Queen of Unicorns Read online

  Queen of Unicorns

  Kingdom of Fairytales Rumpelstiltskin book 1

  J A Armitage

  Jennifer Ellision

  Contents

  1. 22nd April

  2. 23rd April

  3. 24th April

  4. 25th April

  5. 26th April

  6. 27th April

  7. 28th April

  After the Happily Ever After…

  A NEW FAIRYTALE ANTHOLOGY

  Join us

  A note from the author

  About Emma Savant

  About J.A. Armitage

  The Kingdom of Fairytales Team

  Copyright © 2019 by J A Armitage

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Edited By Rose Lipscomb

  Cover by Enchanted Quill Press

  Created with Vellum

  Kingdom of Fairytales

  You all know the fairytales, the stories that always have the happy ending. But what happens after all those storybook characters get what they wanted? Is it really a happily ever after?

  Kingdom of Fairytales is a new way of reading with one chapter a day and one book a week throughout the year beginning January 1st

  Lighting-fast reads you won’t be able to put down

  Read in real time as each chapter follows a day in the life of a character throughout the entire year, with each bite-sized episode representing a week in the life of our hero.

  Each character’s story wrapped up at the end of every season with a brand new character and story featured in each season.

  Fantasy has never been so epic!

  22nd April

  I woke with a kick in my belly and a curse on my lips.

  Rumpelstiltskin.

  The oath was a childhood swear, and I wanted to say much worse as I bit back the jolt of pain. Turning on my side, I cradled my stomach—and the life inside of me it held. Methodically, I rubbed a hand over my stomach in slow, soothing circles. Months of experience told me this was the surest and quickest road to relief, and this time proved no different. The kicking calmed to a less insistent flutter against my hand. Like the baby was waving at me instead of pounding a drumbeat against my bladder, the little rascal. Thankful for the respite, I hummed an absent tune under my breath, all of my energy focused on getting the baby to settle.

  Hush, little one, I sang, mentally willing the child to calm down.

  At last, movement abated inside of me, my unborn child soothed. I breathed a sigh of relief, thankful for a respite for my bladder as my baby rested. My lips twitched, suppressing a chuckle. His or her nap began as my own ended.

  I opened my eyes to the crystal-blue sky overhead. The day was clear, with few clouds above me to spoil it. Far off in the distance, a cadre of puffy white plumes trailed over the treetops. Water from a nearby stream—one of the little inlets in the meadow that led to the ocean—bubbled merrily in a jaunty little song. Leaving one hand on my belly, I let the other drift down to run my fingers over the lush grass of the verdant meadow. Everything was perfect here. A land of eternal sunshine and beauty. Beautiful foliage. Gorgeous weather. Nature and humans coexisting in peace. This was my own paradise and, in my opinion, more beautiful than the other eleven kingdoms put together. Not one of them could hold a torch to Vale, and this part of Vale especially. The meadows that ran down the valley in front of the palace.

  It would be easy for anyone to understand why this was one of the only places I felt at peace. Why I never wanted to leave. I felt protected in the meadow. Safe. Its ethereal beauty seemed as impenetrable as a magical barrier. Nothing bad could happen here.

  A bitter smile twisted my lips. Nothing bad was supposed to happen in the capital, Shipley, at all. Much less in the kingdom of Vale. But my life was a perfect indicator that things don't always happen the way that they were supposed to.

  My gaze drifted down to my swollen belly once again. My left hand still rested on top of the pink fabric covering it. A simple silver band encircled my ring finger. It was pointless, now that Luka was gone. Who exactly did I need to announce my fidelity to?

  Despite those thoughts, I couldn't seem to take it off. No more today than any other day in the past nine months.

  Nine months since Luka left me. Not that he had any choice in the matter. The illness was mercifully brief, but devastating nonetheless, leaving me with a heart torn to shreds and, as I found out just a couple of weeks after his death, a child.

  Luka’s baby. That and the ring were the only things I had left of him.

  I heaved myself to my feet—no easy feat with the extra weight surrounding my abdomen and without a steadying hand there to help me. I managed it the same way I'd managed most of this pregnancy—alone. There hadn't been any other choice. I swayed as my center of gravity adjusted to the new position and put a hand on my spine, grimacing as I stretched out the tension in my lower back. The grass had looked like a perfectly fine mattress, but it appeared that my body begged to differ. I ran my fingers through my long, pale-blonde hair, extracting any bits of grass that had gotten caught in it.

  A soft whinny sounded behind me, interrupting my thoughts of Luka. I turned, my mouth curving up into a grin. I already knew what I’d see there.

  The green fields and rolling hills weren't the only reason the meadow was my favorite place in all of the kingdom. Soft, golden eyes beneath a horn of a matching hue met mine. The intelligent gaze sat atop a long white nose.

  No, that wasn't quite right. Its color wasn't exactly white. The color of its snout was closer to a pearl, with a shimmering metallic sheen bordering on a pale silver, the same color as its wings.

  A little thrill of pleasure shot through me, and I reached out a hand to greet the winged unicorn as it took a shy step forward to meet me. It left the shelter of the trees to nuzzle first against my palm and then butted my hip with its nose, looking for my pockets, searching for a treat.

  It found the pockets, but there was nothing inside. Finding none, it huffed in disappointment and nuzzled at my cheek. This was a young one, I discerned from its wide eyes and brightly shining horn. The glimmer of a unicorn’s spear dulled slightly as they aged. But she wasn’t so young that I’d call her a filly, nor old enough that I’d consider her a mare. By unicorn standards, I’d call her a teenager. A newcomer at that. I knew most of the unicorns that lived in the valley and the meadows surrounding the palace, but sometimes, a new one would appear.

  I put a finger to my chin playfully when it continued to nose at my dress, hoping it had just missed a treat that I’d been hiding inside. “Do you happen to know any young unicorns who may be in need of a snack? I have some treats I’ve been looking to offload.” The unicorn's ears pricked up, standing at attention as it let out a joyful neigh. Even the unicorns that didn’t know me always understood what I said when it came to snacks. Among the people of Vale, I’d become known as The Unicorn Princess. It was a silly title, but one I liked. I’d never really found my talent, so the unicorns were all I had. The unicorn renewed its search of my dress with vigor, and I laughed as I pushed it away. It was impossible to retain my morose mood in the face of her kind. They were creatures of pure joy and light. They sucked up the darkness and spat out delight.

  Intending to have a picnic, I’d brought a straw basket with me to the meadow. It still rested beside my napping spot, where my imprint still showed, blades of grass squashed by my pregnant body. The unicorn followed me there as I turned to open it and peruse its contents.<
br />
  “Let's see here...” I muttered as I shifted items aside in search of something she'd like. I'd brought red apples instead of the green ones that unicorns generally preferred, but...

  I held out the cheery red fruit in question, and she pranced in place, jerking her head away. If she had the ability, she'd have wrinkled her nose and scrunched up her face in disgust.

  “I thought not.” I chuckled, eyes scanning the shadows of the basket. "All right, all right. What else do I have...?" A block of cheese... some distilled water in a flask... and...

  “Aha!” I crowed in victory, emerging from the basket with my prize and unwrapping it from the brown paper I'd folded it inside. The teenage unicorn’s nostrils flared as the paper crinkled. It released the nutty scent of the food inside.

  She let out a horsey squeal of delight. I'd barely freed the sandwich from its wrappings when it was snatched from my hand, her lips brushing the tips of my fingers. “Watch it,” I warned with a teasing tone. “Teeth nearly got me there, young one.”

  She gobbled down it with glee and licked her lips, searching for any hint of a taste that it had left behind. A little known fact: unicorns go crazy for peanut butter and jelly. She whickered an inquiry, craning her neck to look behind me at the open picnic basket.

  I shrugged. “Sorry. That's all I've got.” It had been my lunch, too, which meant I’d be returning to the palace sooner rather than later. The fruit and cheese would tide me over until I could raid the kitchens later.

  The unicorn seemed to accept my apology, bumping her nose at my elbow until I raised my arm to let her underneath. I settled back down onto the ground, and she folded her knees until she lay beside me and rested her chin lightly just a little higher than my belly.

  I looked down at her, raising my brow. "You realize that's my unborn child that you're using as a pillow, don't you?" I asked dryly.

  The unicorn didn't move, angling her eyes up as innocently as a puppy begging for scraps.

  I melted. How could I not? I swore if she had shoulders, she would have shrugged in response as if to say “Eh. What are you gonna do?”

  According to my parents, unicorn sightings were once rare in Vale, but something changed many years ago, and their population exploded.

  I wasn't sure I believed that.

  It seemed impossible in a kingdom that had a combination stable-aviary that was specifically designed to cater to unicorns: the staviary. It was unbelievable in a world where there were plenty of unicorns. They peered at humans from safe distances, from the shadows of trees and around corners. Everyone who bothered to occasionally leave the city had seen a unicorn. They preferred open pastures and wide, free spaces—uncrowded by stone buildings that obscured the skies. And really, who could blame them?

  My gaze ascended to the sky above me. I, for one, understood perfectly. A person could breathe out here. You could think away from all of the crowds and noise. My fingers absently stroked the unicorn’s coat. There was no pleasure like it in the world, the feeling like spun silk beneath my fingers. Indescribably soft. Lulled into relaxation by my ministrations, she grunted and shifted to get comfortable. Her eyes slowly closed until she fell into the soft, rhythmic breath of sleep. I smiled, watching her. Everyone had seen unicorns... but I didn't know of anyone else who was as lucky as I was. They were skittish creatures. They watched, but they did not approach. They believed in a look-but-don't-touch philosophy upon first meeting. It took most people multiple meetings with a single unicorn to coax them close enough to touch. It took time for the unicorns to trust them. That wasn’t the case with me, though. I couldn’t go for a walk without at least one coming to join me, hence my title. Since Luka died, they had been my only companions... well, almost only companions. I still had Jay. The young unicorn shifted in her sleep and nudged my belly with her nose. The baby in my womb softly kicked in response, ready to fight back. I was going to have fun with this little one, I mused, sleepily.

  I felt a swell of affection toward the dozing unicorn in my lap. "Perhaps you'd like to come home with me," I whispered. "I could always use another friend. We could give you a name. How do you feel about Misty?"

  One golden eye opened, and she sighed. I took it as a sign of acquiescence. “You’ll like the staviary,” I promised. We have unicorns that work at the palace. I let out a yawn. Pregnancy was incredibly tiring. As the unicorn was napping on me, I used it as an excuse to close my own eyes and continue my nap.

  “Well, well, what do we have here? The beautiful princess being held hostage by a pesky unicorn. What can I do to save the lady in peril?”

  I didn't open my eyes, a smirk gracing my lips. I should have known he'd find me here. "It’s the baby that’s holding me hostage. Misty was just keeping me company."

  “Misty?”

  “I named her. She’s being a sweetheart.”

  “And here I thought I was being a knight in shining armor.” The soft sound of grass crushed beneath feet reached my ears as the speaker drew closer. The air cooled above me as his shadow caressed my form. The warmth gone from my face, I opened my eyes to see my friend Jay smiling down at me.

  The sun haloed his head, casting him in a golden light as I looked up at him. Already a tall man, when I lay down on the ground like this, he appeared as tall as a tree, stretching to the sky. His skin was painted by years of working outdoors, and his eyes were as green as the meadow I slept in. He wore a cap over a head of soft, brown hair. Sweat beaded his forehead, and the sun colored his cheeks rosy. A bit of scruff edged his face. It appeared he hadn’t taken the time to pull a razor along his face.

  He grinned, a crooked, little half-smile. A smile that made half the women in the kingdom melt and the other half wish they weren’t already married. It made me wonder what mischief he had in mind. Jay was the one thing that had kept me sane in the weeks following Luka’s death. Where my mother had fretted and fussed, Jay had sat and listened to me as I cried. He’d talked to me for hours about Luka, and he’d been the one to hold me close when the whole world felt like it was closing in around me.

  His eyes twinkled with good humor as he sat down beside me. When he accidentally nudged the unicorn’s hindquarters while settling in, she bolted upright, whinnying in indignation. Her magnificent wings stretched out, and she took flight. Airborne above us, she chittered at him angrily. I had no doubt that if we could understand her, she'd be reading him the riot act. But thankfully, she didn't leave. Only grumbled, keeping her distance in the air above.

  Meanwhile, his gaze skimmed my body, lingering on my swollen belly. "How are you feeling today?"

  The unicorn's gaze flicked down to me, waiting for my response. Her distance made it easier to feel all of the negative emotions that her light had swallowed up. Because the truth was: I felt the same as I did every day. Scared, alone, exhausted. And gods bless it… I missed my husband.

  I swallowed down all of those responses and forced a smile. "I'm fine," I said.

  Jay didn't buy it. He never did. Unfortunately, one consequence of us spending so much time together in the wake of Luka’s death was that he could read me like a book. "I could help, you know."

  I got to my feet and brushed away the grass that clung to my skirt. “With the wild unicorns?” I asked, being deliberately obtuse as I bent down to retrieve my basket. “Don't be silly, Jay. You know how long it takes for most people to forge a bond with one. Days, weeks, months...” I looked away from him and stretched a hand toward the sky. The unicorn flew lower and nuzzled against my hand. “I know you’re used to working with the unicorns that chose a life in the staviary, but I’ve been looking after the unicorns in the meadows for years. I've got this.”

  Jay rose until he stood tall above me once more and looked down at me sternly. “That wasn't what I meant, and you know it, Eliana.”

  My fingers, which had been gently scratching the unicorn's snout, stilled. I sighed. He never called me by my full name. He usually went with Lia. “I knew what you meant,” I sa
id softly.

  “So why pretend you didn’t?”

  That was the funny thing. I knew what he meant when he said he could help, and he knew why I pretended I didn’t. It was a heartbreaking game we’d been playing for months, and as my belly grew, so did the frequency in which we played. It was a simple game. He offered help, I pushed him away.

  His hand hovered in the air before my stomach, and his eyes met mine, seeking permission. “Can I...?” he asked, trailing off.

  I nodded. He placed a hand over my stomach and pushed out a breath from between his lips. "Wow," he breathed. “Peanut’s gotten so big.”

  I couldn’t help but grin as he used my favorite nickname for my little boy or girl . The tension I’d been feeling drifted away. My hand joined his on my belly, touching the tips of my fingers to his. “I know.”

  "I'm surprised your parents let you out of the palace when you're this close to your due date," Jay said.

  I bit my lip and looked to the side. “I may have snuck out,” I confessed. My mother was incredibly protective, and, as Jay had said, would probably not have let me leave the palace alone. She hated me going anywhere without the guards, but the unicorns were generally scared of the palace guards, preferring to keep a safe distance from them.

  He raised an eyebrow at me and snorted. "Yeah. I'm sure you're extremely stealthy in your condition."

  “Hey! You'd be surprised how sneakily I can waddle. Besides, Mother and Father were away for a couple of nights on a royal trip.”

  He laughed, shaking his head. “So. Nine months, huh?”