Free Heart of Avalon (Avalon: Web of Magic #10): by Rachel Roberts Page B

or was something happening to her now? It didn’t matter. Touching the core of her magic was like exposing a raw nerve. It was agonizing, unbearable pain—
    Flash!
    —a white unicorn appeared, her magnificent horn severed. Confusion, shame, and fear hit Emily like she was seeing Lorelei for the first time. The beautiful unicorn had been injured, alone, without her magic, without her friends.
    Yet sensing Emily’s need, the unicorn gifted her with a sweet melody, a healing song of friendship and love—the song she and Emily had made their own.
    Frantic, Emily reached for the unicorn, allowing the bond to envelop her. The magic steadied, and she focused on the thousands of animals trapped in her web.
    Suddenly, soothing cool greens and blues swept over her. It felt familiar and calming. It was her rainbow stone.
    The screams of the animals fell away one by one—freed from her twisted web of magic. The song of Lorelei rang out, and it filled Emily with the truth.
    Emily had healed Lorelei, just as she had healed the others. They were healthy and whole. But their pain was forever lodged in her heart, a dark fear that uncoiled each time she had to use her power. It was her burden, her job to keep everyone strong. But who was supposed to heal her?
    “Em-il-ee,” a voice beckoned.
    “Indi?”
    The sea dragon sat before her. Wide blue eyes seemed to fill with understanding. For the first time, she felt something solid and real coming from the shapeshifter. He flashed through dozens of animals, transforming in a blur of magic. Indi was tapping into her rainbow stone, trying to find the perfect animal. He was trying to bond with her. Dream-like, the creature that was Indi grew taller, shimmering, until the most beautiful unicorn she had ever seen was standing in front of her.
    His silky coat shone purple, swirling like sunset skies. His horn blazed like a brilliant rainbow, a shining beacon guiding her from the dark places of her heart. It was magic only a true bonded animal could give.
    “Emilee… ”
    “Emily! Wake up!”
    The healer came to herself with a start. Her head ached from the terrible strain of using so much magic. “Indi?”
    “No, it’s me, Marlin!” His voice sounded far away, but when she turned her head, he was standing right there. “Hurry, you have to see this!”
    “What happened?” Why did she feel so drained, like she’d just run a marathon?
    “You were in some kind of trance.” Marlin brushed Emily’s hair out of her face, looking deep into her eyes.
    “Trance… ” Emily scrambled to her feet. “Where’s Miranda?”
    “Who?”
    “The woman who came on board with us!”
    Marlin frowned. “What are you talking about? There was no one else with us.”
    Had it all been a dream? It’d seemed so real. All those animals crying out because her magic hurt them, and then Indi, her bonded, saving her. Emily hugged herself, suddenly cold.
    “I don’t know how you did it, but you healed it, him, whatever.” Marlin pointed across the deck.
    An amazing purple unicorn colt pranced happily about the deck. His horn sparkled with rainbow magic—her healing jewel!
    “Indi?”
    “Look at me!” Indi the unicorn exclaimed, kicking up his glittering hooves.
    Emily stared in wonder at the transformed shapeshifter. Instantly she felt the strong connection, unlike anything she had experienced before. It was as if a part of her danced within the creature. It had finally happened—she had bonded with a magical animal!
    “Clamdoodle!” Cribby sputtered, frantically spinning the ship’s wheel. “Ya better get yer barnacles over here!”
    Indi trotted across the deck, his horn swirling blues and greens.
    Emily gazed out over the ocean, appalled.
    The water was littered with bodies.
    “The sea beasties are belly up!” Cribby pointed to the limply floating creatures.
    Fear clamped around Emily’s heart like a vise.
    “Are they all dead?” Marlin asked in horror.
    She tentatively reached out,