom lip. “But what I want is not the question. I’m here because of what you want as a matter of fact.”

Boran continued to watch him blankly. “Really? In what way?”

Sen sidled closer, lifting his face to stare up at the sky. Then he smiled, nodding his head in Kalor’s direction. He was careful not to make eye contact with the frozen Herd Master, who was still caught in the grips of Boran’s spell. “That’s not the way to get what you want, you know.” He let his magic slide around the mage in a gentle caress.

The mage lifted his hand in warning, eyes cold. “I know what your kind are capable of, Incubus. If you try to influence me, you will come to regret it.”

Sen shrugged apologetically, inwardly cursing. “Forgive me, sometimes I forget myself.” In the safety of his mind he imagined beating the mage to a pulp with a rock, and felt a little better. “As I was saying, there is an easier way to get want you want.”

“My method seems to be working.” The mage pointed out.

Sen nodded once. “Yes, to a point. But your plan involves on coercion, which everyone knows is only successful half of the time. My way is easy and painless with everyone getting what they want.”

For the first time since they started talking, a glimmer of interest sparked to life in the depth of the mage’s blue eyes. “And what is your method of getting me what I want?”

“I’m offering to lead you to the Magic Spring myself.” Sen kept his gaze fixed on the mage, and not on angry silver. He could feel the Kalor’s anger scorching him, and he had to fight not to flinch away from it. He needed to stay focused, since the hunger was urging him to satisfy his desires, regardless of the consequences.

Boran snorted, crossing his arms over his chest as he eyed the incubus skeptically. “And why would you want to do that? Especially after I hurt your friend here.”

Sen made a mocking bow. “For one, as you no doubt see, I am far from human. The forest will not avoid me.” His eyes narrowed. “And second, if getting you to the Magic Spring means that you leave the herd alone, then that’s fine with me,” Sen snapped in his first sign of temper. At least something hadn’t changed. “Kalor is a friend, and I will not stand by and have him hurt if there’s something I can do to change that.”

Kalor was more than a friend. The knowledge of his true feelings for the Herd Master hit Sen like a sledge hammer, and he struggled to keep from screaming his irritation at the untimely revelation. Of all the times to discover this why the hell had it happened right now!

Fighting to keep his recent revelation from showing on his face, he glared at the mage. “The deal is if you let him and the herd go, I’ll show you where it is.”

The mage stared at Sen for a moment, then shook his head and chuckled softly. “I don’t think so, Incubus. While your plan is enticing, there is still no guarantee that you will actually take me to the Spring. I prefer to have..insurance.” His smile widened, “You understand.”

“What do you suggest?”

The mage nodded, pleased by Sen’s willingness to cooperate. “You will lead me to the Spring, and the Herd Master will join us on our little venture. The Herd Master will ensure you and the herd behave yourselves.”

Sen scowled, bracing his hands on his hips. “And how am I supposed to ensure that you’ll let them go after you get your Magic Spring?”

“You don’t.”

“How comforting.” Running a hand through his tangled hair, Sen allowed himself to meet Kalor’s blazing silver gaze. He could see the unicorn silently commanding him not to do it, since he was still unable to move his mouth. Sen minutely shook his head, knowing the Herd Master would see it. I don’t have a choice, he thought. Please understand that. “Mage Boran, I believe we have ourselves a bargain.”