The Fae Princess (The Pacific Princesses Book 2) by Ektaa Bali (books to improve english .txt) 📗

said Vidya, dragging Sonakshi past Luna and toward the bed where her mother lay. “She’s here to see if her magic will do anything for our problem.”

“Right,” said Sonakshi, nodding. “Stand back everyone.”

The three girls, with Toad holding baby Mahiya, moved right back to the edge of the room.

Sonakshi shook herself, and in a flash and a gasp from Luna and Toad, turned into her unicorn form. The three girls watched as Sonakshi carefully lowered her glittering diamond horn onto Queen Salote. Her horn touched the queen’s forehead and flashed brightly where it met her skin. Queen Salote coughed once, then rolled onto her side and kept on sleeping.

Vidya groaned. “That’s okay, Sona, try my father next, he’s lying on the floor on the other side.”

Sonakshi carefully walked around the bed, and the girls followed to watch. She repeated the move, but this time, the King gasped loudly, his eyes opening, looking around widely.

“Father!” Vidya rushed forward.

King Farrion grasped onto Vidya’s arm and looked her right in the eyes.

“They are taking the Fae magic, Vidya!” he cried out. “They are taking it!”

“Who is?” Vidya cried.

But the King immediately let go of her arm, head falling back onto the carpet with a thump, and began snoring once again.

“Do it again, Sona!” cried Vidya. “Do it again!”

Sonakshi hurriedly leaned down again, but this time, after the bright flash of light, the King did not stir.

Vidya stood, breathing shakily. She ran her hands through her magenta hair and leaned on Sonakshi for support. The unicorn Princess nuzzled Vidya's neck comfortingly. Pancake scrambled up to Vidya’s shoulder, patting the girl’s face.

“That was scary,” said Toad, patting baby Mahiya on the back. “At least it worked for a moment.”

“What do you think he meant?” asked Luna.

Vidya straightened and shook her head. “Someone is stealing the Fae magic. We all heard him.”

“How could that be?” asked Luna. “How do you steal it?”

“Magic is a funny thing,” said Sonakshi with a distant look in her eye. She flashed back into her human form and looked down at King Farrion, snoring peacefully now. “The witch Mankini tried to steal my magic through my blood. And she almost did it.” Sonakshi shivered.

“Fae is magic is different,” said Vidya thoughtfully. “But not that different. Our magic comes from the earth, we just have to figure out how somebody is draining it.”

Sonakshi blew air out of her mouth. “You’d better find out soon,” she said. “This type of thing can’t go on forever. What if they drain it completely?”

The three Fae girls looked at each other with worry. “We’ll find out,” Vidya said, more confidently than she felt.

“The Fae King has the strongest magic of the adults,” mused Sonakshi. “I could feel the difference. Not enough to keep him awake, but enough that I could wake him for a second. I’m guessing that’s why he was the last adult to go to sleep in the first place.”

“Hopefully, that means he’s the first to wake up then,” said Vidya.

Vidya led Sonakshi out of the bedroom and back down the stairs into the great dining room where a few kids were sitting eating some food they had clumsily prepared. The two Princesses went to join them.

“Baby Mahiya is so cute,” said Sonakshi, inspecting a glass of ghostberry juice. “I’m glad I got to meet her.”

“We’re still trying to figure out where the sparks come from,” said Vidya. “No other Fae babies do it.”

Sonakshi cocked her head to the side. “When I look at her, I think of… lava. Like the stuff that’s deep inside the earth.”

Vidya shook her head. “That mystery will have to wait until this is over. I have bigger things to worry about than Mahiya farting.”

Sonakshi giggled, and Vidya couldn’t help but do the same.

The two girls sat deep in thought with Pancake sitting between them, eating a strawberry.

“I’m sorry it didn’t work more, Vidya,” said Sonakshi sadly. “I really thought it would. A unicorn’s horn is supposed to be the most powerful healing tool in the world. I’ve used it heaps since I discovered that.”

“I guess the Fae magic can’t be healed that way,” said Vidya, softly.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Sonakshi fished into her purple backpack and brought out a tiny glass container with swirling silver liquid inside. “I collected some tears for you.” She handed the container over, and Vidya held it in her hand, staring at it curiously.

“Your tears are silver?” she asked.

“Yeah, who would’ve thought, hey? But anyway, the point is, my tears are useful, swallow them and they give you unicorn powers for a short period of time. So, I was thinking if you needed it for healing, or flying faster… it could be of use.”

“Wow,” Vidya said. “That’s a brilliant idea, thank you for that.”

“No worries.”

“I just never thought anything like this could happen, Sona,” said Vidya wistfully, staring at the silvery liquid. “The Fae magic is as sure as the sun. What if it goes away completely?”

Sonakshi absently patted Pancake on the head.

“You’ll do what you do best, Vidya. You’ll read, you’ll think, and you’ll figure it out.”

Vidya looked at her unicorn friend in appreciation and nodded. She had just really hoped Sonakshi could fix this situation, but she should’ve known it was all bigger than that.

“You’re more than a friend to me, Sona,” Vidya said. “You’re a sister.”

Sonakshi burst into tears and threw her arms around Vidya.

“Please let me know what happens,” Sonakshi said, releasing her as Pancake squeaked in protest as he got squashed between the two girls.

“Here, take these.” Vidya took out a bunch of messenger leaves from her pocket and handed them over. “Then you can write to me whenever you like.”

“Let me know if we can help anymore,” Sonakshi said. “Father has plenty of guards—”

“Human grown-ups can’t come in here,” reminded Vidya, shaking her head. “And I don’t want you to get caught up in anything dangerous here.”

Suddenly, the kids next to them let out a cheer, and the two girls looked at where they