Unicorn's Freedom: Queen of the Horn, #1

By Sara Nebula and Sara Hazel

The last thing first year law student Ariella needs is a date.

But Fate has plans for her dating life anyway...
Ariella boards the Chicago elevated train where she finds herself transported to the magical land of Falusia -- a place where squirrels talk and travel through time, unicorn shifters roam the forests, and the evil wizard Jakarn searches for his Queen.

As it turns out, Ariella is a unicorn shifter, but not only that - she's also a Queen! Which makes Jakarn very interested in her...

Ariella must choose a mate soon or her entire unicorn blessing (a blessing is a group of unicorns) will die off as magic is drained from the land. It's a good thing this unicorn Queen has a hot former professor named Shivari to teach her the ways of the world and of love. But she's also got the eye of gentle giant / fearsome protector Lucas to keep her safe and warm. Not only that, but that evil wizard is actually kinda hot and very much in charge.

How can Ariella choose a mate? Can she stop the unicorns from dying off? What the heck should she do if she finds herself falling hard for Shivari, Lucas, and even the wizard Jakarn?

Sometimes being a unicorn queen is not all rainbows, running free in the forest, or chasing talking squirrels.

Unicorn's Freedom is a spicy why choose romance from Sara Nebula! Sometimes you don't have to choose....

Book 1 in the new Queen of the Horn series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sara Nebula
• Release date: Dec 26, 2020
• ISBN: 9798201339678

Sara Nebula

Sara Nebula is the sci fi romance pen name of Sara Hazel.  Sara writes stories of curvy women who learn they can have it all -- adventure, career, and love. There is always a hot Alpha Male who sees the brilliance in the heroine's smile and wants to make her his wife. He can be a little obsessive about it! Every story has a HAPPY EVER AFTER (HEA) and absolutely NO CHEATING!

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE: JOURNEY TO FALUSIA

Ariella

I SPLASH COLD WATER on my face, and it startles me awake. Good. That was the intended effect, after all. 

The nightmares have started again. In every single one of them, I’m running through a forest wearing a brown hooded robe. Not exactly my normal fashion choice, so I guess that’s why the clothing details stick out to me. 

As I make my way through the forest, my heavy breathing, and the crunch of sticks beneath my feet provide the entire soundtrack. I am not moving fast though. I have to stop to lean against a tree and catch my breath. Maybe I’ve been running for an awfully long time. 

Stopping is always a bad idea.

The sound of hundreds of hooves clapping against the ground fills my ears. Whoever I’ve been running from is catching up to me. But I can’t go on. I clutch at my stomach and fall to the ground, defeated. 

Soon the horses surround me. They are all white, oddly enough. Men in armor sit atop them, except for the man who moves in closer to me now. I look up at him and our eyes meet. He is wearing a black robe, and his long black hair lays over his shoulders like some kind of dark waterfall. A shiver runs through me as I stare deeper into his glowing purple eyes. 

Take her to the castle, he says in a deep voice that seems to crack the foundations of my soul. I collapse to the ground and watch the scene of my body being slung over one of the beautiful white horses. 

I always wake up unaware of what dreadful fate awaits me.

I go back to bed now and grab my phone from the nightstand. It’s three in the morning, but I send a text to my best friend Yelena. 

Me: Hey, are you awake?

The reply comes right away.

Yelena: Yes, girl. I’ve been drinking wine and watching The Last Unicorn for the last hour. It’s this cartoon that really goes well with large amounts of red wine. 

Me: I saw him again. In my dream...

Yelena: Go back to sleep, sweetie. We’ll talk about it tomorrow. I’m about to finally give up for the night.

Me: Alright, fine. But next time you want to talk to me about Theo at three in the morning, I’m not going to listen. Goodnight.

Yelena: Goodnight, Ari...

I shut my phone off and lay down, but my eyes remain wide open for the rest of the night. Maybe I’m losing my mind. Balancing work with law school is finally starting to get to me. First year is always the hardest, or so everyone always claims. This strange man who fills my nightmares is probably a manifestation of anxiety. But it’s not just that he makes me anxious. He also arouses something deep within me. He’s not the kind of man I would normally see as handsome, but I can’t help but wonder what it might feel like to take him inside of me. Maybe I am hoping he somehow releases me from my stress filled life.

I MEET UP WITH YELENA for coffee in between classes. If she had wings, I might mistake her for a fairy. She even has a pixie cut that she’s dyed pink. Her normal hair color is the brightest blonde. Her head swivels from side to side as she takes in the surroundings with her big blue eyes, her knees tapping the bottom of the table constantly. 

Yeah, Yelena is the one who is anxious. Not me. I’m sitting as still as ever. On the inside, though, I’m feeling like a raging mess. The migraine has gone from bad to worse, and I have to rub my eyes every few seconds just to feel like I have a chance at staying alive.

Yelena, please look at me, I plead. 

Look at that guy over there. I bet he’s disappointed he’s not at Yale or something. He’s always in a suit. Every damn day.

Um, did you ever consider that he might be a professor?

Yelena bursts into boisterous laughter, and several other customers in the coffee shop turn their full attention to us. 

Ari, he’s not a professor.

How do you know? I ask. 

Because I slept with him last week. A few times actually, she replies in her typical no big deal tone. 

Is there anyone at this school you haven’t been with yet? I’m including the girls in that too, by the way.

You, Yelena replies with a laugh. That’s only because you’re boring.

I am not! I reply.

Ok, maybe not boring, but definitely in love with your dream guy. I think you want him to tie you up in your next dream and give you a good spanking too while he’s at it.

I’m going to class. I’ve had enough of this for one day, I say as I stand up with latte in hand. 

But as I stand there and think about what she just said, I can’t help but wonder if she’s right. Just letting it roll over in my mind makes me shudder with some deep-seated excitement. I really have lost my mind. 

You need to go on a date, Yelena says. Just let one of these guys ravage you for one night only, and then I guarantee you the nightmares will go away.

I flip her off and head out of the shop. I haven’t got time for this. 

I hear Yelena shouting something from behind me, but I’ve tuned her out so much now that it just sounds unintelligible. I duck into an alley and lean against a brick wall. 

Yelena is probably right. I just need to let go once in a while...

The thunderous sound of the train above me brings my mind back to the present. 

Harold Washington Library is next, says the robotic voice of the train announcer. 

I head down the street towards the stairs leading up to the train. Maybe I’ll just skip class today and take a ride around the city. That always brings me peace, for some strange reason. Or I’ll just hang out in the library and read smutty books. Yeah, that’s it. 

I STAND ON THE TRAIN platform as far from the crowd of people as possible and zip my coat up to my neck. The train arrives at last, and I let everyone scramble aboard first. A man comes towards me while I wait. He’s wearing a black leather coat and a ski mask. He bumps right up against me.

Excuse you, I whisper. 

This train isn’t going where these people think it is, he says. 

What did you say?

My heart races. I should scream right now. This man is probably planning some sort of attack on the train! But my throat dries up, and my voice goes with it. I try to say something to him, and nothing comes out at all.

Ariella, this is your ticket out of this place, he whispers into my ear. 

I’m completely frozen to my spot. The train is going to leave without both of us, which is probably the best thing possible in this situation. The people onboard can just go about their day and live to see their families tonight. 

As for me, I feel an overwhelming force from above just pushing down on me and making any movement impossible. How did this asshole know my name?

Next stop, Falusia! he announces loudly as he boards the train. 

I know I shouldn’t get on this train, but now I begin to take tentative steps towards the door. I just can’t stop myself. Maybe I subconsciously imagine that I’ll be a hero and stop this insane person from blowing up the train. 

Come, Ariella, the man calls to me. He pats the empty seat beside him. It’s the only one left in this car. Without realizing I did it, I suddenly find myself sitting right beside him in blind obedience.

The train takes off, and I can’t help but wonder if this is it for me, and all these innocent people onboard...

How did you know my name? I say loudly.

Lady, who are you talking to? The man beside me asks.

The train rattles down the track, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I totally imagined the whole damn thing.

I send Yelena a text.

Me: Remind me to make an appointment with a therapist.

Yelena: I can hook you up with mine.

I don’t think Yelena’s therapist has done much good for her.

Me: Yeah, that’s alright. I’ll find my own.

Yelena: Suit yourself, Ari.

The man beside me can’t sit still. He bounces his knees up and down, while chanting Falusia...Falusia...Falusia... He is definitely crazy, but maybe not as much as I imagined him to be.

What’s Falusia? I dare to ask him.

It’s the most amazing place, lady, he says. I’m glad that I’m no longer imagining that he knows my name. There’s talking animals all over. Trees! Beautiful crystal-clear streams! Everyone there is expecting you, Ariella. I’m the one chosen to bring you there.

Ok. He really knows my name. Damn.

Ok, this isn’t funny anymore. Have you been stalking me?

No. Why do you think that? Don’t accuse me of such a mad thing! His voice grows loud, but no one on the train pays any attention to him or me.

I’m getting off at the next stop. If you follow me, I’m going to scream at the top of my lungs. Do you understand me? I explain.

I’m just the one...the one...the one...the one to bring you to Falusia... he chants.

I get up and make my way through the crowd of passengers to stand by the door.

Come back, Ariella! the man shouts. I’m really not here to hurt you.

Well, that’s good anyway.

The rattling of the train grows worse, and for a moment I wonder if we’re going to derail.

Falusia! the insane man shouts as the train creaks. 

I close my eyes and rub my forehead. A sharp pain screams through my body and I stumble onto the ground. 

Are you alright? a woman asks me.

Yeah, yeah, I’ll be fine. I just need someone to tell that man to be quiet.

What man, sweetie? she asks. 

The one in the ski mask shouting Falusia.

Oh, are you sure you’re ok? There’s no one onboard shouting that word. Maybe I should come with you when you get off and call you an ambulance. You really don’t look well.

Maybe I should get off and go to the hospital. I could check myself into the psych ward. I could be out in a week or so. It might be a pleasant break.

No, no, I’m perfectly fine, I whisper. Have we gotten to Harold Washington Library yet?

We passed it several stops ago, she replies.

What the hell. I grab hold of a pole and lift myself up. 

Doors open on the right at Falusia, the announcer says. 

The train stops, and the door opens. I can’t see a thing. A bright golden light blocks my view. But I need to get off, so I don’t even care where I am. 

I step into the light. The next thing I know, the light becomes total darkness, and I’m free falling in a spiral all the way down a long tunnel.

I think it’s safe to assume that I’ve died and gone to...Falusia?

When I finally hit the ground, I’m in the middle of a forest just like the one in my dreams. The trees are covered in pink leaves, and the dirt I’m lying on is—rainbow colored? 

Come, Ariella, the man from the train says. We haven’t got much time. I’m late in bringing you to the council.

I look all around me, but I don’t see the man anymore. 

Where are you? I call out.

I’m right here beside you, he says in a much higher-pitched voice than his usual. 

I look to my right and a small brown squirrel looks up at me. 

I don’t do drugs, I announce.

Huh? The squirrel asks.

I said, I don’t do drugs. I don’t even drink.

Well, alright then, the squirrel replies. 

How can you talk?

I told you there were talking animals in Falusia. It’s not my fault you didn’t believe me. There’s no time to explain, though. The council needs to see you immediately.

The council. Right. Who the hell are they?

I’ll leave them to explain everything. I am just the one sent to bring you here. I am but a lowly squirrel.

I shake my head, hoping that it might dispel the hallucination. I look up into the clear blue sky at the sun shining down upon the strange trees. I should just look directly into the sun, and maybe that will bring me back to reality.

I know what you’re thinking, the squirrel says. Don’t look into the sun, Ariella. That’s just stupid.

How the heck —

Squirrels can read minds. Now come along.

I scramble onto my feet and the squirrel runs off into the forest.

Don’t move so fast! I shout after him. 

I follow him for who knows how long. It feels like I’ve been walking for days when he finally leads me into a clearing. 

Wait here, says Mr. Squirrel. 

I don’t think I have much of a choice right now, I reply. 

You’re right. You definitely don’t. This forest is a maze to those who do not know their way. Without a guide, you will get lost forever.

He skitters off, and I sit down in the dirt. 

Sweat clings to my back. I’m still wearing my goose down coat, even though