Becoming Magical [2]

C H A P T E R - 3

"Keefe, this is really great but are you sure that your dad is gonna allow this?" Meredith asked, hesitantly.

"He doesn't even care." Keefe said and then grimaced at the look that Meredith gave him.

"Keefe, don't say that. He does care. He just has a strange way of showing it." Meredith said.

"That's what you think Mer. He didn't even bat an eyelash when I told him that I was going out." Keefe said.

"Keefe..."

"Just not now Mer. It Keefe-Mer time now."

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"I really enjoyed our Keefe-Mer time." Keefe said with a grin.

"Yup, I couldn't have believed you if I didn't see the races." Meredith said.

"Don't I get a kiss for showing you how awesome the races were?" 

"Yup."

"What? No pro-"

Keefe got cut off by the lips that met his. His arms wrapped around Meredith's waist and her arms wrapped around his neck and both of them pulled each other close.

When they broke apart, Keefe said, "Wow, I did not expect it without protests."

Meredith shrugged and said, "Always expect the unexpected."

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The lush pastures of Havenfield glittered into focus as Sophie's body re-formed on the wide, flower-lined path that cut through the main grounds. Her legs held strong beneath her, but the dizziness was almost overwhelming, and rainbow flecks of light obscured her vision, like she was seeing the world through a kaleidoscope. She wobbled, wishing she had something to hold on to as the alicorn screamed with terror and took off into the sunset-streaked sky.

Sophie stumbled after her, but she'd only made it a few steps before strong hands grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around.

"What were you thinking?" Grady's arms shook as he held her tight, but Sophie was more worried about the blurry gray blob looming behind him. Even through the swirling colors she could make out Sandor's furious glare.

"I'm fine, I promise," she said, gulping down air and willing the words to be true.

The winged horse whinnied and the wave of panic helped Sophie focus. "I have to calm her down before she flies away."

Grady's grip on her shoulders tightened for a second. Then he shook his head and released her. "We'll continue this conversation later."

She was sure they would, and she didn't have time to worry about it. Her head was finally clearing—and just in time. Verdi, their resident T. rex—who still hadn't adapted to her vegetarian diet—was roaring, like she was craving a glittering-horsey snack.

The alicorn veered away from the neon-green-feathered dinosaur, heading toward the Grove, a lush orchard of bulbous, twisted trees. Several squat brown gnomes streamed from the arched green doors in the trunks, their huge gray eyes staring at the alicorn as she circled overhead.

"Help—I need something to lure her down," Sophie called as she raced past them, though several gnomes had already taken off toward the row of golden silos that lined the farthest cliffs. The gnomes weren't servants—they lived with the elves by choice—and they were masters when it came to plants and animals. Hopefully, they knew some treat an alicorn wouldn't be able to resist.