Free Secret of the Unicorn (Avalon: Web of Magic #4) by Rachel Roberts Page A

some of the others are filling them in on this world and everything,” Adriane told her.
    Pink shoelaces in hand, Kara said, “Storm doesn’t think Lorelei is a unicorn. And neither do I.”
    “Why not?”
    “Think about it.” Kara tapped herself on the forehead. “What do unicorns have that makes them so special? Duh. A horn .”
    “Yes, you’re right, but still…”
    Kara waggled her shoelaces in the air. “Yoo-hoo, guys,” she called to the dragonflies. “I’ve got something else for you to play with.”
    The dragonflies buzzed over and eagerly grabbed the shoelaces, spinning them into small webs. Tiny, colorful sparks started to pop in the air all around them.
    “This is nuts. The dreamcatcher has to be made from something stronger, some real magic!” Adriane said.
    “We’re waiting for your suggestions, Snow Black,” Kara quipped.
    Ignoring Kara, Adriane went on. “We know something has happened in Aldenmor and it most likely involves the Dark Sorceress. We need to think of something more effective to cover the portal if it opens again.”
    Emily bit her lip. She understood why her friends were so focused on fixing the dreamcatcher. As long as the portal remained unprotected, there was no telling what might come through when it opened again. But she couldn’t seem to concentrate. Not while Lorelei was still out there somewhere in the woods, alone and scared.
    “I’m going back out,” she said as casually as she could. “See if I can find Lorelei again.”
    The other girls exchanged a glance. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea,” Adriane said.
    “She’s right,” Kara agreed. “It sounds like that non-unicorn of yours is pretty dangerous. What if it’s the evil something Zach warned us about?”
    “Evil?” Emily echoed in surprise. “Lorelei isn’t evil.”
    Adriane ducked as two dragonflies swooped past, inches from her head, furiously trying to spin tiny pink dreamcatchers. “Well, knocking down trees and throwing around boulders doesn’t exactly sound good to me.”
    “Lorelei didn’t mean to do all that.” Emily couldn’t believe how her friends were reacting. They hadn’t even been there! She whirled toward the mistwolf. “Storm, tell them!”
    Storm met her gaze steadily. “ The creature has very strong magic ,” she said. “ So strong that she seems unable to control it. That counts as dangerous .”
    Glancing over her shoulder, Emily saw Ghyll hopping over to them. Ozzie was strolling next to the flobbin.
    “Hey, Ozzie,” Kara said, staring curiously at the giant froglike creature. “Who’s your new friend?”
    Emily realized that Kara must not have seen Ghyll the day before. She was about to explain.
    But before she could say a word, Ghyll suddenly straightened up, his bulging eyes seeming to expand to twice their usual size. His warty blue skin glowed as his mouth opened in astonishment, purple tongue rolling onto the ground. “Well, hello there!” he cried out, leaping forward so eagerly Ozzie went flying.
    “Hey!” the ferret cried. “Watch it!”
    Ghyll didn’t even seem to hear him. His gaze was pinned on Kara. He hopped up to her and stopped. “Most beautiful of creatures,” he said breathlessly. “I am Ghyll, your most humble and adoring servant.”
    “Hey. Not so close.” Kara brushed her blond hair back from her face, dislodging a stray spaghetti noodle as she did so. “I’m Kara Davies, the most beautiful of creatures.”
    “What ravishing beauty!” Ghyll hopped closer still, gazing at Kara adoringly. “Would you honor me with a kiss?”
    Kara wrinkled her nose. “I don’t think so,” she said, taking a step backward. “I’m on a break.”
    Ghyll leaned forward eagerly. His bulging eyes were level with Kara’s forehead. “Just one little kiss—to turn me into a handsome prince!”
    He puckered his wide, rubbery lips and closed his eyes. Lyra stood up, her fur bristling, pushing her way between the flobbin and the