The Secret Of The Unicorn Queen -The Dark Gods (17 page)

    "Sheila?" 

    Sheila felt her face flush as Darian moved to her side, a crystal goblet in his hand. She couldn't believe how handsome he looked. The flickering candlelight made his brown hair gleam like bronze and turned his suntanned skin to gold. 

    "Yes, Darian?" 

    He glanced down at the goblet. "I know this is only fruit juice, but . . . Here's to the bravest young woman I know." Darian drank deeply, then flashed his crooked grin before adding, "And the prettiest, too." 

    Now Sheila's face was burning. Though she was never at a loss for words when it came to bantering with Darian, this was something different. 

    But before Sheila could reply, one of Laric's men came along and pulled Darian into the happy throng. Sheila sighed again. 

    If only this were her own world! If only she could stay here forever and be happy! But even now, even in the midst of this gala celebration, the word forever made Sheila wince. Wonderful though the magical land of the unicorns could be, she still missed her own home very much. And unless she could find a way to wrest the Tracker back from Mardock, she might never see that home again. 

    Sheila forced her thoughts back to the moment. She wasn't going to spoil this happy day by worrying. Or by being homesick, either! 

    Turning to Dian, who was standing nearby, she said, "You . . . uh . . . you saved my life back there. Twice! Swatting Mardock, I mean, and tripping Kumuru. I don't know how I can ever-" 

    “Don't bother thanking me," Dian interrupted brusquely.

    "I'm a warrior. I wouldn't let anyone in the band come to harm—not even you!" 

    Sheila felt herself reacting almost automatically to Dian's haughty tone. But this time, instead of snapping back at the girl, she began to laugh. And after a startled moment Dian broke out laughing, too. 

Hey, maybe we'll wind up friends after all! Sheila thought. Or . . . maybe not, she wavered as Dian struggled to stifle her merriment. 

    But there was one thing Sheila knew for sure: whatever else the unicorn riders might face in the days ahead, at least this adventure had come to a happy ending.