“Aye,” he confirmed with a smile. “The two old vines have borne new fruit. Only time will tell if he is strong enough to withstand the obstacles set against him, but would you not give him a chance to try? You know that here the three of you will be hunted down like dogs, but there is another choice.” Kado leaned forward, a new urgency in his tone.
Alienor dared to be tempted by the promise in his dark eyes. “Come East,” he urged, and Alienor’s heart took an unsteady lurch. “Do not take noble child into a life of hiding—give him a chance to live out his destiny.”
“You do not know what awaits us in the East,” Alienor protested.
“How much worse can it be than certain death?” Kado demanded, and she could not help but agree. “This king will not be satisfied until you all are gone, regardless of Dagobert’s words this night. And despite the chaos in the East, reverence continues for those who carry the khan’s blood royal in their veins.”
“You will be safe there,” Iolande interjected softly.
Alienor dared to lift her gaze to Dagobert’s. She saw hope in those silvery depths and knew that this could offer them the haven they both desired for their child.
“What say you to a new life, love?” Dagobert whispered.
Alienor watched excitement dawn in his eyes and knew this was the opportunity he needed to begin his life anew--the opportunity that he longed to give Thierry, that their son might make his own choice. And the chance to live out their own days together in peace.
“You would leave everyone behind?” she asked, but Dagobert had no chance to respond before Iolande spoke.
“Kado and I will go with you,” she confirmed. “For there is naught remaining for either of us here. We already arranged for Guibert and Connor to meet us on the road.” She laughed aloud at Dagobert’s shocked expression and shook a finger beneath his nose. “I always endeavored to ensure that you were a sensible man,” she charged, clearly assuming he would agree to their plan.
That Guibert would be with them resolved the matter for Alienor. She glanced up to her husband to see doubt banished from his gaze, though still he awaited her approval of the plan.
“To the East,” she affirmed, laughing when Dagobert bent to kiss her breathless.
To the East and the new life awaiting all of them there.
Thanks for reading Unicorn Bride.
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The next release in the Unicorn Trilogy series will be Thierry’s story, Pearl Beyond Price.
All my best—
Claire
About the Author
Deborah Cooke sold her first book in 1992, a medieval romance called Romance of the Rose published under her pseudonym Claire Delacroix. Since then, she has published over fifty novels in a wide variety of sub-genres, including historical romance, contemporary romance, paranormal romance, fantasy romance, time-travel romance, women’s fiction, paranormal young adult and fantasy with romantic elements. She has published under the names Claire Delacroix, Claire Cross and Deborah Cooke. The Beauty, part of her successful Bride Quest series of historical romances, was her first title to land on the New York Times List of Bestselling Books. Her books routinely appear on other bestseller lists and have won numerous awards. In 2009, she was the writer-in-residence at the Toronto Public Library, the first time the library has hosted a residency focused on the romance genre. In 2012, she was honored to receive the Romance Writers of America’s Mentor of the Year Award.
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Visit Deborah’s Website and Blog
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Visit Claire’s Website and Blog
More Books by Claire Delacroix
Rogues & Angels
ONE KNIGHT ENCHANTED
ONE KNIGHT’S RETURN
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Time Travel Romances
ONCE UPON A KISS
THE LAST HIGHLANDER
THE MOONSTONE
LOVE POTION #9
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The Bride Quest
THE PRINCESS
THE DAMSEL
THE HEIRESS
THE COUNTESS
THE BEAUTY
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The Rogues of Ravensmuir
THE ROGUE
THE SCOUNDREL
THE WARRIOR
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The Jewels of Kinfairlie
THE BEAUTY BRIDE
THE ROSE RED BRIDE
THE SNOW WHITE BRIDE
The Ballad of Rosamunde
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The True Love Brides
THE RENEGADE’S HEART
THE HIGHLANDER’S CURSE
THE FROST MAIDEN’S KISS
THE WARRIOR’S PRIZE
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The Brides of Inverfyre
THE MERCENARY’S BRIDE
THE RUNAWAY BRIDE
The Champions of St. Euphemia
THE CRUSADER’S BRIDE
THE CRUSADER’S HEART
THE CRUSADER’S KISS
THE CRUSADER’S VOW
THE CRUSADER’S HANDFAST
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The Brides of North Barrows
Something Wicked This Way Comes
A Duke By Any Other Name
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Short Stories and Novellas
BEGUILED
An Elegy for Melusine
To learn more about Deborah’s contemporary and paranormal romances,
please visit
DeborahCooke.com